Professional Development
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Posters, Presentations, and Visualizations
Communicating Your Work: To Broad Audiences
Writing Resources
The OU Writing Center offers assistance to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. The Writing Center is located at Wagner Hall, Room 280. In addition to the Writing Center, OU offers a variety of tutoring services. Learn more from the Student Learning Center site (within your major/program, specialized tutoring services may be offered, too).
- Maintaining a laboratory notebookAdvice on why and how to maintain a written record of your research. A must-read for those who are new to research.
- Writing a Scientific Lab ReportBy The Writing Center, at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a detailed guide on how to structure a typical scientific lab report. Consult your professor or TA for your class requirements!
How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper by Call Number: T 11 .D33 2016 (older editions also available)ISBN: 9781440842627Publication Date: 2016
Communicating Clearly about Science and Medicine by Call Number: Q 223 .C536 2012ISBN: 9781409440376Publication Date: 2012
Clear and Concise Communications for Scientists and Engineers by ISBN: 1439854793Publication Date: 2012
Effective Scientific Writing: An advanced learner's guide to better English by Call Number: T 11 .E39ISBN: 9789086596171Publication Date: 2013-04-01
The Craft of Scientific Writing by Call Number: T 11 .A37 1996 (Reserve at Youngblood and Stacks at NWC Library)ISBN: 0387947663Publication Date: 1998
- How to do a literature reviewThis guide will help you do a literature review as either a stand-alone project or as part of a dissertation, thesis, or other research project.
- Synthesizing LiteratureA short three-minute video (with annotated slides) showing how to synthesize literature.
- Planning worksheet for structured literature reviewsFor one-person teams (aka most dissertations, theses, and class projects) or teams with short time availability, a structured review is a great way to synthesize evidence.
- Types of evidence synthesis and literature review"Evidence synthesis refers to any method of identifying, selecting, and combining results from multiple studies. " A literature (narrative) review is one of the most common types of evidence synthesis.
- What kind of review are you conducting?This peer-reviewed article describes, in depth, different types of reviews. It's best to start with your research question and choose the review type that matches it.
- Literature Review and Evidence Synthesis in the Data Analytics and Visualization guideFor more resources about conducting literature reviews, and for information about systematic reviews and evidence synthesis, Science Librarian Claire Curry has created the Data Analytics and Visualization research guide.
Posters, Presentations, and Visualizations
Check out the Data Analytics and Visualization guide, too!
Presentation Consultations @ the Learning Lab
From OU Libraries, Presentation Consultations allow students, faculty, or staff to receive personalized instruction in presentation delivery, design, and organization. Presentation coaches work one-on-one or with groups within the OU community from the initial brainstorming all the way through practice delivering presentations. Presentation Consultations also have two library guides: one for posters and one for presentations.- How to read and assess research postersA patient-focused page from the American Asssociation of Cancer Research.
- Posters on how to design for accessibilityCovers designing for audiences who are autistic, using screen readers, having low vision, having dyslexia, with physical or motor disabilities, who are deaf or hard of hearing, or with anxiety.
Scientific Papers and Presentations by Call Number: T 11 .D27 2012ISBN: 9780123847270Publication Date: 2012-07-30
- Designing ADA Compliant Online Courses"Two faculty members recommend easy ways for enhancing student learning online while meeting compliance." Concrete steps to make online courses, and materials in general, ADA compliant and more accessible.
- Chroma.js Color Palette Helper"for the sake of better use of colors in maps and data visualizations"
Beautiful Visualization by Call Number: TK7882.I6 B427 2010ISBN: 9781449379865Publication Date: 2010"Successful visualizations are beautiful not only for their aesthetic design, but also for elegant layers of detail that efficiently generate insight and new understanding. This book examines the methods of two dozen visualization experts who approach their projects from a variety of perspectives -- as artists, designers, commentators, scientists, analysts, statisticians, and more."- The visual display of quantitative information byCall Number: QA 276.3 .T83 1983Publication Date: 1983"Theory and practice in the design of data graphics, 250 illustrations of the best (and a few of the worst) statistical graphics, with detailed analysis of how to display data for precise, effective, quick analysis. "
- Fundamentals of Data Visualization"The book is meant as a guide to making visualizations that accurately reflect the data, tell a story, and look professional. "
- Data Visualization Checklist"The Data Visualization Checklist is a compilation of 24 guidelines on how graphs should be formatted to best show the story in your data. The 24 guidelines are broken down into 5 sections: Text, Arrangement, Color, Lines, and Overall."
