Life hacks

Conference travel, gift giving and other life hacks

How to find skirts with pockets

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If you have followed my poster skirt story, you might know that my clothes MUST have pockets. Even in 2019, this is somewhat challenging. This causes various problems, including wearing a microphone when speaking.

There are many articles showing how bad the situation is and how we got here. However, I am determined to bring back pockets to women’s clothes.  Here are the strategies I use to still find skirts and dresses with pockets!

Tip 1: Stop buying clothes without pockets

We need to stand together to send a message to clothes manufacturers that we need pockets. It doesn’t matter how cute it is, don’t buy it!


Tip 2: Add pockets to existing clothes

If you did at one point in time buy a skirt or a dress without pockets, consider adding some! I had a pocket added to my dirndl, and it even has a zipper, so I can keep my valuables there safely. 

Me in a dirndl – pocket not visible though 🙁


Tip 3. Search your favorite shop with text queries

Although the websites where I shop (mostly Zalando) allow me to filter very specific criteria, sadly there is no filter for pockets. However, it is possible to do a text search for “steekzakken” (“pockets where you stick things into” in Dutch) to get all products that have this word somewhere. An advantage of this particular term (rather than “zakken” which just means pockets) is that “steekzakken” cannot be used to describe fake pockets that clothes sometimes have. 

Now you get an overview of all clothes with pockets. Browse to dresses or skirts and voila, you have your subset of clothes you can buy! Usually these will all also have a picture (but perhaps not the first picture you see) where the model is using the pockets. This is how I buy most of my skirts and dresses with pockets.   

Tip 4: Use specialized websites

Some brands have caught on to the fact that not having pockets on clothes is stupid. Here are a few – although I haven’t tried any of them yet!

Tip 5: Build an app for it

Building a machine learning algorithm that recognizes “hand in pocket” in pictures should not be too difficult. Add an app on top that searches your favorite websites and gives you all the suggestions you can shop for. Add in ads or sponsorships from companies that do actually put pockets on their clothes, and you have an income stream. I would do it, but I already have too many projects – would love to hear of such initiatives though!

Pockets, here we come!

Tips for conference travel packing

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As you might know from previous posts, I like to travel with a carry-on. Since the number of things you can bring with you decreases, there’s some optimization involved: bring at most a carry-on and a “personal item” full of things, while maximizing the comfort your trip. I can spend lots of hours doing research about this and overthinking each item. This is not the most productive use of my time! But, to get maximum benefit from the time spent, in this post I share a couple of things that have been making my conference trips easier.

1. Good carry-on

I think the first time I felt like a Real Adult is when I bought my Samsonite carry-on. I have one of their more budget models, but it’s still really nice to use. The things I find important are:

  • Four wheels, easy to roll behind OR next to you
  • Side pocket for quick stashing of e.g. your boarding pass
  • Handle that allows me to carry it horizontally, since I’m too short too carry it vertically

The exact model I have is not sold anymore, but there are several similar ones available.

2. Good shoulder bag

I use a backpack in daily life, but for travel I prefer to have a shoulder bag because it’s safer and I feel like it’s easier to argue it is my “personal item”. Recently I got a really awesome shoulder bag from PACSafe. My favorite features are:

  • LOTS OF POCKETS
  • Lightweight
  • Can secure the zippers and straps for extra safety
  • The inside has a light color, which means I can find everything inside it easily
  • Fits my laptop, case with headphones, Kindle, wallet, phone, water bottle and a few things I like to have accessible during the flight

3. Fabric poster

If I have to bring a poster, I always print it on fabric. This means I can fold the poster to fit into my carry-on, or even in my shoulder bag. I print my posters for 21 euros including delivery at drukwerkdeal.nl, but there are many options in other countries as well. Although this was new in 2012 when I did it for the first time, at the most recent conference I went to I estimate that about 1/3 of the posters were now on fabric.

4. Black running shoes

I think everybody should wear what they want at conferences. But I would have never felt comfortable wearing running shoes – too informal and colorful for me. This was until I found these 100% black Asics, which are great for running, and in a pinch, I can also wear during a conference day (at least, at the kinds of conferences I go to). I wear these while I travel, as they are the heaviest shoes I bring.

5. Leggings WITH POCKETS

Leggings are the best for long airplane rides, except that often these don’t have pockets at all, or only a tiny pocket for your keys. But after hours of research (really :’) ) I found leggings WITH REAL POCKETS. They are non-transparent, comfortable and also very affordable. I’ve also used these for running, although they are a bit too hot for summer.


