Soft skills to be happy and productive in science / academia

Is being a successful academic just about working hard and getting publications? Nope! Well, a good work ethic and publication output are important. But there’s so much more to surviving and thriving in academia than just having a good CV.

I’ve been an academic for over 20 years, and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about why some academics thrive while others struggle. I don’t claim to have all the answers (actually, in true academic form: I mostly just have questions), but I wanted to share my thoughts and observations with you.

Therefore, the purpose of this course is to provide an overview of "soft skills" that are important for a successful and satisfying career in academia. You don’t have to take this course as an Absolute Truth; instead I hope that you find the discussions to be inspiring and thought-provoking. Many decisions in academia are lifestyle choices, and therefore I hope that this course will help you reflect on your own choices, preferences, and goals.

In addition to the video lectures, the course comes with an 80-page ebook (pdf format) that provides additional details about each topic.

If you are in academia or are considering a career in academia, then I hope you find this short course informative and useful!