This is a collection of resources I found helpful during my graduate work. Many of them come from the
excellent ACS collection Mastering the
Art of Scientific Publication , which includes many "Ten Simple Rules" articles. I organized the resources
into sections depending on the type of advice you may be looking for. If any links no longer work, please contact
me.
Oktar, K.
A Guide to the Hidden Curriculum.
Bullo, F.
(2023 ).
Advice for Prospective Students.
Luppi, A.,
Newton, C.,
Folsom, L.,
Galliano, E.,
Romero-Garcia, R.
(2021 ).
Ten simple rules for aspiring graduate students. PLOS Computational Biology , 17(8), e1009276.
Barres, B.
(2013 ).
How to Pick a Graduate Advisor. Neuron , 80(2), 275-279.
Naegle, K.,
Saucerman, J.,
Leonard-Duke, J.,
Rariden, M.,
Aberra, Y.
(2025 ).
Ten simple rules for effectively assessing lab environments. PLOS Computational Biology , 21(6), e1013223.
Karpathy, A.
Doing well in your courses.
Bielczyk, N.,
Ando, A.,
Badhwar, A.,
Caldinelli, C.,
Gao, M.,
... Haugg, A.
(2020 ).
Effective Self-Management for Early Career Researchers in the Natural and Life Sciences. Neuron , 106(2), 212-217.
Masters, K.,
Kreeger, P.
(2017 ).
Ten simple rules for developing a mentor–mentee expectations document. PLOS Computational Biology , 13(9), e1005709.
Vincent, B.,
Scholes, C.,
Staller, M.,
Wunderlich, Z.,
Estrada, J.,
... Park, J.
(2015 ).
Yearly Planning Meetings: Individualized Development Plans Aren’t Just More Paperwork. Molecular Cell , 58(5), 718-721.
Keshav, S.
(2007 ).
How to read a paper. ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review , 37(3), 83.
Yanai, I.,
Lercher, M.
(2024 ).
It takes two to think. Nature Biotechnology .
Mensh, B.,
Kording, K.
(2017 ).
Ten simple rules for structuring papers. PLOS Computational Biology , 13(9), e1005619.
Zhang, W.
(2014 ).
Ten Simple Rules for Writing Research Papers. PLoS Computational Biology , 10(1), e1003453.
Ibrahim, A.,
Dimick, J.
(2018 ).
Writing for Impact. Medical and Scientific Publishing , 81-92.
Gewin, V.
(2018 ).
How to write a first-class paper. Nature , 555(7694), 129-130.
Parish, E.
(2024 ).
What I think about when I edit.
Schwen, L.
(2020 ).
Ten simple rules for typographically appealing scientific texts. PLOS Computational Biology , 16(12), e1008458.
Rougier, N.,
Droettboom, M.,
Bourne, P.
(2014 ).
Ten Simple Rules for Better Figures. PLoS Computational Biology , 10(9), e1003833.
Frassl, M.,
Hamilton, D.,
Denfeld, B.,
De Eyto, E.,
Hampton, S.,
... Keller, P.
(2018 ).
Ten simple rules for collaboratively writing a multi-authored paper. PLOS Computational Biology , 14(11), e1006508.
Aga, S.,
Nissar, S.
(2022 ).
Essential Guide to Manuscript Writing for Academic Dummies: An Editor’s Perspective. Biochemistry Research International , 2022, 1-11.
Bourne, P.
(2005 ).
Ten Simple Rules for Getting Published. PLoS Computational Biology , 1(5), e57.
Brennan, N.
(2019 ).
100 research rules of the game: How to make your research world class; how to successfully publish in top international refereed journals. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal , 32(2), 691–706.
Bourne, P.,
Polka, J.,
Vale, R.,
Kiley, R.
(2017 ).
Ten simple rules to consider regarding preprint submission. PLOS Computational Biology , 13(5), e1005473.
Ettinger, C.,
Sadanandappa, M.,
Görgülü, K.,
Coghlan, K.,
Hallenbeck, K.,
... Puebla, I.
(2022 ).
A guide to preprinting for early-career researchers. Biology Open , 11(7), bio059310.
Erren, T.,
Bourne, P.
(2007 ).
Ten Simple Rules for a Good Poster Presentation. PLoS Computational Biology , 3(5), e102.
Lortie, C.
(2017 ).
Ten simple rules for short and swift presentations. PLOS Computational Biology , 13(3), e1005373.
Bik, H.,
Dove, A.,
Goldstein, M.,
Helm, R.,
MacPherson, R.,
... Martini, K.
(2015 ).
Ten Simple Rules for Effective Online Outreach. PLOS Computational Biology , 11(4), e1003906.
Bourne, P.,
Friedberg, I.
(2006 ).
Ten Simple Rules for Selecting a Postdoctoral Position. PLoS Computational Biology , 2(11), e121.
Bourne, P.
(2017 ).
Ten simple rules in considering a career in academia versus government. PLOS Computational Biology , 13(10), e1005729.
Joëls, M.,
Hoogenraad, C.,
Poirazi, P.,
Di Luca, M.
(2015 ).
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to a Neuroscience Career. Neuron , 86(3), 613-616.
James, W.
(1903 ).
The Ph.D. Octopus.
Harvard Monthly .