6. Bose headphones

Yes, everybody has them, but I still had to mention these. I only bought mine this year because it always felt like a luxury item I couldn’t afford, and can’t believe I waited so long. Airplane rides are just much more comfortable now and I even managed to get a nap in on the last one, which is huge for me. I have the QuietComfort I which was a bit cheaper than the lastest model, and I’m happy with it.

7. GoToob

Since I travel with a carry-on, all my liquids have to be smaller than 100ml and fit into a 1l plastic bag. Although lots of small containers for toiletries exist now, I swear by these reusable GoToob containers. They are cheaper in the long run than buying ready-made small containers, since i just refill them from the larger container. They are also more comfortable than the typical reusable containers, since you can squeeze them, and clean them easily.

8. A USB mouse

Much more relaxing when doing a bit of work from your hotel room or somewhere where you have a table.

9. Powerbank

This one is a no-brainer, but I don’t like my phone running out of battery especially when I’m travelling. I’ve got the Xiaomi 16000 mAh which is good for charging my phone to reasonable battery levels at least a few times.


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These are the things I bring on every trip – would love to hear what your “must have” items are!

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Self-care as a habit

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As readers of this blog may know, I use Habitica to keep track of habits, such as writing, exercise, eating healthy – the possibilities are endless. Habitica allows you to track what you do in three ways: habits you could do multiple times a day, dailies which you do every day (or every Monday, etc) and todos. For the writing example, a habit could be writing 500 words, a daily could be writing for 30 minutes first thing in the morning, and a todo could be writing a specific section of your paper. Completing any of these gives you experience, gold, items – all ways in which you could associate the habit with a reward.

Habitica also has a fourth category you can use for motivate yourself – rewards. Some rewards are defined by Habitica, such as items you can buy with gold collected from your habits. But you can also define real-life rewards, like going to your favorite restaurant, which you can buy with gold (you do still have to pay the restaurant, though!). I have not talked about this category much before, and in this blog post I explain why.

Habitica has examples of rewards you could define for yourself here. Here are a few examples that I am uncomfortable with:

  • Leisure reading
  • Call friend/relative
  • Long hot bath
  • Time alone with favorite music
  • Take a walk

For me, these are habits, not rewards. I am perfectly capable of just doing the productive things that need to be done, and not taking time for a bath or leisure reading. Not very healthy!

So instead, I intentionally add habits that are enjoyable for me to do, do not have negative effects (other than “wasting” time and perhaps a little money), but do not necessarily HAVE to be done. Next to reading and baths, here are a few other options:

  • Listening to a podcast episode. I learn a lot from various podcasts I listen, including how to be more productive, so perhaps this isn’t even such a “time waster”
  • Trying out a new recipe
  • Going out to dinner or movies. I tend to stay in a lot so it’s a nice change of pace.
  • Organizing things around the house. I realize this is a chore for many but I find it relaxing.
  • Dressing up or doing something special with my nails or make-up
  • Having friends over
  • Playing with the cats
  • Looking at photographs or notes from your “be kind portfolio“

To be honest, I had a bit of trouble coming up with a few of the things above and they were not on my list. Most things I thought of straight away, were “too productive”, which just goes to show how necessary it is to pay attention to these things. Then I remembered a thread I saw on Twitter about mental health and doing things that make you happy, which had many other ideas I could borrow them.

There is one suggestion from this thread struck me the most and I will definitely be adding it to my list: “Having a day with nothing to do”

Reader Q&A – What I do next to research and blogging

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In this post I answer another question from a reader of this blog – what I do next to research and blogging.

I think this is an interesting question because I have to put a lot effort into deciding how I spend my time.

On an average week I work 40 hours – and I am proud of it. Although this might seem little (especially those working, or at least claiming to work double), I am tired by the time I get home. I think that’s a good sign, because to me that means I’m using my hours effectively.

So once I’m home, I can relax. This is a bit of a complicated word for me. My mind immediately goes to sitting on the couch together with my partner and cat, drinking a glass of wine, and watching an episode of the latest series. I do actually do this quite often, and I’m lucky to have the time to do so.

But, I am not always relaxed. Often my mind is on something I need to do the next day, and I might be mindlessly looking at my phone in an attempt to quiet my mind. But I don’t find it a very worthwhile way to spend my time, which might further increase my anxiety.

