Rafael Alves Batista

Physics Professor at @Sorbonne_Univ_. Previously: @UniOfOxford, @Radboud_Uni, @UAM_Madrid, @USPonline, @UniHH. Research:🔭📡⚛️🧲🌌. Tweets (🇬🇧/🇧🇷) my own.

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

We have a 2-year postdoc position in astroparticle physics, to work in the @GRANDneutrino group at @astroIAP .
More information here:
https://t.co/N32er4XySy

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

Quem tiver interesse, vou dar um webinar sobre "Coincidências Cósmicas e a Natureza das Leis Físicas" no canal do youtube da Sociedade Brasileira de Física (@sbfisica) hoje, 07/11, às 19:00.

https://t.co/c7AeQawL3Y

[IAP @astroIAP]

💫Venez fêter la science @astroIAP, qui ouvrira ses portes dimanche 13 octobre, programme (très) complet 🦾📣https://t.co/bc188C7MFU #mediationINSU @INSU_CNRS @CNRS_Paris @Sorbonne_Univ_ @ScienceSorbonne @FeteScience #FDS2024

[Ivo Freitas Teixeira @ivofreitas]

👩‍🔬⚗️👨‍🔬🧪Nosso grupo está com uma vaga de pós-doc aberta. Inscrições até dia 31/07/2024.
Por favor, espalhem a palavra!
https://t.co/7BxTLrJDDK

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

P.S.: In my previous post I incorrectly announced a "PhD position".

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

I'm offering a *postdoctoral* position (@astroIAP) to work in topics related to high-energy astroparticle physics and @GRANDneutrino.
https://t.co/GEtu8Gq7oq

[Mohsen Joshanloo @MohsenJoshanloo]

My new research: No link between zodiac sign & subjective well-being and quality of life (distress, job satisfaction, happiness, etc.). Zodiac sign did not outperform random numbers. Challenging astrological myths and stereotypes.

Free to read: https://t.co/WmCeq8tqNx

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

Our recent work correlating gamma tays observed by Fermi with (ultra-high-energy) cosmic rays. UHECR sources seem to be gamma-ray dim.

[AAS Nova @AASNova]

Seeking the Sources of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays

New research examines whether the sources of the highest-energy photons could also be the sources of the highest-energy charged particles. https://t.co/F2U8oPmTln

[GRAND: Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection @GRANDneutrino]

BREAKING: The site for GRANDProto300 gets official approval!
Check it out ▶️ https://t.co/6aTnhzB1S6

[ED127 @ED_AAIF]

New PhD project
Searching for ultra-high-energy neutrinos with a giant radio array
with Rafael ALVES BATISTA @astroIAP
https://t.co/occHYruWS1
@Sorbonne_Univ_

[Fabio Iocco @curiousfabio]

Job opportunity!
We got Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics in Napoli, come come come!
To play with #EarlyUniverse #DarkMatter #Cosmology #Neutrinos #Astoparticle and much more. Contact me if you want more info! Deadline on Jan 5
https://t.co/VbZeJP1Nnc

[Jacklin Kwan @kwan_jacklin]

A crazy-high energy cosmic ray particle was detected in Utah

☀️ Researchers dubbed it #Amaterasu, after the Sun goddess

I speak to author Toshihiro Fujii (@pagochan) and expert Rafael Batista (@8rafael) about its origins 🔭🌌

My latest for @PhysicsWorld
https://t.co/9cvEyeXfLE

[Inst. Física Teórica @ift_uam_csic]

🌌 Are you a researcher in particle physics, cosmology, or quantum field theory?

The IFT in Madrid is calling for #postdoc applications!

Apply here by mid-December✍️https://t.co/uTDT4gOhhx

[Manel Perucho Pla @UniversViolent]

PhD position on Computational Relativistic Astrophysics at the University of València

Dear colleagues,
The group of Computational Relativistic Astrophysics of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of València offers a predoctoral (FPI) contract👇

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

But there is indeed a problem. The number of applicants is growing every year, there is no HR support, and academics are expected to parse through 100s of applications.
I have no idea how to solve this. But I do know that writing a generic email is the minimum I can do.

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

Not the first time I see attempts to justify this "phenomenon".
If you opened a #PhD/#postdoc position, the least you can do is send a *generic* rejection email.
You can only afford to be picky thanks to the people who invested time on their applications. Show some respect.

[Andrew Akbashev @Andrew_Akbashev]

You applied for a #PhD / postdoc position, but the professor does not reply to you. Why?

As many students are concerned about the lack of response, let me try to explain this phenomenon point by point:

▫️

1. In industry, recruiters and HR take care of the selection process. They are hired specifically for this.

BUT in academia, it is the professor’s job to find and hire the right person (and find time for that).

▫️

2. A typical faculty is HEAVILY overloaded by duties. It’s like being a CEO of a small company + HR + recruiting + R&D lead at the same time.

As a result, faculties are often struggling with finding time to reply to each candidate.

▫️

3. Many candidates ask for a response (and feedback) and expect engagement from the faculty.

Now, imagine you are a professor. You’re getting 5-15 emails per HOUR from colleagues, collaborators, funding agency, admins, students, etc.

But you can dedicate only 1-2 hours per day for ALL your emails. You will barely have time to scroll through your mailbox!

▫️

4. The number of candidates can exceed 300-400 per position, with many emails from candidates who expect replies.

So, as a result, professors often reply IF the candidate is of interest to them. Of course there are those who find time to send a short message to everyone, but such people are statistically rare.

▫️

So, my advice:

1️⃣ Apply and don’t wait for a reply. Submit your application to the groups that you would like to join. If you don’t get a reply, you can send a follow-up email but don’t do it many times.

2️⃣ Tailor your cover letter to the position, make it stand out. When competition is so high, you want your application to be memorable.

3️⃣ See the absence of reply as “no position”. And don’t stress over it. Finding the right fit takes time for all of us.

4️⃣ IF you are ready to invest into traveling:

- You can say that you will in their city/town, and if they are interested, you can visit their group and give a research talk (without any obligations from their side). If they agree, it may be your chance to present yourself in person.

▫️

Unfortunately, the academic system is constantly overloading faculties. This causes a lot of misunderstanding.

Many faculties wish they had that time to respond to everyone. I do my best to find this time. But it doesn’t always work out smoothly.

#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter

[Rafael Alves Batista @8rafael]

Academics: your time is not more valuable than other people's (except for you). Applicants are often under a lot of stress juggling many projects, writing dozens of applications, without even knowing if they will have a job next year. Don't be self-entitled.

[arXiv.BR 🇧🇷 @arXiv_BR]

'Science with the Global Cosmic-ray Observatory (GCOS)', @8rafael https://t.co/NpGCEZsV3j

[arXiv.BR 🇧🇷 @arXiv_BR]

'Modified particle lifetimes as a signature of deformed relativity', Pedro H. Morais, @8rafael+ https://t.co/GorJBjCwB5

[arXiv.BR 🇧🇷 @arXiv_BR]

'Axion-like particles and high-energy gamma rays: interconversion revisited', @8rafael+ https://t.co/hGIElY2bCI