Research


How to Build a Productive Morning Routine as a Grad Student

February 15, 2026

How to build a productive morning routine that actually fits grad school, starting with "Step Zero".

How to Find Research Papers: The System I Wish I Had in My First PhD Year

February 6, 2026

Learn how to find research papers quickly using the workflow I built in my PhD: seed papers, Google Scholar + Scopus, citation mapping tools, and alerts.

How to Organize Research Papers: A Simple System that Saved My PhD

January 28, 2026

Knowing how to organize research papers is a superpower for graduate students. Here are some tips to help you get started.

How to Choose the Best Colors for a Scientific Presentation?

January 17, 2026

Choosing one or two colors for a scientific presentation from the one million colors accessible will always be difficult. Here's a simple three-step process to find the best colors for your next presentation.

Before You Email That Professor: A Research-First Strategy for Emailing PhD Supervisors

December 13, 2025

Most PhD supervisor emails fail before they’re even written. This post explains a research-first strategy for emailing PhD supervisors that gets replies and opens doors to your dream program.

4:3 vs 16:9 Aspect Ratio: How to Design Your PowerPoint Slides Like a Movie Director

October 25, 2025

Is the “4:3 vs 16:9 aspect ratio” debate settled? Is 4:3 outdated, and how to use both ratios for maximum impact in your next PowerPoint presentation?

Why PhD Applications Get Rejected (and How to Avoid Them)

October 12, 2025

So, you’ve just received another dreaded “We regret to inform you” email. Here are the most common reasons PhD applications get rejected, and how you can avoid them to improve your chances of getting in.

How to Write an Email to a Potential Supervisor (With Examples)

September 14, 2025

So, you need to write an email a potential supervisor, but don’t know where to start? It can feel overwhelming to figure out what to say and how to manage all the back-and-forth. This post will help with all that.

How I Finally Found the Best Note-Taking App for Personal Knowledge Management

August 31, 2025

Struggling with note-taking apps? Discover how I built a personal knowledge management system that finally works.

How to Choose an Academic Supervisor

August 19, 2025

Struggling to choose an academic supervisor? Here’s how to find the right one for your success.