Instead I try to do other activities, which are still relaxing, but which require more effort. There’s blogging, but that wasn’t a part of the question. Another one is exercise. I still haven’t been able to trick myself into thinking that running is my hobby, but I’m getting there. I also like organizing things at home, reading, cooking, listening to Headspace, learning languages on Duolingo… Not work activities, but they require more effort than for the Netflix scenario, and help my mind quiet down.

In the weekend I first get things like cleaning and groceries done. (By the way, Evernote and Todoist help a lot with this – I could expand on in a different post, if there is interest!). I also try to get some more exercise in and maybe do a larger DIY project at home.  Then I might meet with friends for dinner and/or drinks, or a trivia quiz. I’m a morning person and get up early even if I don’t have to, so I don’t go to bed very late, even on the weekends 🙂

That’s about it – the glamorous life of an assistant professor, haha! What are your favorite activities? Am I missing out on a really great hobby? Let me know in the comments!

How I plan my conference trips with Todoist and Evernote

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How I plan conference travel with Todoist and Evernote | veronikach.com

As an academic I get to travel to different places for conferences or to give talks. It’s a great part of this job, but it can also be stressful sometimes. In this post I explain how I simplify the travel process and plan my conference trips with Todoist and Evernote.

How I plan conference travel with Todoist and Evernote | veronikach.com

Create a project

The first thing that helps me stay on top of everything, is to see a trip as a project. Each time I decide I’m going somewhere, I create a project in Todoist and a notebook in Evernote. The Todoist project is for actions I need to take, and Evernote is for information.

As soon as I know I am going, I already have a few tasks I can add to Todoist, such as:

  • Register for conference
  • Book flight or train
  • Book hotel
  • Prepare presentation
  • Submit reimbursement forms

Although I usually add these tasks by hand each time, I now decided I can automate the process a bit more. I created a Todoist template! Here’s what I started with:

How to organize conference travel with Todoist

Now I can import this template anytime I’m going to travel! If you are a Todoist user and want the full template, I will be sharing it through my newsletter – sign up here if you don’t want to miss it! (Mailchimp, no spam, you can always unsubscribe).

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Preparing the trip

The next part happens in Evernote. When I book my flight or hotel (I use booking.com, which for the same hotel, can still be cheaper than the “special rate” via the conference website) etc, I email the confirmations to my Evernote, so I have all the documents in one place.

I also use the notebook to write an outline for my talk and store other information I might need for my trip.

 

Just before the trip

A few days before the trip, I always do the following:

  • Make the Evernote notebook available offline, so I can access all the information without using internet
  • Print the most important documents*
  • Share the notebook with my partner in case of an emergency

*At one point I decided to stop doing this and save trees, but then my phone died completely just as I got off the plane… I didn’t get lost thanks to skills such as “following the people with the poster tubes”, but it would be more relaxing to just have the directions printed out.

If I’m going away for longer than a few nights, I might also create a packing list in Evernote – of course for travel with a carry-on.

 

During the trip

I use the Evernote notebook to make notes about the talks, or to add business cards I receive.

If you need to provide receipts for food etc to receive reimbursement, you could also take pictures of the receipts and store them here.

After the trip

Once I am home again and I want to submit my reimbursement form, all the documents are already there in my Evernote, so this has become a painless process, rather than searching for everything in my email.

The final thing is to archive the Todoist project and “archive” the Evernote notebook. Evernote doesn’t have such a function, so what I do is:

  • Tag all the notes with a name that describes the trip, like “London 2018”
  • Move notes to a general “Archive” notebook
  • Delete the original notebook

 

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I’m curious to hear how you plan for travel – is it different each time or do you have a process? Let me know in the comments below.

 

My 5 best purchases under $100

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I recently read Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss, where he interviews entrepreneurs, athletes, writers and many others. One of the questions he asks often is “What’s one item you’ve purchased in the past six months for under $100 that’s had the biggest positive impact on your life?”. I really enjoyed the replies, so in this post I ask myself the same question, with a bit more flexibility on the time of purchase and price. I recommend these for yourself or as gifts – for more gift ideas for academics see here and here. Now on to my 5 best purchases under $100.

1. Pullup bar ($20)

A great reminder to do at least a bit of exercise every day, which is of course good for you.

I actually found mine next to a dumpster, so it was free – but you can get one for as little as $20.