- Ten simple rules to colorize biological data visualization"Methods for visualization of biological data continue to improve, but there is still a fundamental challenge in colorization of these visualizations (vis). Visual representation of biological data should not overwhelm, obscure, or bias the findings, but rather make them more understandable. This is often due to the challenge of how to use color effectively in creating visualizations."
- Accessibility ReferenceOU Libraries' Accessibility Reference guide provides information and resources on digital accessibility from text formatting to audio and video media and everything in between.
- Digital AccessibilityOU Libraries' Digital Accessibility guide is meant to provide more general instructions for implementing and testing for accessible web content – for web developers and content creators alike!
Research Proposals: A Guide to Success by Call Number: OnlineISBN: 9780125247337Publication Date: 2002- The grant application writer's workbook. National Science Foundation - FastLane and Research.gov version byCall Number: Q 180.55 .P7 R63 2021Publication Date: 2021
- The grant application writer's workbook : National Institutes of Health version byCall Number: R 853 .P75 R63 2021Publication Date: 2021Written by academicians for academicians, each of the workbooks begins with a discussion of how to develop and refine a compelling idea. The reader is then led systematically through tips and strategies that are relevant to writing each section of the proposal. Examples of well-crafted components are provided.
Guide to Effective Grant Writing : How to Write a Successful NIH Grant Application by ISBN: 9786613768063Publication Date: 2012- The grant application writer's workbook. United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture version byCall Number: S 484.5 .U6 B77 2021Publication Date: 2021
The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing by Call Number: HG 177.5 .U6 G44 2007 (previous editions available online)ISBN: 9781595421296Publication Date: 2007
Funding Your Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences by ISBN: 9781351658362Publication Date: 2017Previously was available from OU. Request book via Inter-library Loan.
Winning Grants by Call Number: HG 177 .C374 2002 (also online)ISBN: 078795876XPublication Date: 2002
Grant Seeking in Higher Education by Call Number: LB 2336 .L54 2012ISBN: 9781118192474Publication Date: 2012
A Practical Guide to Writing a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Grant by Call Number: OnlineISBN: 9780128153376Publication Date: 2018-05-24
- Open Grants"An increasing number of researchers are sharing their grant proposals openly. They do this to open up science so that all stages of the process can benefit from better interaction and communication and to provide examples for early career scientists writing grants. This is a list of 220 of these proposals to help you find them."
- "Successful Applications" example repository"All the job and grant applications here are successful, hopefully providing a diverse perspective on what has worked in jobs and funding."
- 10 Tips on Grant Writing From a Seasoned Reviewer"Serving as a reviewer, [...] Most review projects with great interest and empathy. But sometimes, in poring over voluminous documents, we get overburdened, lost, confused, or frustrated. Here are 10 tips to help you, in writing your grant application, to guide reviewers to the information we need to advocate for your research."
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? by Call Number: BF 637 .C45 A424 2017ISBN: 9780812989144Publication Date: 2017
Getting to the Heart of Science Communication by Call Number: ebook (unlimited users)ISBN: 9781642830743Publication Date: 2021
- Terms that have different meanings for scientists and the publicAn infographic from the American Geophysical Union reminding us to remember our audience when wording outreach.
- Frontiers for Young Minds"Frontiers for Young Minds provides a collection of freely available scientific articles by distinguished scientists that are shaped for younger audiences by the input of their own young peers." This is a GREAT resource to see examples of clear writing about complex topics, for those who like to have text to model their own writing.
- Transcending the opinion factory – Dutch Research Council (NWO)"During a public crisis, science and politics become strongly interwoven. As a researcher, how can you become involved in the debate in a worthwhile manner while maintaining your integrity? Four propositions for four researchers who are not scared of letting their voices be heard."
When Can You Trust the Experts? by Call Number: LB 1028 .W519175ISBN: 1118130278Publication Date: 2012
Navigating Higher Education
The list below includes articles, books, and websites that are available to the OU community and provide insight to many facets of academic life from a variety of perspectives. Our hope is that the readings and references listed serve as tools for students and faculty alike, plus scientists and scholars at large and at any point or place in their careers.
