Juan Villegas

Mechatronics and Microsystems Engineer. PhD Student in Photonics at NYU Abu Dhabi.

[NYU Abu Dhabi @NYUAbuDhabi]

"It was a hard process, it was long but you did it. Stay kind, stay humble, and keep doing a great job." We're so proud of the graduating class, you've all done an amazing job! For more on the Class of 2023, visit https://t.co/Tx7FrseAH0

[NYU Abu Dhabi @NYUAbuDhabi]

"Take pride in your tenacity, curiosity, resilience, unwavering dedication, and exceptional talents. Continue to embrace your individuality, foster understanding across cultures, and make a lasting impact on our world," Ghaya Mohammed Alshamsi, our welcome speaker

[NYU Abu Dhabi @NYUAbuDhabi]

Here are some of the highlights of Commencement 2023. We are so proud of this year's graduating class!

[National Academy of Sciences @theNASciences]

Congratulations Benjamin G. Neel of @nyuniversity, newly inducted #NASmember! #NAS160 #biology #oncology

[Andrew Akbashev @Andrew_Akbashev]

All Editors of NeuroImage (IF = 7) resigned because Elsevier didn’t want to reduce the hefty publication fee (it’s $3,450 !!!). And then started their OWN journal!

Just a reminder - the profit margin for academic publishing often reaches 40% (while for non-academic - 15%).

Obviously, who would reduce the profits to 15% only to make authors happy? It’s all about business. Profits should NOT drop.

This is one of the reasons why we have to pay A LOT to publish an open-access #research paper.

Let's look at numbers. NeuroImage publishes ~1,000 articles per year and it’s fully open access. Thus, it gives ~ $3.5 million in direct revenue from APC.

In the letter, the editors say that “the estimates of direct article costs at relevant journals are generally around $1,000 or lower”, which gives you some idea of profit margins just from this journal.

At first, the editors proposed a compromise by reducing the APC to $2000. However, after some “battles”, Elsevier stated that “the APC would not be reduced because they believe that market forces support the current APC”.

Outcome of this situation?

1. All 40 editors have resigned.

2. All editors decided to start a new NON-profit journal “Imaging Neuroscience”:
- It's under MIT Press
- Fees <50% of the current APC for NeuroImage
- The overall scope, quality level and entire editorial team will be the same as previously for NeuroImage
- The APC will be WAIVED for low- or middle-income countries.

My thoughts:

1. It is a great move by the editors. As I know how academics love to disagree with each other, I find this cooperative nature of their efforts mind-blowing.

2. This sets an example of how an editorial team can make their own journal.

3. This can be the beginning of a major shift in academic publishing.
Big changes take much time. But milestone events are often noticeable, and this resignation is clearly one of them.

Finally, all this suggests that prestige of a journal should NOT originate only from the impact factor and editorial board members.

It should be also based on how accessible the APC is for an average research group.

#science #AcademicTwitter

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@angryfermion There is no way science can attract real smart offering this life, while any suitable consultancy firm offers much better. And thinking that a 16h in lab trainee that comes back to this = efficient workforce is completely nuts.

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@angryfermion Anyone celebrating this is sad! It’s worrisome that science trainees would need to live in these conditions anywhere, especially while their skills are good. And the “I also struggled through my studies” excuse is even more sad.

[ACS Photonics @ACSPhotonics]

This new special issue marks a significant milestone in the establishment of a community devoted to advancing research in optimized #photonics and inverse design, representing a pivotal moment in its maturation and development.

Read it here ➡️ https://t.co/S22AvGEaug

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@AstroMikeMerri Looking forward to seeing your insights in the conference? Will it be in hybrid mode??

[Optica @OpticaWorldwide]

UNDEFEATED - https://t.co/eWXVKBHAZo

#OpticaFellow Laura Lechuga, an entrepreneur and professional in biosensors, works to break barriers for #WomenInSTEM, telling the #OpticaCommunity “You need to be able to confront people and contest what they say when they challenge you.”

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@OpticaWorldwide @IsaAguileraC @UnivalleCol It’s coming home!! Felicitaciones @IsaAguileraC , y buena suerte en tu doctorado! 🥼🧪

[Optica @OpticaWorldwide]

Congratulations Isabella Aguilera (@UnivalleCol), a 2023 #OpticaFoundation Women Scholar!

Isabella is starting her Ph.D. soon to enhance her scientific skillset and personal and professional growth.

Learn more about Isabella and the Scholars - https://t.co/u0wwZlSDcd

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@rnsoicher 🥳👏👏👏

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@Orad The article itself is crap … on graphene.

[Markus Deserno @MarkusDeserno]

It’s quite surprising how many people in academia think that bullying is just some random character flaw, rather than something bullies purposefully engage in to foster their own career.

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

Need some mode diversity and have little space?? Check how our group used sub-wavelength structures to make small 2mode TE multiplexers in Silicon. Fresh from the oven of @JrnlLT and open access: https://t.co/1wXETIddJt @NYUADEng @NYUADResearch #photonics #optics #silicon

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@johnmdudley Perhaps cheesechasing?? https://t.co/xzRQoOigkN

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

On the rise of mega journals: https://t.co/x1aDPSQZPN

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@Brink_Thinker It sort of sounded like a very nice plan until the offer of the money prize.

[Juan Villegas @jevillegasd]

@PhDVoice @PostdocVoice Using AI normally makes the writing sloppy and unengaging. The more you use AI tools to help writing, the more superficial your reasoning will be (or the more time you will need to correct and update what the AI did). At least a the moment it’s rather easy to spot ChatGPT text.