How to Choose a Research Supervisor

Discussions with seasoned researchers from the TDR global 2020 Career Impact Contest, where they share different aspects of their career trajectories, including support they received via research, education and mentoring opportunities. They also share some challenges they faced, including accessing funding, lack of skills and approaches they took to overcome them. Additionally, they talk about their mentoring relationships as both mentors and mentees, and how they have been able to maintain, build, and pay-it-forward to others, through their critical work in their respective countries and in global health.ResourcesCareer Impact Contest: TDR-supported scientists share their inspirational success stories (who.int)TDR Grants: Grants (who.int)Guest informationDr. Rashad Abdul-Ghani, an Associate Professor and researcher at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, and the Tropical Disease Research Center, University of Science and Technology, Yemen. His research focuses on parasitic diseases, neglected tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, and public health. Learn more about Rashad’s work here:‪Rashad Abdul-Ghani‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬Dr. Nadira Kurunaweera is the Chair Professor of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Visiting Fellow, School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA. As a Medical Parasitologist she has extensive teaching, training and research experience in tropical diseases, especially vector-borne diseases. Her achievements have been recognized through many awards, honors and fellowships. Connect with Nadira on Twitter @medfaccmb. Learn more about her work: Professor Nadira D. Karunaweera – Faculty of Medicine (cmb.ac.lk)Dr. Avila Montes, who is an Ex-TDR grantee with public health experience in Honduras, El Salvador, Puerto Rico and Guatemala, as an effective manager in program design, management, strategic planning, and health research related to vector borne disease control (Dengue, Zika and Chagas disease), outbreak response, maternal & child health, and HIV/AIDS control. Learn more about Avila and his work here: Gustavo Adolfo Avila Montes Profile | Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases (tdr-global.net)AcknowledgmentsEditing by Carl PeckResearch: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice Matimba Producers: Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer), Catherine Holmes (Marketing)Host: Emmanuela OppongMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/ SponsorsACSC: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomegenomecampus.orgWSI: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

The 2019 finalists of the TDR Global Mentorship Contest for improving research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries joined us to share their experiences implementing their respective projects. We had: Dr. Ana Maria Aguilar also discussed the pivotal shift in her community-based mentoring project in Bolivia. Her project initially focused on creating a horizontal style, participatory community mentor program, but shifted to focus on meeting the needs of the community. They began working with a community that had used herbal packages as an approach to bridge the distrust between the health sector and the local community. Connect with Ana Maria on ResearchGate. Guest informationProf. Aguilar is a senior pediatrician. Currently a professor in child growth and development research at the Medical College at University Mayor de San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia. She has designed and implemented health and nutrition interventions for children under five years of age for the last thirty years. She also led the conformation of the Food and Nutrition Council in Bolivia and was the First National Coordinator of the Malnutrition Zero Program until 2012. Among many of her work and achievements, she has also authored and co-authored several articles, book chapters on nutrition and child health, description of the nutritional transition in Bolivia. About TDR GlobalTDR Global is a worldwide community of passionate scientists and experts who have been working with TDR on research on infectious diseases of poverty. TDR is the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training and Tropical Diseases, based at the World Health Organization.Resources Oppong, E., Bao, H., Tang, W., Mejia, M.I.E., Glozah, F., Asanga, N., Boinett, C.J., Aguilar, A.M., Valido, E., Lestari, T. and Tucker, J.D., 2021. A Global Crowdsourcing Open Call to Improve Research Mentorship in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Mixed Methods Analysis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1(aop).AcknowledgmentsEditing by Cassandra SooResearch: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice MatimbaProducers: Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer).Host: Emmanuela OppongMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/ SponsorsWellcome Connecting Science: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/Wellcome Sanger Institute: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

The 2019 finalists of the TDR Global Mentorship Contest for improving research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries joined us to share their experiences implementing their respective projects. We had:Dr. Ezra Valido who shared his Getting Research To Work (G.R.O.W) for people project in the Philippines, focused on bringing local-non academic organisations, practitioners, and local experts together to collaborate as a small community of practice that can mentor, support and learn from each other. He highlighted some advantageous steps he took, including working with local societies that had the resources he needed. He also discussed some challenges he faced implementing his project during the COVID pandemic, including difficulties gaining funding to navigate the dynamics of mentoring people within different stages of their career. Connect with Ezra on LinkedinGuest informationDr. Ezra Valido is both a biologist and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of the Philippines. He also holds a Master's degree in public management and public health, and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Lucerne and Swiss Paraplegic Research. He is broadly interested in infectious disease and designing, scaling, and implementing public health programs related to them, focusing on health systems and development and in public health concentrating on tropical medicine. He worked previously as a primary care physician and was employed in the medical affairs units of Sanofi and Novo Nordisk in the Philippine affiliate handling endocrine, cardiovascular, and renal therapeutic areas.About TDR GlobalTDR Global is a worldwide community of passionate scientists and experts who have been working with TDR on research on infectious diseases of poverty. TDR is the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training and Tropical Diseases, based at the World Health Organization.ResourcesOppong, E., Bao, H., Tang, W., Mejia, M.I.E., Glozah, F., Asanga, N., Boinett, C.J., Aguilar, A.M., Valido, E., Lestari, T. and Tucker, J.D., 2021. A Global Crowdsourcing Open Call to Improve Research Mentorship in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Mixed Methods Analysis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1(aop).AcknowledgmentsEditing by Cassandra SooResearch: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice MatimbaProducers: Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer).Host: Emmanuela OppongMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/SponsorsWellcome Connecting Science: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/Wellcome Sanger Institute: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

