A strong literature review isn’t just a summary. It maps the field, shows what’s been done, and sets the stage for your contribution. It tells readers: here’s where my research fits, here’s why it matters. Here’s how to do it well:

Perfection is a trap in research. If you wait until your work is perfect, you’ll never submit. Instead, aim for better. Draft the article. Share the messy version with colleagues. Submit the grant proposal. Each iteration makes your work stronger. #AcademicSky

An analysis of peer review data found that reviewers tend to favour submissions from their own countries and consequently authors from countries with few reviewers face a structural barrier to publishing, via @lseimpactblog.bsky.social blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...

A well-designed project management system can help you work consistently throughout the academic year, even when you have only 20 minutes a day to spare. 3 steps to build your project management system, via @insidehighered.com

Peer review is often slow and inconsistent. Could comments on blog posts and newsletters offer a better alternative? Advantages of blogs over traditional peer review, via the Dendrite blog

Academics: Instead of sticking to a rigid schedule, use transition points—like finishing an analysis or a meeting's end—to recharge before switching gears. Take those breaks seriously: make tea, step outside, disconnect. A quick reset helps you return refreshed and ready to dive back in.

In academic research, publishable results matter—but discovery matters more. 🎨 Exploration mode: Follow curiosity, chase ideas 📑 Publication mode: Meet reviewer expectations, follow standards Both modes are essential, but if you only chase what’s publishable, you risk losing the joy of discovery.

Peer review should be critical. But sometimes, feedback crosses the line into unprofessional territory. How to push back against peer-review bullies, via @nature.com #AcademicSky

A new study by the American Association for Cancer Research found that 36% of submitted abstracts to their journals contained AI-generated text but only 9% of authors admitted it. Reviewers are also quietly using AI, via @science.org #AcademicSky www.science.org/content/arti...

When everything feels urgent—admin, teaching, service—your time slips away.⏳ 3 time management strategies for faculty, via @bskybymidge.bsky.social #AcademicSky

Friday is the perfect day for organization tasks and goal-setting. Do something small today to help you hit the ground running next week. 📚 🗂️ #AcademicSky

We assume writing gets easier once you “make it” in academia. But the opposite can be true: When you’re teaching, advising, or in admin roles, time is even tighter. 3 strategies for writing under time pressure, via @rebekahpeeples.bsky.social

In academic writing, positioning your work isn’t just about citing—it’s about mapping the debate. 📚 But how do you position your work within existing debates? 🤔 4 steps for mapping a debate in the literature, via @raulpachecovega.bsky.social #AcademicSky

A funding agency using an artificial-intelligence tool to screen grant applications before peer-review says it makes the peer-review process more efficient, but other researchers say it’s a breakdown in trust, via @nature.com #AcademicSky www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Long, uninterrupted blocks of academic writing time are rare. But that doesn’t mean progress has to stop. 5 ways to make short sessions count, via @patthomson.bsky.social

Do tracked changes help peer review—or just make manuscripts unreadable? 👀 Some journals now require revised manuscripts with tracked changes and a point-by-point response to reviewers. As a reviewer, do you find tracked changes helpful or redundant? 🤔 #AcademicSky

Researchers: When writing the background section of your manuscript, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need to summarize everything ever written on your topic. 💡 Tip: Frame the conversation. Give enough context so the reader understands the problem your paper solves, then take a stance.

A strong scientific presentation does three things: it communicates your science clearly, leaves a lasting impression, and builds your reputation as a scientist. But if you jump straight into designing slides, you risk creating a presentation that’s dense, meandering, and forgettable.

Researchers: Your experiments, grant deadlines, and teaching load will always expand to fill every waking hour, unless you draw a hard line. Tip: Schedule actual downtime (phone off, inbox closed, shut down laptop) the same way you schedule a committee meeting. #AcademicSky

A study of 15,000 journals used artificial intelligence to detect “questionable” titles that may prioritize profit over integrity. More than 1,000 journals—about 7% of the sample—were flagged, via @science.org #AcademicSky www.science.org/content/arti...

How do you choose a lab for your postdoc? 🤔 The lab culture should be an important factor in your decision, via @themodernpeer.com www.themodernpeer.com/are-you-winn...

Paperpile's new edit dialog makes reference editing feel less like a chore—spend less time fixing metadata and more time on your actual research. ✍️ See citations while you edit, format titles the way you need them, and apply smart autocompletion all in one window. Learn more ⬇️

The start of the semester brings natural momentum. Use that transition energy to your advantage. Ask yourself: 📖 What routine would make my reading or writing more consistent?