2. Soda stream ($80 and up)

A great way to stay hydrated! I really like sparkling water, so I drink more water when I have it. I used to buy bottles at the store, but dragging that much extra weight (I don’t have a car) was a pain. Plus, the Netherlands has really great water just from the tap.

Now, I always have as much sparkling water as I’d like, I save money AND it’s more sustainable.

3. Wake-up light ($50 and up)

Great for waking up refreshed! I’m definitely a morning person, but before this purchase, I would still have days where I was uncomfortably woken up by my alarm.

This is no longer the case since the wake-up light! It emulates the sunrise by starting with a dim red light, which slowly turns into a brighter yellow light within half an hour, at the end of which there are some nature sounds. I typically wake up somewhere in the middle of this cycle. I still do have a “backup” alarm on my phone a few minutes later, but I dont remember ever needing it since the purchase.

I have a model from Philips which currently costs $130, but there are other (also Philips) options available from $50, or less if you go for other brands.

4. Fitbit ($85 and up)

Great for walking more, sleeping more, and just general keeping track of your health. I would recommend a model with heart rate monitoring, since I find that the most insightful feature.

I have a Fitbit Alta HR, which is great for small wrists and costs $125, but other models like the Charge HR start at $85.

5. Comfortable shoes

Spending just a little bit more on shoes has been a life changer. It’s not that I always had impossible shoes with high heels that I couldn’t wear. My choices were actually quite reasonable – often flats or boots with a medium heel. But they had to “look good” and I had to have several different types and colors. As a result, each pair had to be “affordable”.

In the end I had a lots of shoes, but none of them were very comfortable – I couldn’t just decide to go for a long walk in my “normal” shoes. This was quite limiting during conference travel, because I would always have to think ahead what I would be doing later that day, or go back to the hotel to change, and so forth.

Since I bought my first pair of Ecco shoes (around $100 for new), I have downsized my collection quite a lot, only buying REALLY comfortable and versatile shoes. I also buy used shoes more often know, since I know what brands to search for. In the end it’s cheaper than what I used to do! But the most important benefit is that I’m no longer wasting energy on an issue that’s not really important.

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What do you think? What things have you bought in the past year that you would recommend to others?

9 more gift ideas for academics

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9 more gift ideas for academics

Following the success of last year’s gifts for academics post, here are a few more fresh gift ideas for academics!

9 more gift ideas for academics

9 more gift ideas for academics

1. A poster of a city

For those academics who move cities or even countries for a new job, this could be a simple way to remind them of their favorite place or city. Create your own or get one via Mapiful or Axis Maps (h/t @mdekstrand)

Gift ideas for academics: poster of their favorite city

2. A book holder

For more efficient reading and writing, as seen on @raulpacheco‘s Twitter

Get one at bookhug.com or go for one of the options from Amazon:

 Gift ideas for academics: book holder

3. Travel containers

I swear by HumanGear GoTubb and GoToob:

Gift ideas for academics: travel containers Gift ideas for academics: travel containers

Perfect for conference travel with a carry-on! If you want to be nerdier, get some test tubes for the same purpose, as recommended by @babyattachmode.

4. Tile

Tile is a Bluetooth tracking device, great for keeping track of your keys, bag or the even your stapler that somebody borrowed “just for a second”.

 

5. Codenames board game

It’s the best board game ever! I found out about it through Felienne and am obsessed with it. There are different versions, but I really like the “pictures” one.

Gift ideas for academics: Codenames board game

6. Clothes with pockets

For your academic friends who wear dresses and skirts.  It’s a conspiracy I could just start believing, but it’s very difficult to find women’s clothing with pockets. Luckily more and more businesses are realizing this, here are a few options:

7.  Wineglasses

Good for wine, but also good for feeling like a real adult, when you have a whole set of matching wineglasses that maybe are even not from IKEA.
If you want to splurge, try these Tenure wineglasses spotted by @doc_becca:

8. Gift of Headspace

Although I was skeptical at first, Headspace has been very helpful for me – I would definitely recommend it to anyone dealing with any sort of stress. You could just get a month subscription to start with to see if the recepient of the gift is into it.

 

9. On Writing Well

Because we all should be writing.

 

 

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More gift ideas? Check out my previous post on gift ideas, and these lovely ideas from AcademiaObscura.

Conference travel with a carry-on

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Conference travel with a carry-on | veronikach.com

Although it’s now been a week that I’m back from MICCAI I haven’t had the time to sit down and write the really important posts that I promised several people to write. But to nevertheless share something useful, I’ve documented my packing process for a week of conference travel, with just a carry-on!