If you are looking to start a PhD, you may consider choosing a supervisor based on the type of research that you find most interesting. While this should certainly be a component of your decision, it is also important to look beyond the research. In fact, your supervisor and the culture of their research group will have significantly more impact on your happiness and success in graduate school than the research itself. Here, Jen Heemstra talks us through what should be considered when choosing the right supervisor, and how to spot red flags.ResourcesMore than a signature: How advisor choice and advisor behaviour affect doctoral student satisfactionhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03098770701424983Choosing a Graduate Advisor https://cen.acs.org/careers/graduate-school/Choosing-graduate-adviser/99/i33Guest informationJen Heemstra is a Professor of Chemistry at Emory University, where her research group is focused on using biomolecules for applications in biosensing and bioimaging. Jen is actively engaged in science communication and advocacy via her Twitter presence (@jenheemstra), column in Chemical & Engineering News, and professional development seminars. AcknowledgementsEditing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/Research: Jen Heemstra, Isabela MaltaProducers: Isabela Malta (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer) and Emmanuela Oppong (Producer).Social media: Catherine HolmesHost: Isabela MaltaCreated by: Christine BoinettMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/ Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @mentor_podcast Check out another podcast from our friends Decoding Life at the Wellcome Sanger InstituteSupportWCS: https://www.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/WSI: https://www.sanger.ac.uk

Publishing is a complex world of skewed macro-level challenges including access to high-impact journals, lack of equity within journal publication processes, and monopolization by reputable journals; as well as micro-level barriers such as navigating manuscript production, language, journal selection, and fees. Two editors-in-chief, Seye and Orli, shed some light on these processes, and offer unique perspectives, and advice including pursuing publications with a “healthy dose of disrespect” and endeavoring to reach out to editors with your questions and concerns.Guest informationProf. Seye Abimbola is a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, where he studies health system governance and epistemic justice in global health. He is also the current Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development at Utrecht University and the editor in chief of BMJ Global Health. Connect with Seye on Twitter @seyeabimbola, and to learn more about his work, visit: https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/seye-abimbola.htmlDr. Orli G. Bahcall, Editor-in-Chief of Cell Genomics, has over 17 years of editorial experience, previously serving as genetics and genomics editor at Nature and Nature Genetics and Chief Editor of Nature Reviews Genetics. Orli brings with her to Cell Genomics a love of science, a passion for collaborative research, and a commitment to openness and transparency in research, as well as in the editorial and review processes. Orli received her Ph.D. in epidemiology and mathematical modeling from Imperial College, London, her MS from Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar, and her BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Connect with Orli on Twitter @obahcall. To learn more about her work, visit:https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/home or her LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/orli-bahcall-6b81b11a3ResourcesScholary Kitchen blog (https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2021/01/28/open-access-and-global-south-it-is-more-than-a-matter-of-inclusion/ )Support open access in global south (https://www.research4life.org/news/open-access-inclusive-as-it-wants-to-be/)Challenges in open access (https://www.enago.com/academy/challenges-in-growth-of-open-access-publishing/)BMJ benefits of open access(https://www.bmj.com/company/openaccess/open-access-faq/)Is the staggeringly profitable business of scientific publishing bad for science? (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/27/profitable-business-scientific-publishing-bad-for-science)Big publishers, bigger profits (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/304667847.pdf)Barriers to publishing (https://bmcmedresmethodol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12874-017-0371-z)Language barriers (https://pubrica.com/academy/journal-selection/english-language-as-a-barrier-to-publish-in-high-impact-factor-journals-quick-tips-to-overcome/)Global inclusivity report 2020 (https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/global-2020-inclusivity-report)AcknowledgmentsEditing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/Research: Nagehan Ramazanoglu; Alice MatimbaProducers: Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer and Research Lead), Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Nagehan Ramazanoglu (Producer), Catherine Holmes (Marketing Lead).Host: Alice Matimba & Emmanuela OppongMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @mentor_podcastSupportWCS: https://www.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/WSI: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