Have a question? Or maybe you have a reference you’d like to see added to the list? Please feel free to email the STEM Services Team at the University of Oklahoma Libraries at libstem@ou.edu
- How to get useful answers to your questions"Often when I ask a vague or underspecified question, what happens is one of:
the person starts by explaining a bunch of stuff I already know
the person explains some things which I don’t know, but which I don’t think are relevant to my problem
the person starts giving a relevant explanation, but using terminology that I don’t understand, so I still end up being confused
None of these give me the answer to my question and this can be quite frustrating (it often feels condescending when someone embarks on a lengthy explanation of things I already know, even if they had no way of knowing that I already know those things), so let’s talk about how I try to avoid situations like this and get the answers I need." - Tips on Emailing a Professor to Ask for a Research OpportunityIncludes a helpful infographic summarizing how to email professors about research opportunities.
How to Get Your PhD by ISBN: 0198866925Publication Date: 2021-05-01With over 150 bitesize nuggets of actionable advice, it offers more detailed contributions covering topics such as career planning, professional development, diversity and inclusion in science, and the nature of risk in research.
- Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate SchoolFrom UC Davis - some answers are program-specific (EEB-focused) but others can be generalized.
- Underserved learners applications to graduate school"Reading underserved learners’ applications to grad school: we need to stop failing them."
- A Survival Guide for Black, Indigenous, and Other Women of Color in Academe"A few granules of wisdom about racism in higher education. May they help you survive and thrive in a system that is structurally designed to cast a shadow on your bright and luminous mind."
- Learning the Unwritten Rules: Working Class Students in Graduate School"Through a nationwide survey of graduate students enrolled in Ph.D. programs in Sociology, we examined the extent to which working class students face greater challenges or barriers in completing their degrees compared to their middle class peers."
- What it's like to be a trans scientist with imposter syndrome"Small moments of support go a long way in showing the trans community that you see us; you value us; and you’re here for us. Since there aren’t a ton of other trans people in STEM fields, make us feel like we’re a part of the family. It will go a long way into helping us succeed and overcome our own imposter syndrome."
- Conquering faculty meetings (or not…) when deaf/hard of hearing"Making it as a deaf/hard of hearing (HoH) academic can often feel like a game of whack-a-mole. Between research activities, teaching duties, and that large nebulous category ‘service,’ communication challenges lurk around every corner. "
- Why I’ve struggled with the pressure to assimilate when teachingOU graduate student Montrai Spikes describes his experiences teaching and working as a biology graduate student.
- I’m a Black Female Scientist. On My First Day of Work, a Colleague Threatened to Call the Cops on Me."Recounts her time as a corporate research scientist at a drug company in western New York—a job she left in 2017 in part because of its toxic culture. Afterward, she went into academia as an assistant professor of biology at a community college, also in western New York, where on her first day a white co-worker threatened to call the police on her. "
- What can you do to improve the academic workplace for your deaf and hard-of-hearing colleagues?"Suggestions on this list come from a variety of sources (e.g. HLAA employment toolkit) but primarily our own experiences. This list isn’t comprehensive but provides some guidelines for common scenarios with academia. "
- Coming Out"I'm still navigating my path forward. But I will never regret my decision to come out. I'm constantly learning how to exist in this world as my true self, and I know I'm not on this journey alone. Many friends and colleagues—both cis-gender and transgender, queer and straight—are standing by me every step of the way. "
- Seeing himself in the science"Schell, who joined UW Tacoma last year as an assistant professor, is determined to use the charismatic species he studies to deliver a message about racism and inequality. As his work and interests have evolved, Schell says he finds it harder to ignore that everything is connected"
- Stress and Mental Health in Graduate School: How Student Empowerment Creates Lasting Change"This article describes an ongoing initiative of the Department of Chemistry (Chem. Dept.) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) to support the mental health of graduate students. With the increasing pressure on students to carry out novel research, publish articles, learn a broad range of skills, and look for career opportunities, the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among graduate students are on the rise. "
- Communicating with EmpathyRequires OU 4x4 login via LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). "Empathy at work is crucial to [...] success. When you and your coworkers feel comfortable and confident speaking openly to each other, you're able to develop better relationships. As a result, you feel like you matter and you feel safe enough in your environment to speak up and to allow others to do the same."
