How to write a peer reviewed research paper | Full road map...

Academic Peer Review

In this section, the speaker discusses how academic writing and peer-reviewed publication is a skill that can be learned. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being open to feedback and looking at what's already published in one's field.

Learning to Write Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Academic writing and peer-reviewed publication is a skill that can be learned.

• Being open to receiving feedback is crucial when submitting first drafts.

• Looking at what's already published in one's field can help with style, phrases, and organization.

How to Publish a Peer Review Paper

In this section, the speaker discusses how to determine if data is worthy of peer review. They also discuss how to put together an overall story for the paper.

Determining If Data Is Worthy of Peer Review

• Data should be novel, new, or the best of something.

• Combining two things like never before could also trigger a peer review.

Putting Together an Overall Story for the Paper

• Start by putting together a single phrase that captures what your paper is about.

• Don't overcomplicate it; focus on what you're reporting in your paper.

• Once you have an overall story for your paper, start putting together data such as figures and tables.

Organizing Your Science Story

In this section, the speaker discusses how they organize their science stories. They emphasize using figures and tables as visual aids.

Using Figures and Tables as Visual Aids

• Figures and tables are great visual aids for organizing science stories.

• Use figures and tables to lay out information so you can connect scientific concepts more easily.

The Steps of a Science Story

• A science story is essentially problem, background, solution, and recommendations/limitations.

• The results section is the "this is what I found" part of the paper.

Tips for Writing a Research Paper

In this section, the speaker provides tips on how to write a research paper. The tips include creating an outline, developing a template based on papers in your field, and writing the experimental section first.

Creating an Outline

• Once you have all of your figures and tables together, create an outline.

• Outlines are field-specific but generally include abstract, introduction, methodology (which can be at the end), results and discussion (or just results or discussion), conclusions, and acknowledgments.

• Create a template for your paper by printing off 10 well-known research papers in your area. Write down what they are trying to achieve and show in each section or sentence.

• Use the template to create headings and subheadings for your paper.

Writing the Experimental Section First

• Write the experimental section first because it is easier to write than other sections.

• Once you have a good experimental section for your first paper, you can copy and paste it into future papers if the equipment and methods stay relatively similar.

Other Tips

• Use subheadings to make it easy to know exactly what you need to talk about where.

• Do not write a research paper in the order that it is presented to the audience because that is not efficient.

Organizing Your Scientific Paper

In this section, the speaker discusses how to organize a scientific paper.

Building from Figures

• Tables and figures should be laid out in the order that they appear.

• Think about how to tie everything together with words.

• Build out from the figures by explaining what is shown in each figure.

Results and Discussion

• Point out what the viewer or reader should see and how it impacts the overall story.

• Bullet point main conclusions initially, then flesh them out into simple sentences.

Writing a Title

• The title is essentially clickbait for your paper.

• Use power words to create a title that tells readers exactly what you've done in a succinct way.

• Avoid using acronyms or field-specific terminology.

Introduction

• Start broad to give context, but quickly narrow down to your specific topic.

• Avoid starting like other papers in your field.

Conclusion

• Keep it simple and focused on 2 or 3 main points.

• Bullet point initially, then flesh them out into simple sentences.

Writing a Scientific Paper

In this section, the speaker discusses the structure of a scientific paper and provides tips on how to write an effective introduction, abstract, and acknowledgments.

Structure of a Scientific Paper

• The order in which you should write your paper is: title, introduction, abstract, experimental results and discussion, conclusions, acknowledgments.

• The introduction should start broad and become more narrow. It should end with a clear explanation of why the study was conducted.

• The abstract is a summary of the entire paper and should be about 300 words long. It's important to include key results in the abstract.

• Acknowledgments are written just before sending off the paper for peer review. They should thank anyone who has helped with the research or provided funding.

Tips for Writing an Effective Introduction

• Start broad and become more narrow.

• End with a clear explanation of why the study was conducted.

• Use a reverse pyramid structure.

Tips for Writing an Effective Abstract

• Include key results in the abstract.

• Use templates if necessary.

Tips for Writing Effective Acknowledgments

• Thank anyone who has helped with research or provided funding.

• Acknowledge institutions that have enabled your research.

Getting Feedback on Your Paper

• Send your draft to supervisors or postdocs who can turn it around quickly.

• Don't let perfectionism stop you from sending out your first draft.

• Accept feedback and learn from it.

When Is Your Paper Ready to Publish?

• If collaborators start asking when they can see it, then it's probably ready to publish.

Peer Review Process

In this section, the speaker talks about the peer review process and how to format a document for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Corrections in Peer Review

• Corrections in peer review are not necessarily about research but rather someone's ego.

• It is important to remember that as long as the science is not being tackled, people can correct words or phrases without affecting the research.

• When corrections become too much, it's time to submit the document.

Formatting for Submission

• After submitting a document, it needs to be formatted according to the requirements of the peer-reviewed journal.

• The speaker would take a Word document and format it accordingly.

Seeking Help

• While this summary covers most PhD research fields, there are still many tiny details specific to each field that one should know.

• Seek help if needed when writing a peer review paper. It is technical and dense and not particularly intuitive.

• You will get better with practice.

Learning from Experience

• Don't expect yourself to know everything when writing your first paper.

• The speaker's first paper was essentially rewritten by their supervisor.

• Comments like "don't put the cart before the horse" may seem confusing at first but you will learn as you go along.

Conclusion

• Writing a peer review paper can be challenging but seeking help and learning from experience can make it easier.