Researchers are moving to other countries for different reasons, such as building a career, lack of funding, lack of mentoring. However, many face a dilemma between returning home, transferring knowledge and skills to local research, or staying. So when is the right time to return home? And when you get home, how do you prepare for the challenges around settling down?We asked our guests Daniela and Brighton their own experiences; how they decided to go back and what motivated them to overcome challenges and strengthen the research in their home...Guests Information: Dr. Daniela Robles-Espinoza is an assistant professor at the International Laboratory for Human Genome Research (LIIGH), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and an international fellow at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK. She studied a BSc in genome sciences at UNAM and a PhD in cancer genetics at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on using large-scale sequencing data for investigating the driver alterations, risk factors and potential therapeutic targets of types of cancer important in Mexico and Latin America, such as acral lentiginous melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. https://liigh.unam.mx/drobles/ @daniela_oaksDr. Brighton Samatanga is founder & CEO of The Biotech Institute (Zimbabwe). He is a molecular biophysicist with general interest in genome regulation and control. He did his PhD at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and was Professor for Physics for Soft and Biological Matter in Germany.https://twitter.com/drsamatanga https://www.biotechinst.comResourcesFangmeng, T. (2016). Brain circulation, diaspora and scientific progress: A study of the international migration of Chinese scientists, 1998–2006. Asian and Pacific migration journal : APMJ, 25(3), pp.296–319.Mwampamba, T.H. et al. (2021). Challenges encountered when doing research back home: Perspectives from African conservation scientists in the diaspora. Conservation science and practice.  AcknowledgmentsEditing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/Research: Alice MatimbaProducers: Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer and Research Lead), Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Nagehan Ramazanoglu (Producer), Catherine Holmes (Marketing Lead).Host: Alice MatimbaMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmeMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/Contact usEmail: [email protected]: @mentor_podcastSupportWCS: https://www.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/WSI: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/OR for simplecastSupport:Wellcome Connecting SciencesWellcome Sanger InstituteSocial Entrepreneurship to Spur Health

The pressure to win a grant and chasing the next funding source is stressful for all researchers. Besides, finding success in funding often requires sacrificing private time and overcoming the frustrations about being rejected. In this episode, we asked our guests, Dr. Nicki Tiffin and Dr. Jennifer Gardy, what key skills to have and develop to apply for grant funding. Join us and listen to our guests’ experiences of how funding opportunities impacted their careers, how they took the step to launch their research independently and how they stayed motivated to achieve it. Guest informationDr Nicki Tiffin is a Zimbabwean, living in South Africa, with a Ph D in molecular genetics and a Masters in Public Health (epidemiology). I have worked in South Africa, the UK and the USA,  in lab science and as a bioinformaticist in human health genomics research, as well as in health informatics in the public health sector. Connect with Nicki on LinkedIn Dr Jennifer Gardy is the Deputy Director for Surveillance, Data, & Epidemiology on the Gates Foundation's Malaria team, where she oversees work related to routine malaria surveillance, parasite and vector genomic epidemiology, and geospatial and mathematical modeling. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter @jennifergardy. More about Jennifer’s work https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-health/malariaAcknowledgementsEditing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/Research: Alice MatimbaProducers: Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer and Research Lead), Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Nagehan Ramazanoglu (Producer), Catherine Holmes (Marketing Lead).Host: Alice MatimbaMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmeMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/ Contact usEmail: [email protected] Twitter: @mentor_podcast SupportWCS: https://www.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/WSI: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/OR for simplecastSupport:Wellcome Connecting SciencesWellcome Sanger InstituteSocial Entrepreneurship to Spur Health

Our guests talk about the pros and cons of careers in industry and academia, and mention some of the traits that might be beneficial to have to be successful in each environment. ResourcesResearch culture, changing expectations. Darren Logan for the Royal Society: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/research-culture/changing-expectations/dr-darren-logan/10 Simple Rules for Choosing Between Industry and Academia: https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000388Guest informationProf. Soranzo is a human geneticist working in the field of human complex trait genetics. She graduated in biological sciences at the University of Milano, Italy, obtained a PhD in genetics from the University of Dundee, and undertook post-doctoral training at University College London. Between 2005-2007 she worked for Johnson & Johnson in the USA, before returning to academia. Presently, she is a Senior group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Professor of Human Genetics at the School of Clinical Medicine of the University of Cambridge, and Head of the Genomics Research Centre at Human Technopole in Italy.@nicolesoranzoAfter an academic career in genetics leading to the Wellcome Sanger Institute faculty, Darren Logan joined for the Waltham Petcare Science Institute – the global research centre for Mars Petcare. There he leads a multidisciplinary team of over 90 scientists that strive to improve the health and wellbeing of pets worldwide. @darrenloganAcknowledgementsEditing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/Research: Isabela MaltaProducers: Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer and Research Lead), Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Catherine Holmes (Marketing Lead).Host: Isabela MaltaMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmeMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/ Contact usEmail: [email protected] Twitter: @mentor_podcast SupportWCS: https://www.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/WSI: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