Conference travel with a carry-on | veronikach.com

I decided to go carry-on only in 2012, when travelling to Japan for a conference, for a trip that lasted two weeks in total. I think it was then that I researched how to actually achieve this, so I looked at lots of packing tips, mixing and matching outfits. Pinterest is pretty great for this:

It’s also when I started printing posters on fabric.

I liked the approach so much that I don’t think I ever checked luggage for a trip afterwards. Since the items I bring for each trip are similar (not the items themselves, but their types and quantity),  I like to think I have gotten quite efficient at the process.

Of course there are much more beautiful posts about packing, but I give you my very real, non-Instagram quality packing process: (WordPress was kind enough to rotate the images to random orientations as well).

Preparation: Get a good carry-on

This is step 0 because you only have to do it once, so it doesn’t really count as a step. I have a lightweight Samsonite carry-on. I cannot find the exact model online anymore, but here’s a pretty similar one on Amazon:

The most important feature for me is that the size is accepted by all airlines.

 

Step 1: Small flat items

Now for the packing! First, I fill in the gaps between the handles of the bag.

Conference travel with a carry-on - fill unused spaces

I usually put some smaller, but flat items, such as ballerinas/flats and underwear (in plastic bags, not shown).

Step 2: Jacket

Now that the bottom is a bit evened out, I put in my blazer/jacket part of a suit. I admit this probably only works if you are short, like me.

Conference travel with a carry-no: place jacket on bottom

 

Step 3. Add bigger “packs”

Next I add bigger “packs” of shoes or clothes. I do not use any packing cubes, but instead I roll my clothes (bonus: no ironing needed). In the picture below I added 3 “packs”:

  • Running shoes (with socks to fill the empty space)
  • Bottoms (1 pair of jeans, 2 skirts, 1 pyjama pants)
  • Tops (2 long-sleeve things, 3 things with short or no sleeves)

 

Conference travel with a carry-on: roll your clothes

 

Step 4. Add smaller “packs”

Now I also added:

  • A “pack” of running shorts, shirt and a cap
  • A MICCAI 2017 umbrella, a gift from the conference

Conference travel with a carry-on: add smaller items

And now also:

  • Toiletries in a 1 liter transparent bag
  • Chargers and other small electronics in a waterproof bag

Conference travel with a carry-on: add smaller items

 

Step 5: Leave a bit of space

Now that all the main things are in the suitcase, I fold back the sleeves of the jacket so it stays in a nice shape:

Conference travel with a carry-on: leave a bit of space

It looks now like the suitcase is full, but that is not really the case. I can still put items on top, and easy close it.

I do this because I also have a personal item (A4-sized shoulder bag) which fits my laptop and a few small items I want to use on the plane. Most airlines allow this, but I still get nervous that I would need to check in the carry-on because I have two bags in total. So, I make sure the whole personal item fits into the carry-on!

For aesthetic purposes, here is a picture of the two biggest items from my shoulder bag inside the suitcase: my laptop and Travelrest travel pillow. But the bag itself with the smaller items (wallet, headphones etc) still fits on top.

Conference travel with a carry-on: space for your personal item

 

All done!

Conference travel with a carry-on: done!

And no, I didn’t pack the cat 🙂

 

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How do you travel for conferences? If you check luggage, would you consider going with just a carry-on instead?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

How to recycle your fabric poster

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Today I’m at Benelearn 2017, the Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg machine learning conference. Here’s me next to my poster:

 

As usual I printed the poster on fabric, growing my collection of fabric posters even further:

 

But you might have noticed something else about the picture… Yes, I’m wearing a skirt made from one of my old posters!

Here are some frequently asked questions & answers about this development.

 

Did you make it yourself?

No, the skirt was made by REpost Science, a company in the Netherlands that upcycles fabric posters into bags, gadgets and even clothes. I first heard about it through @GeomechSteph (thanks!)

 

Is it comfortable?

Yes. I asked REpost Science to create the skirt following the model of a Comma skirt I already had (see a better quality photo on Zalando):

So the fit is very comfortable. The fabric is comfortable as well – the poster skirt has a lining from a regular non-poster material. The lining also removes any transparency of the poster fabric.

I

It has pockets!

Yes! The original Comma skirt has pockets too, which is why I love it and why I vowed never to buy clothes without pockets again.