- The Science of Effective Mentorship"Mentorship is [...] a set of skills that can and should be learned, practiced, and improved upon with self-reflection and feedback."
- Advice for successful male mentors of women in academe"crucial that male mentors go the extra mile to engage in mentorships of women that help to dismantle the deeply embedded patriarchal structures that have created such hurdles for women in political science as well as other disciplines."
- A sense of belonging matters. That’s why academic culture needs to change“For science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate students from underrepresented groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities and women, a sense of belonging—or lack thereof—can have a concrete effect on a crucial career component: their publication records.“
- The elephant in the room: Where is the empathy in science?"Our goal with this article is to present tools and techniques that PIs (and their early-career researchers) can ask to implement at their institutions to promote an educational environment that enables both research advancements and the development of resilient individuals."
- Ready to Be an Ally for Black Academics? Here’s a Start"Twelve ways that white faculty members can better support Black academics in their department and across the campus."
- What are pronouns? Why do they matter?"Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect them."
- Pronouns 102: how to stop messing up pronouns"Pronouns are hard! There is a reason for that (the reason is… linguistics), but the fact of the matter is, many people find it very difficult to switch pronouns for a person, or to use certain pronouns at all. This post isn’t about getting into the why, but more going about the how to get better."
- The Problem With Telling Someone 'I Don't See You as Disabled'"This is a fairly common thing to hear, and it’s pretty clear those saying it think they’re paying you a compliment. But “don’t worry, I don’t see you as…” never ends with a positive statement."
- What can I do today to create a more inclusive community in Computer Science?This document lists specific practices and citations for them that can help create more inclusive communities. The suggestions are targeted towards instructors in computer science, but can be adapted for other fields and for the research environment.
- Alcoholism disrupted my scientific career. This is how I got sober"I worry that others, facing the stresses and sadness of the pandemic, may be starting down a similar path. Here’s my cautionary tale."
- Teaching While White: Where to Start Resources"Teaching While White (TWW) seeks to move the conversation forward on how to be consciously, intentionally, anti-racist in the classroom. Because "white" does not mean a blank slate. It is a set of assumptions that is the baseline from which everything is judged; it is what passes for normal. "
Career Resources
The University of Oklahoma Career Center offers a variety of services to undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and alumni. OU's Career Center features Career Communities.
Use your OU email address to access Interstride for jobs in the US and internationally located, as well as advice for international students seeking jobs in the US.
- Job Hunter's Survival GuideOU Libraries' Job Hunter's Survival Guide connects users to tips, tricks, and resources to help with job searching, interviewing, and career prep.
- How to Prepare an Elevator Pitch"One of the most common questions asked is 'What do you do?' As researchers, it is very important that when asked that question, we can explain what we do in a short period of time. This has been termed the 'elevator pitch.' In other words, could you explain what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator?"
The Academic Job Search Handbook by Call Number: LB 2331.72 .H45 2016ISBN: 9780812223408Publication Date: 2016-03-17"Beginning with an overview of academic careers and institutional structures, it moves step by step through the application process, from establishing relationships with advisors, positioning oneself in the market, learning about job openings, preparing CVs, cover letters, and other application materials, to negotiating offers."
Alternative Careers in Science by Call Number: Q 149 .U5 A66 2006ISBN: 0125893760Publication Date: 2005The book is framed as a guide for graduate students and later, but contains information on career paths useful for any stage of a science major's career, including undergraduates considering their next steps.
- Alternative Academic Careers"Resources for graduate students exploring careers in higher education other than teaching faculty"
- Talking Yourself Up in a Neurotypical World"The difficulty of this task has real consequences for autistic people and contributes to our high unemployment rate, including autistic people with high educational backgrounds. We often undersell ourselves, but only because many neurotypical people have no problem embellishing their traits."
- Interviewed while BlackFocusing on medical school matching - "Improving the experiences of Black applicants will be a first step toward increasing the diversity of programs and subsequently addressing the unmet needs of the diverse patient populations they serve."
