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Learning through failure, evaluated by results

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Learning through failure, evaluated by results

Uncertainty is ever-present in research because we want to learn about what is not yet known. However, it is hard to embrace uncertainty when evaluations expect a constant output of results. Here, Jung Uk Kang explains how this dichotomy affects ECRs and how it can limit creativity in science.

23 Jul 2026 • 4 min read

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Getting to know our editorial team: Carolina Quezada

Getting to know our editorial team: Carolina Quezada

Carolina is the heart and soul of our editorial team! Believing in the power of communication to unify us, she helps grow ecrLife in its mission to highlight the imperfections of our research culture and open up the conversation with the goal of bringing about change.

ecrLife editors

29 Apr 2021 • 4 min read

My service in the Air Force made me a better scientist

My service in the Air Force made me a better scientist

Pathways that lead to science are not straight forward: life usually doesn’t fit the patterns we draw. In this post, we can see that every experience can be taken as an opportunity for personal growth. The skills needed to achieve our purposes can come to us, very often, in unexpected shapes.

22 Apr 2021 • 5 min read

ecrLife spotlight: Steven Burgess

ecrLife spotlight: Steven Burgess

Today we have the pleasure to introduce you to our founder! In this post, we travel around ecrLife beginnings, and explore the views and motivations that drove Steven Burgess to actively promote Open Science, Preprint publishing and protocol transparency.

ecrLife editors

15 Apr 2021 • 5 min read

Making science more understandable

Making science more understandable

Misinformation is one of the biggest problems of the internet era. What is our role as scientists? What is the best way to contribute, and communicate science to society? In this post, Elisabeth Marnik presents a list of key points to address these issues and make science more approachable.

Elisabeth Marnik

8 Apr 2021 • 5 min read

Why you should publish your work as a Preprint - A conversation with Dr. Prachee Avasthi

Why you should publish your work as a Preprint - A conversation with Dr. Prachee Avasthi

We had the chance to talk to Prachee Avasthi, president of ASAPBio, who answered all our questions about preprints. She showed us how early career scientists can get involved in the publishing and reviewing process of preprints, and how it can benefit us all!

Nele Haelterman, ecrLife editors

1 Apr 2021 • 7 min read

Finding Your Tribe

Finding Your Tribe

We know how hard it can be to decide (and define) a career path once you get your PhD. In this post, Natalia Bielczyk explains the importance of channeling our efforts into finding the right people and the right environment to develop our potential(s) and thrive.

Natalia Bielczyk

25 Mar 2021 • 4 min read

A compilation of web-based resources you should know about as a scientist

A compilation of web-based resources you should know about as a scientist

Do you ever feel lost trying to stay on top of the latest research-related softwares, programs and websites? In this post, we share the work of James Ducker, a PhD student who created a synthesised resource database that contains several useful links, especially for early career scientists.

James Ducker, Carolina Paz Quezada

18 Mar 2021 • 3 min read

Finding a path forward after experiencing academic bullying

Finding a path forward after experiencing academic bullying

How do you handle a toxic work environment in which you are the target of bullying? Pause, step back, breathe and analyze the situation in an organized manner before taking action.

Margherita Perillo

11 Mar 2021 • 6 min read

Getting to know our editorial team: Ewoud Compeer

Getting to know our editorial team: Ewoud Compeer

Ewoud is one of our newest editors, and he is a jewel. He has moved all over the world on a quest to stay up to speed with cutting-edge microscopy techniques. Living in different environments has helped him gain a broad understanding of the scientific culture and a drive to help improve it.

ecrLife editors

4 Mar 2021 • 4 min read

The real-life experience of a deaf scientist studying in different cultures

The real-life experience of a deaf scientist studying in different cultures

How does studying in societies with varying degree of unconscious biases change the opportunities of deaf people to become successful scientists? Read the analysis of this topic through the eyes of a foreign deaf scientist in the US.

Tom (Lok Ming) Tam

25 Feb 2021 • 6 min read

Why you should consider university-industry collaboration and how to engage in one

Why you should consider university-industry collaboration and how to engage in one

Are you interested in collaborating with industry, but don't know where or how to start? This blog post has some great clues for you to kickstart the process.

Sharon Gill, Ruth Kirk

18 Feb 2021 • 5 min read

Getting to know our editorial team: Devang Mehta

Getting to know our editorial team: Devang Mehta

Devang has been a key member of our editorial team, transforming ecrLife into the diverse and active space it is. He has helped so much, using diverse platforms, in helping early career researcher find and amplify their voice. Above all, he himself has been a very inspirational voice for many of us.

ecrLife editors

11 Feb 2021 • 5 min read

Getting to know our editorial team: Carolina Makowski

Getting to know our editorial team: Carolina Makowski

ecrLife editors

4 Feb 2021 • 3 min read

Getting to know our editorial team: Antonia de Maio

Getting to know our editorial team: Antonia de Maio

ecrLife editors

28 Jan 2021 • 3 min read

The Invisible Barriers in STEM Education faced by Hard-of-hearing/Deaf Scientists

The Invisible Barriers in STEM Education faced by Hard-of-hearing/Deaf Scientists

Tom (Lok Ming) Tam

21 Jan 2021 • 6 min read

Disability in STEM: A conversation with Dr. Mahita Jarjapu

Disability in STEM: A conversation with Dr. Mahita Jarjapu

Madhumala Sadanandappa

14 Jan 2021 • 6 min read

ecrLife: Towards a more accessible and inclusive scientific culture

ecrLife: Towards a more accessible and inclusive scientific culture

Succeeding as an ECR means overcoming challenges, but we should all have equal opportunity to achieve our goals. Realizing that much needs to be done to make our scientific environment more inclusive, ecrLife is creating a space to share experiences and ideas to make science more accessible

ecrLife editors, Nele Haelterman

7 Jan 2021 • 2 min read

A Call to Support Professional Development for Early Career Researchers

A Call to Support Professional Development for Early Career Researchers

An academic career is no longer the only career goal for PhD graduates. A plethora of job opportunities exist, but do ECRs have the support and resources available to successfully transition into the career of their dreams?

eLife Ambassadors' Career Development Initiative

17 Dec 2020 • 6 min read

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