On the subject of pockets, you might also want to check eShakti, which has lots of customizable and affordable skirts and dresses WITH POCKETS (thanks to @Doctor_PMS for the tip!)

 

Do a lot of people notice it?

I’ve had quite a few compliments and questions, but I think less people notice it than I had originally thought. In part I think this is because I don’t feel like I’m wearing anything unusual (since I wear exactly this skirt but in a different color/fabric more often). And in part it’s because most people don’t really care what you are wearing. See for example this story where a woman wore the same outfit for a year and nobody noticed.

I did have a lot of nice comments on Twitter too! Here are some favorites:

 

 

Online, it gets noticed a lot! At one point it was the most popular post I have written, and in the last quarter it even surpassed the all-time-popular How I Fail interview with Hal Daumé III.

I also discovered I don’t really understand how to use Twitter Analytics – is there a list of “all time popular” tweets? But compared to my other tweets in June 2017, the tweet about the blog post seems quite popular:

Are you the first person to do this?

No! Here’s Rolf Hut and his suit from posters, and actually how I found out about REpost_poster (the company that created my skirt)!

I also saw pillows, bags and other accessories in my Twitter feed – if you are the owner of any of those, please share the tweet and I’ll add it here!

Is it machine washable?

Yes! Because the skirt needed a bit more than poster, I had some leftover “scraps”, which I decided to use to investigate what happens when you wash the poster fabric. Since it was an experiment anyway, I thought I’d raise the level of difficulty with sriracha and garlic sauce – the first things I saw in the kitchen I thought would be difficult to get out of white fabric.

These made some terrible stains. I also added coffee, since that’s what I’m most likely to spill on myself. I didn’t have any red wine in the house, but I could try that in a next experiment if there is interest.

Into the washing machine it goes! This is the normal cycle I use for all my clothes, 40 degrees Celcius, with regular color detergent.

All good again! At first I could still see hints of the sriracha, but after drying, these disappeared.

So, now I can safely bring the skirt with me to the next conference – MICCAI in Quebec City, Canada in September!

5 pages to add to your academic website

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Previously I wrote about getting your setting up your own academic website in WordPress and installing some helpful plugins. But once you have all that, what content do you actually add to your new website? Of course, you are probably going to have pages for your CV (possibly split into different pages for research, teaching etc) and your publications. In this post I cover a few other pages I like to see on people’s professional websites. I admit I do not have all of these yet myself – but I’ve provided a few nice examples of those who do.

1. People

A “people” or “team” page is a list of people you collaborate with or have collaborated with in the past. See this example on the website of Peter Gehler. I like this for several reasons. First of all, it is a sign of your appreciation of the people you work with. Another advantage is (if you are more senior) that this provides useful information for potential new hires, as they can see what previous people you have worked with went on to do.

You might argue that you need to have your own group first before you start such a page, but I beg to differ. Even if you are a PhD student, chances are you are working with others – so you could just list them as collaborators! There are no rules as to who you are “allowed” to add, as long as you ask the person.

2. Contact

A contact page might seem superfluous if you have your contact details on the front page, but there is more to it than just your email address. In particular, you can let people know how you prefer to be contacted (or not?). For example, if you want to keep your inbox sane, you might give a few tips for for people contacting you, like Philip Guo and Michael Ekstrand.

3. Highlight a project

Next to listing all your projects/publications, you might want to highlight a particular project of yours – a publication, book, or a category of your blog entries – by giving it its own place in the menu. For example, Philip Guo has a link to his memoir “Ph.D. Grind” , Lauren Drogos links to entries in her “Women in STEM profiles” category and Noeska Smit has a page featuring her thesis.

4. Resources

Resources pages collect, well… resources, like books, blog posts (whether written by yourself or not), software, etc, that are helpful to you and may be helpful to others. For example, Raul Pacheco-Vega has a page with his most read blog posts on organization and academic writing, Tim van der Zee has a list of tools for skeptical scientists and Natalie Matosin has tips for PhD students and postdocs.

5. Interests

Don’t be afraid to show a little bit of your personality, and make a page for something outside of your research. You could go for a collection of photos, like Hal Daume III (who has a pretty awesome website in general!), or a page for a specific interest or hobby, like Sebastiaan Breedveld’s page about tea or Sarah Nadi’s page about baking.

I hope these examples give you some inspiration to start adding pages to your academic website! If you have any other websites you’d like to share, please leave a comment below.

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