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Publishing and presenting are part of a larger professional whole, and we need to ensure that our "whole" receives the same attention and strategic thought as our papers. I recently read a book titled The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by M.D. Watkins. Watkins takes the reader through the many considerations relevant when changing companies and jobs, which includes newly minted PhD students taking their first job (Academe or Industry). But the learnings are not just applicable when starting a new job—the frameworks, questions and suggestions are also helpful for anyone doing their own internal 360-degree review. My copy has extensive markings and notes.

I recently came across a great resource for graphing data—Stephanie Evergreen's webpage. Stephanie consults for Industry, and she has a few books about good graphs and presenting ideas well. I'm currently reading Effective Data Visualization, 2nd ed.

You may know Umberto Eco (https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/5856/the-art-of-fiction-no-197-umberto-eco): professor and writer. These two aspects of his life are on display in one of his books: How to write a thesis. He wrote this with the Humanities in mind, but there are several tips relevant to the Sciences. I highlight for you my favorite tips:

• Before you begin your research remember the following: "[S]tudying is not simply gathering information, but is the critical elaboration of an experience."
  • You are meant to synthesize data (past and collected in the present by you) and use those findings to contribute to our general understanding of the world; you are not just performing a review of the past.
• Do not over-commit. You should choose a topic that is specific and manageable. Science progresses one small step by one small step.
• And as a corollary to that: "[T]he more you narrow [your] field, the better and more safely you will work."
• Do not over-reach when you state potential applications. Articles are full of "potential" applications that are never realized, mainly because Industry doesn't have the time or resources to commit to every idea a graduate student dreams up. If you have a good idea, form a start-up.
• Once you begin writing be certain that you are clear and specific enough that anyone can re-create your work. The Scientific Process is built on repeatability and verification.
• Do not quote from a secondary source; always go to the primary source for a quote/reference.
  • The exception is if you're discussing how the secondary source used the information. Regardless, I still recommend going to the primary source.
• "Write everything that comes into your head, but only in the first draft."
• "Your thesis exists to prove the hypothesis that you devised at the outset, not to show the breadth of your knowledge."