Katie Sieving

Avian Ecology Prof at UF; Parid freak

[Manoj Singh @PracticalSpy]

@fasc1nate @HinduFirstOfAll Jadav Payeng, the Indian man who planted one tree every day for 37 years on Majuli Island. He has now created a forest and wildlife reserve twice the size of Central Park in New York.

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

Lemon Chiffon Sparrow

[That Bird Guy! @JeffreyMWard]

LET’S RENAME!

LeConte’s Sparrow
Go!
📸: Greg Lasley

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

New paper showing URI laser scarecrows deter sweet corn foraging. Proud of Sean Manz (MSc WEC/UF) for getting this complex study accomplished! @UF @UF_IFAS @UFWildlife
https://t.co/QJYbtBvjUV

[Vincent Ledvina @Vincent_Ledvina]

Last night in Fairbanks we had some amazing pink colors caued by high-energy nitrogen emissions during a brief but intense substorm.

I like to call this "watermelon aurora." 🍉

[Dr. Akito Kawahara @Dr_Akito]

We're hiring again! #TenureTrack Curator/Professor Butterflies & moths. Special interest in those studying global change, popbio, ecology/evolution, invasives, development. Starting salary to $105,000. Due Jan 5. Please share! https://t.co/aNZDTeYaY4 @FloridaMuseum #McGuireCenter

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

I am grateful for this paper on how to use random effects in GLMMX - sensible! https://t.co/u9lNCmFeHk

[Max Tegmark @tegmark]

It would have been sooooo shocking to read this just 6 months ago - it’s wild how fast things are changing!

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

Cavemen didn't turn up their noses at fire... Why should scientists snub AI tools!? How ChatGPT is transforming the postdoc experience https://t.co/1bbJSdNE0f

[Karen Bailey @karnebe]

I'm hiring a postdoc! Come work with me on pesticides, human health, and wildlife interactions in Uganda!
https://t.co/tLQckO2os5

[Eamon C. Corbett @eamon_corbett]

In writing my bird eye color review paper, I’ve looked at thousands of bird eyes. Here’s a thread of my top 10 favorites ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Why do birds have all these crazy eye colors? Check out our paper, out now in Ibis: https://t.co/dHysSY1Fr8

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

This woman is a Bodhisattva... But it's true - NSF/NIH largely have to fund 'safe science'.
Katalin Karikó Has Thoughts on How to Support Shunned Scholars Like Her https://t.co/QcAolPPrsQ

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

This is a terrific article concerning what comes next in higher ed admissions. Change is an opportunity. https://t.co/OYkvD8joPQ

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

via @NYTOpinion https://t.co/yFkSTpnN7S

[Ed Yong is not here @edyong209]

🐦I wrote a piece about the movement to stop naming animals after people--and to remove existing eponyms.

It's a story about righting science's historical wrongs, but also about reconsidering the responsibilities inherent in naming things. 1/

https://t.co/tAg8MRGvD3

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

A monolithic group of scientists will bring many of the same preconceived notions to their work. But a group of many backgrounds will bring different points of view that decrease the chance that one prevailing set of views will bias the outcome. https://t.co/ca8ymBYay3

[Ken Gioeli @kengioeli]

Getting ready for the sold out UF Extension Wildflower Bioblitz in St Lucie County on Friday. Much thanks to Dr Corey Callaghan with Ft Lauderdale REC for his help setting up our iNaturalist geofence. @UF_IFAS @LourdesRodrigM1

[Dan Baldassarre @evornithology]

🔊 FOLKS! Let’s face it: warblers put asses in seats, so the team here at #AwesomeBirds has been working around the clock to bring you some juicy warbler content. This video features one with a very un-warblery song. 🤔 Bonus points if you can name all the background species!

[Albert Rapp @rappa753]

This book will give you superpowers:

R for Data Science

2 Years ago, I started my #rstats journey with this book. And since then, I've used what this book taught me every single day.

Absolutely best place to get started with R. And it's free. 🥳

https://t.co/BxBVrEehM1

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

Let’s help @WalmartInc to do this terrific thing! Just like they did w/big box lighting - all the box stores would follow - Plus shade for all who enter the pavement desert

[Katie Sieving @baeolophus]

Totally agree!

[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