Sometimes publishing a paper that has the potential to impact might not be enough. You are driven to change: “potential” to “is” (Simon Travers). Scientists and researchers can create living products/businesses that have value and address key needs in the lives of others. We learn from Jenny, Simon, and Douglas about the how of this process.They share their experiences initiating, supporting, and leading different companies, businesses, and projects, across the globe. They discuss how they navigate the murky waters of leading start-up companies, navigating politics around patents, seeking support, guidance, and resources, and challenges associated with the different aspects of being scientists and entrepreneurs.ResourcesGathering for Open Science Hardware https://openhardware.science/about/Hyrax Bioscienceshttps://hyraxbio.co.za/The Key to successful entrepreneurship in the life scienceshttps://wyss.harvard.edu/news/the-key-to-successful-entrepreneurship-in-the-life-sciences/Science and entrepreneurship: Different careers, common ground http://blog.cdnsciencepub.com/science-and-entrepreneurship-different-careers-common-ground/ Guest informationDouglas Sanyahumbi is an innovation management professional with over 15 years of experience facilitating the commercialisation of research outputs. Currently based in Malawi, Doug is actively involved in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation activities with aspiring entrepreneurs and at research institutions in Malawi and several other African countries through different projects. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougsanyas/Jenny Molloy is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge where she builds open source tools for distributed manufacturing of enzymes for biological research. She also co-founded three social enterprises and communities, working with collaborators in Africa, Latin America, and beyond to build an open, sustainable and equitable global bioeconomy. Twitter: jenny_molloySimon Travers is CEO of Hyrax Biosciences.  He is a "reformed academic" who established a research programme in Ireland and subsequently in South Africa studying the molecular evolution of viruses.  Hyrax Biosciences spun out of his research group in South Africa and was established to enable widespread access to DNA sequencing-based diagnostics.  Hyrax Biosciences works with biotechnology companies and pathology labs providing them with software to easily analyse and interpret data and, where relevant, provide clinically actionable insights for patients. Twitter: @simon_travAcknowledgmentsEditing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/Research: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice Matimba Producers: Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer).Host: Alice MatimbaMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic:  https://freesound.org/s/477388/ SponsorsACSC: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomegenomecampus.orgWSI: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

Researchers and scientists are doing great and impactful work that can change lives. But are people really aware or understand their work? How can we engage with people outside our field and community?In this week's episode we discuss how researchers and scientists can go about creating spaces of engagement, via different avenues including blogging or in-person activities—at a party or in a local community. Researchers can work together in person as they would, for example, do on a research paper as co-authors. This can help eliminate challenges connected with interacting and presenting ideas to others. Join in and listen to the innovative ways Dr. Apron and Monica have been able to learn, experience as well as communicate their work in science. Whether it's through “beer and science” or through a future flash mob…ResourcesBeer and Sciencehttps://stories.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/beer-and-science/index.htmlPublic engagement is key for the future of science researchhttps://www.nature.com/articles/npjscilearn201610AAAS Communication Toolkithttps://www.aaas.org/resources/communication-toolkit10 ideas to spread word about your sciencehttps://medium.com/sparrho/10-ideas-to-get-people-talk-about-your-science-fc3d411da59aCrowdsourcing in Health and Health Research: A Practical Guidehttps://www.who.int/tdr/publications/year/2018/crowdsourcing-practical-guide/en/ Guest informationDr. Arporn  Wangwiwatsin grew up in Thailand, spent a good ten years in the UK. She is now a lecturer at Khon Kaen University. Her scientific endeavour is primarily on parasitic diseases, bile duct cancer, and catching up with the new genomics development. Public engagement is an outlet for her artistic side. Twitter: @akoiwangDr. Monica Abrudan, Training Development Lead in the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance (CGPS), at the University of Oxford, where she develops courses in pathogen genomics and bioinformatics. She became interested in science communication during her PhD in Microbial Ecology and Evolution at the University of Manchester. Twitter: @MonicaAbrudan AcknowledgementsEditing by Mariana Vaz, https://www.marianacpvaz.com/Research: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice MatimbaProducers: Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer), Emmanuela Oppong (Producer)Host: Emmanuela OppongMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic:  https://freesound.org/s/477388/ SponsorsACSC: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomegenomecampus.orgWSI: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/