Academic Scientists at Work by Call Number: OnlineISBN: 1280634448Publication Date: 2010Academic Scientists at Work guides the scientist on the journey from the end of a postdoctoral career to the point of promotion to Associate Professor. This book focuses on the three aspects of promotion in an academic setting: Scholarship, Teaching, and Service. Valuable advice is provided on the following topics: Choosing and landing your ideal academic job; Setting up and effectively managing the lab; Obtaining funds; Organizing, writing, and publishing your science; Teaching and mentoring; Organizing and performing academic service; The promotion and tenure process.
The Chicago Guide to Your Career in Science by Call Number: Q 147 .B56 2008 (NWC Stacks)ISBN: 9780226060644Publication Date: 2008Embarking upon research as a graduate student or postdoc can be exciting and enriching--the start of a rewarding career. But the world of scientific research is also a competitive one, with grants and good jobs increasingly hard to find. The Chicago Guide to Your Career in Science is intended to help scientists not just cope but excel at this critical phase in their careers.
The Professor Is In by Call Number: HD 6278 .U5 K456 2015ISBN: 9780553419429Publication Date: 2015"Each year only a small percentage of [Ph.D.s] will land a job that justifies and rewards their investment. For every comfortably tenured professor or well-paid former academic, there are countless underpaid and overworked adjuncts, and many more who simply give up in frustration." This book covers both academic and non-academic job searching and career advice for graduate students and postgraduates.
- How to be an anti-racist teacherThis article is focused towards secondary education but the principles should be applicable to post-secondary teaching as well.
- Best Practices for Reading and Writing Letters of Recommendation"A letter of recommendation for an academic position or promotion provides an overall assessment of the candidate’s potential to excel in the new position: the professional promise and evidence to support
that assessment." - What to consider when asked to peer review a manuscript(Committee on Publication Ethics) "COPE's guidance on what to consider when you are asked to peer review a manuscript, presented as a flowchart and laying out the steps in the decision process that you might go through to decide whether or not you should accept the request."
Lab Dynamics by Call Number: Q 180.55 .M3 C63ISBN: 1936113783Publication Date: 2012Despite the intimidating title, this book is full of amazing advice on developing interpersonal skills for any level of scientist. The authors include specific case studies as well as exercises on developing your own self-awareness as a professional and how to interact with other personalities. They close with a discussion of leadership in academia and industry.
Time Management
Taking a moment to highlight a library resource, you may be interested in using the Assignment Calculator, a tool that generates a recommended timeline for completing assignments in step-by-step detail. Students input specific criteria to describe the assignment, and the results of the assignment calculator create concrete goals with attached resources.
- "You Aren't Lazy. You Just Need To Slow Down""Laziness is usually a warning sign from our bodies and our minds that something is not working"
- Where do the hours go?Graduate students and procrastination experts share their best time-management tips.
- Achieving a healthy work-life balance as a graduate studentAmber Lenon speaks to her experiences as a PhD student in physics
Rest Is Resistance by Call Number: BJ1499.R4 H47 2022ISBN: 9780316365215Publication Date: 2022In Rest Is Resistance, Tricia Hersey, aka the Nap Bishop, casts an illuminating light on our troubled relationship with rest and how to imagine and dream our way to a future where rest is exalted.
Laziness Does Not Exist by Call Number: Available as ebook or audiobook from Pioneer Library Systems (Norman Public Library)ISBN: 1982140100Publication Date: 2021Using in-depth research, Price explains that people today do far more work than nearly any other humans in history yet most of us often still feel we are not doing enough.
Skilful Time Management! by ISBN: 9780335222940Publication Date: 2007-10-01Highlights time-management problems, shows how to assess and overcome them, examines how good work patterns may be established and how one-off events can be fitted into a work routine.
Time Management by ISBN: 9780230299603Publication Date: 2011-07-29Activities and self-assessments help students to identify how they learn best so that they can develop time management strategies that work for them. Ideal for self-study, it contains a section on troubleshooting for those looking for a quick-fix solution.
Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by ISBN: 080504891XPublication Date: 1998-08-15Using field-tested strategies, the author assists the student through the entire thesis-writing process, offering advice on choosing a topic and an advisor, on disciplining one's self to work at least fifteen minutes each day; setting short-term deadlines, on revising and defing the thesis, and on life and publication after the dissertation.
