What makes a great researcher: tools and skills

Louisa Flintoft, Executive Editor, BMC Flagship journals & Chief Editor, Genome Biology, Biological Sciences A skill that I’ve found crucial, both in my research days and now as an editor, is the ability to get on well with other people. For example, when I was doing my PhD, I worked in a small and not very well funded lab, and so I relied a lot on people from other groups to show me techniques and let me use their equipment. It really helped that I was sociable in my department, I am not the world’s most extroverted person; but I made the effort to get to know a lot of people. Because people knew me they were much more likely to help out. I would try to be a good colleague in return, helping out where I could, for example by turning off an electrophoresis gel for someone at a certain time, so that they could get a proper lunch break. As an editor, it’s essential to have a good scientific network, built up through discussions at conferences and lab visits. This is the only way to keep in touch with what’s important in the research community and to be in tune with controversies and challenges. I also work with a large number of colleagues within BMC and Springer Nature. I’ve found it very important to get to know people from different journals and departments, to understand the bigger picture of how publishing works, and to know who to ask for help if it’s needed. And again, I try to help in return where I can, for example, by giving talks on how editorial wor...
Source: BioMed Central Blog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Publishing SpotOn Source Type: blogs