Ningning Zhang

Postdoc in Geotechnical Engineering, teacher, RWTH Aachen

[Andrew Akbashev @Andrew_Akbashev]

As a professor, pursue the careers of your PhD students and postdocs instead of pursuing your own.

I know it may sound strange and even provocative. But in fact it is how it’s supposed to be.

Unfortunately, a personal gain is the biggest motivation for many professors. More publications, more awards, more invited talks…

Why? In addition to personal recognition, it can result in more funding and higher salaries (especially in the U.S.).

Many PIs say that their personal growth also helps their students get a better visibility. Plus, more funding brings in more students, which is (kind of) “great” for those students.

Others will say that their “tenure requirements are too demanding” and if they stop focusing on personal gain, they will be denied tenure.

In either case, I want you to think about the following:

1. When we focus on personal achievements, we lose track of the wellbeing and personal preferences of team members. Although it often feels like we still track it, in fact we become far less efficient at it. Students' progress and personal development are impeded. Their career opportunities become less diverse or even missed.

2. Concentrating too much funding in one big lab is NOT a good idea because it leads to PhD students receiving far less mentorship and research advising (than in smaller labs).

3. Tenure requirements often look intimidating to young professors. However, in reality, very few professors are denied tenure. Why? First, because any university invest big resources into TT professors and don’t want get rid of them without a big reason. Second, because departments often exaggerate the tenure challenges to ensure their young hires are “hard-working faculties”.

Many PIs think I am too idealistic and propose unrealistic ideas. And a lot of people will never agree with this post. Even myself, I can easily come up with bitter criticism over it.

However, idealism is among the biggest driving forces. It can drive you through challenging times and help improve.

In either case, I want you to think about the following:

1. When we focus on personal achievements, we lose track of the wellbeing and personal preferences of team members. Although it often feels like we still track it, in fact we become far less efficient at it. Students' progress and personal development are impeded. Their career opportunities become less diverse or even missed.

2. Concentrating too much funding in one big lab is NOT a good idea because it leads to PhD students receiving far less mentorship and research advising (than in smaller labs).

3. Tenure requirements often look intimidating to young professors. However, in reality, very few professors are denied tenure. Why? First, because any university invest big resources into TT professors and don’t want get rid of them without a big reason. Second, because departments often exaggerate the tenure challenges to ensure their young hires are “hard-working faculties”.

My message is:

If we all pursue the careers of your students/postdocs in the first place, this shift in priorities will make academia a much better world to live in.

I see an increasing number of faculties trying to genuinely care for their team members, in all countries and academic environments. It is all possible. Just do it. Make science better.

Oh, and don’t forget: 
Growth of your team members = Growth of yourself.

#AcademicTwitter #research #phdlife

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

A cake received after class. They said it is for my hard work.
Sweet and encouraging! Keep teaching well!

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

@janalasser A nice story of science

[Anna Clemens, PhD @scientistswrite]

As an academic writing coach, here are the 7 mistakes I see supervisors and PIs make in the process of co-writing a paper with their PhD students or mentees.

A thread. 🧵

#AcademicChatter #newPI #PhDchat

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

It seems easy for robots to move from point A to B in water and air, but definitely not in soils. In this paper, we explore fundamental phenomena in a A-to-B case (i.e. horizontal penetration) of future underground robots.

https://t.co/THsaZtz5uc

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

@MinYang60240731 The event took place already. Now you can watch the recorded videos https://t.co/bbB3l0J5a9

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

Today our prestigious speakers presented very interesting talks on bio-related research in the workshop 'Bio- and Intelligent Geotechnics'. Still another two sessions on Machine Learning Applications in Geotechnics will continue tomorrow from 8 am (CEST). Ready to join?

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

The recorded videos of the workshop are available now. Enjoy watching! 😊😉
https://t.co/bbB3l0J5a9

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

The program of the international workshop on 'Bio- and Intelligent Geotechnics' is out now. @Raul__Fuentes @HansHenning_St @MartVAlejandro @JulianTao25 will give interesting talks.
Link: https://t.co/xFXyJ4IZRS
ID: 994 1618 2232
Passcode: 612944

[UC Davis Civil & Environmental Engineering @ucdaviscee]

Our Department @UCDavisCOE is searching for a new faculty member in #Geotechnical Engineering. We are looking for an exceptional individual to develop a significant independent research program...
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
https://t.co/pvEIhwraEF

[Raul Fuentes @Raul__Fuentes]

Paper accepted in Granular Matter (@SpringerNature). Title: Horizontal penetration of a finite-length intruder in granular materials.
Authored by @NNing_Zhang 💪🦾
Links will follow soon.

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

@AbuQamarMI @MartVAlejandro Yes, all the sessions were recorded and now we are working on posting them.

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

Reminder: this interesting event will start in less than 14 hours, are you ready to join?

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

The program of the international workshop on 'Bio- and Intelligent Geotechnics' is out now. @Raul__Fuentes @HansHenning_St @MartVAlejandro @JulianTao25 will give interesting talks.
Link: https://t.co/xFXyJ4IZRS
ID: 994 1618 2232
Passcode: 612944

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

@IGT_Medicus I will be there

[Raul Fuentes @Raul__Fuentes]

Robot-Ground interaction Workshop in Assuois, France. 26-28 September 2022, part of Alert Geomaterials events.

If you are interested, send an Abstract (format here: https://t.co/23y3bxLzH5) by end of May.

@IEinav and I are organising.

It will be relaxed, fun and interesting!!

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

@TMatthewEvans Enjoy Matt! The vegetales are very good

[Raul Fuentes @Raul__Fuentes]

Recruiting for a PhD / Post-Doc on robotics & geomechanics.

Exciting opportunity to help developing a new lab on robot-ground interaction, carry out research and do some cool teaching.

Spread the word please and / or get in touch if interested. Link to be circulated soon.

[Ningning Zhang @NNing_Zhang]

@BudiZhao @lis_bowman @cathosull Incredible work!