PhD advice: stop chasing paper counts, the goal is to become a scientist
tw_killian · x · 2026-11-05
A researcher argues that no matter how broken academia is, you are still responsible for who you become during your PhD. Advisors can guide and universities can grant degrees, but neither can make you an independent thinker.
His advice:
- Stop chasing paper counts
- Stop waiting for the perfect research direction
- Stop confusing publications with scientific progress
The point: the goal was never to become a paper-producing machine, but to become a scientist — stay curious, question everything, take ownership of your research.
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