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[science_expat]

As many of you know, I've recently become director of a small research institute in my university. I feel that part of my role is to help graduate students and post-docs develop their careers - while their supervisors focus on specific topics, I want to help them with the bigger picture.

For example, today I ran a workshop on writing effective research proposals. I introduced the basics, provided examples of 3 successful applications (1 with reviewers' comments), and described many tips and tricks. The questions were flying and the feedback was very good.

Related to this, I'm setting up a "proposal bank" of funded applications, including reviewers' comments where possible, which will be open to all staff and grad. students. However, I'm wondering whether I should also develop a small library of helpful books. For instance, I'm currently reading "How to write a lot" and think it would be very useful to newish researchers. I also know that my professional organization has a great publication on applying for jobs both within and outside academia.

Any suggestions for what books I should try to include if I were to to put such a collection together?

Cheers,
SE

[altim]

Andy Friedland's "Writing Successful Science Proposals"

"How to Get Started in Research" from the Council on Undergraduate Research (www.cur.org)

They have some other resources that might be of interest too:
"How to Mentor Undergraduate Researchers"
"How To Get A Tenure-Track Position At A Predominantly Undergraduate Institution"
"How To Develop and Administer Institutional Undergraduate Research Programs"

[resis]

_How to Write a Lot_ is a very good choice. I also recommend _Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing_.

Because productive writing is strongly related to time-management skills, I also recommend the time-management advice in this book:

_The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich_

As the title suggests, the book contains plenty of horse***t; but the author's ideas on managing time and the power of effective delegating are golden.

[scotia]

I often recommend 'Economical Writing' by Deirdre McCloskey. It was written with economists in mind but applies to writing in general. It is short and an easy read but makes some good points. One of my colleagues has added it to his 'required readings' list for new PhD students and research fellows. I aim to read it at least once a year to stop myself falling into bad habits.

[thundering_m]

Nihil Nihus by Boice

[namazu]

I recommend Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty, which is available for free online from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.  It used to be available in hard copy as well (free for the asking), but that may no longer be the case. 

Though the book is, as the title suggests, geared toward "postdocs and new faculty", much of the information would also be useful to grad students working in settings with a "lab group"/"working group" setup.  Here are the main chapter headings:

"Obtaining and Negotiating a Faculty Position
Understanding University Structure and Planning for Tenure
Laboratory Leadership in Science
Staffing Your Laboratory
Mentoring and Being Mentored
Time Management
Project Management
Data Management and Laboratory Notebooks
Getting Funded
Getting Published and Increasing Your Visibility
Understanding Technology Transfer
Setting Up Collaborations
Teaching and Course Design"