Dr Michael Wiese

Lecturer in Pharmacotherapeutics,School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences,

University of South Australia

My StoryGraduated B. Pharm in 1997Worked in hospital pharmacy (primarily Hobart)

from 1997-2008Was involved in research during this time

Four publications accepted prior toBegan PhD (via UniSA) externally in mid 2002Completed end of 2007

Three first author publications (1st of 6 or 7)Two second author publications (2nd of 3 and 4)

Entered academia in October 2008School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

My PhDHealth Sciences field

Allergy/immunology and pharmaceutical sciences

Title: Definition of the Allergic Components and Pharmaceutical Development of Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper) Ant Venom for Immunotherapy

Essentially 3 experimental chapters, each published as a full-length research article

What you needEssential Ingredients

Something worthwhile publishingPersonal desire to publishPatience and determination

Very Useful IngredientsSupportive supervisors and colleaguesA plan (get the most from your work)Self-belief and thick skin

Things you don’t needWriting style

The PlanSimilar to the timeline in your research proposalPlot out:

What you think will be in each chapter Think about what can be in a paper(s) (all or some)

When you will do the work/get the dataWhen you will write it up

Think about what suits you (eg dedicated vs spread out)Think about target journals early

May influence how you collect your data/what data you collect

Why Did I Publish?Expectation

Inward expectation/desireExternal (implied) expectation

Publishing culture from supervisors and within my research groupIf you don’t have this, get into it from your

peers, colleagues, attendance at seminars, conferences etc..

A publication is arguably the best thing you can ‘give back’ to your supervisor(s)

Where to Publish?Often difficult, as you don’t have a clear

perspectiveOften think it is more or less significant than it

isAdvice from supervisors and colleaguesJournals that you know, like and have readMaximise impact – considerations include

Impact FactorERA Ratings (A*, A, B or C)Other (eg looking for a target audience)

Challenges When PublishingIt is difficult and requires lots of work

This may be dedicated slabs of timeHowever, a good paper often requires time for reflection

When do you have enough dataPublication strategy (whats the next paper?)

Managing co-authorsParticularly as a studentWriting styles are particularly difficult to manageHowever, they are very useful if they have good

publication recordsHow do you handle criticism?

Reviewer reports are often frustrating It appears they didn’t read the manuscript thoroughly

Benefits of PublicationImmediate Benefits

Goal settingTangible steps towards completion – enjoy the highs

Because there will be plenty of lows

Medium Term BenefitsExperimental component of PhD Thesis was

essentially re-formatting accepted manuscripts This had been through peer review

Thesis was therefore passed with (very) minor changes

Forces a re-evaluation of the literature

Benefits of PublicationLong Term, Unexpected and/or Intangible

BenefitsEarns respect from colleaguesPublications assisted in obtaining research grantsWon a small cash prize

Took wife to dinnerKeep your eye on the future

Publications look good on a CV If you plan to stay in academia, you will be judged on

your publication record That starts now!

Publications

Grants

New Job/Promotion

2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Start PhD

Most of experimental

work

Submit paper 1

2003

Start paper 1

Start paper 2

Submit paper 2

Birth of Child 1

Birth of Child 2

Submit paper 3

Start paper 3

Write thesis

Submit thesis

PhD Conferred

LIFE

WORK

Working (0.8FTE average)

Wife

Other things…Don’t underestimate the benefit of work-life balanceKnow yourself and how you operate bestPhD Candidature is a tremendous opportunityYour PhD is the one time that you are focussed on a single

projectFor example, I am currently involved in 8 distinct projectsMake the most of the sacrifice you have made – it

can set-up your careerGet the most out of your PhD – you can get so much more

than 2 letters and a piece of paper It can set you up for a job or research fellowship

immediately following your PhD