Paperpile's new edit dialog makes reference editing feel less like a chore—spend less time fixing metadata and more time on your actual research. ✍️ See citations while you edit, format titles the way you need them, and apply smart autocompletion all in one window. Learn more ⬇️

You’ve built the slides for your presentation—now comes the hard part: delivering them. A scientific talk isn’t just explaining your data. It’s performing under pressure.

Treating authorship as an afterthought—negotiated only once the paper is nearly finished—can breed frustration, power imbalances, and injustice. This is especially true for early-career researchers who may not feel comfortable speaking up. #AcademicSky

Reviewers are more likely to approve a manuscript if their own work is cited in subsequent versions than reviewers who are not cited, according to an analysis of 18,000 articles, via @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Students: Why do you want to pursue a PhD? 🤔 It's not enough to be on the academic train. Questions to ask yourself before you apply to PhD programs, via @bskybymidge.bsky.social #AcademicSky

What's next for academic social media? 🤔 A study of 1,800 researchers found that two-thirds had cut back on the time they spent on social media, and three-quarters preferred email, newsletters, and mailing lists for communication.

Need papers fast? 🚀 We’ve rounded up the best academic search engines to cut through the noise, find what you need, and get you back to your research. 📚 Read the list 🔽

As a PI, your role evolves. Over time, more experience and recognition can make you less approachable—whether you notice it or not. Your opinions carry more weight, and fewer people may challenge you. Ways to counter this change, via @mrillig.bsky.social

Ever had “presentation fever”? 🫠 That 3am-before-your-talk, heart-racing, can’t-sleep feeling—wondering if you’ll forget everything once you hit the podium. #AcademicSky

Paperpile is now available to help you organize your citations and sources! It's accessible to the entire Wake Forest community! #MyZSR #MoreThanALibrary

Search is the heartbeat of your library. 🔎 Now Paperpile’s search is sharper, faster, and more precise. Pinpoint the exact reference you’re looking for in seconds, with an upgraded search box that works the way you think. 💭

Will AI accelerate progress in science? 📊 🤔 Not without reliable benchmarks, via @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Your reference management system doesn’t have to be perfect. But it should be consistent enough to protect your focus. 📁 Filers organize right away: everything has its place. 📦 Pilers dump everything in and find it later. Which one are you? 🤔 #AcademicSky

Applying for an academic position? Your CV is your chance to persuade, not just inform. This is where you show exactly who you are, what you’ve achieved, and why you’re the best fit. 📄

📁 Save papers directly to folders and labels 📝 Quickly add a note while saving papers 🔗 Improved Paperpile buttons on PubMed and Google Scholar ⚡️ Expert mode: One-click imports and shortcuts paperpile.com/blog/paperpi...

Researchers: How do you find must-read articles? Do you: 🛠 Refine your go-to literature discovery tools for maximum signal? 📬 Skim journal TOCs out of habit? 🌐 Keep an eye on what gains traction in your academic networks? Which method has earned its place in your workflow, and why? #AcademicSky

When writing, which of these is your preferred approach? 🤔

Staying on top of new research is part of your job. But saving and organizing it shouldn’t feel like a second one. The Paperpile button meets you right where discovery happens—in your browser. We’ve rebuilt the extension from scratch. It's now faster to save references. 📥

A reminder: Publishing isn’t the only win. Celebrate the small milestones: First draft written, edits completed, manuscript submitted. 🎉 Waiting for the finish line is a fast track to burnout. Acknowledging each step of the writing process keeps you motivated for the long haul. #AcademicSky

👀 See your citation while you edit 📝 Format titles the way you need them 📄 Copy data directly from your PDFs ⚡️ Auto-complete with DOIs and more 🧩 Edit multiple references at once paperpile.com/blog/new-edi...

Your writing flow shouldn’t break just because a citation’s messed up. Missing author? Wrong year? You just want to fix it and move on. We rebuilt our metadata edit dialog from the ground up to make edits fast, clean, and frustration-free.

🗂️ For Filers: Clean up your library faster 🔎 For Pilers: Find references that need attention ✨ For everyone: Save papers exactly where you want them paperpile.com/blog/organiz...

Are you a Filer or a Piler? 🗂📁 Whether you organize as you go or toss everything in one place and search later, Paperpile’s new features have you covered. 🚀

Academic writing tip: Don’t write alone. If you’re stuck, bring in a second brain. Ask a friend or colleague to read your draft. 🤝 Talking it out beats staring at your screen. You’ll get unstuck faster, spot what’s not working, and see your ideas more clearly. 💬 #AcademicSky

🔎 Paperpile’s search just got smarter. You can now pinpoint references in your library more quickly and more accurately. 📄 Search inside your PDFs 🪄 Find exact phrases and exclude results 🎯 Get specific: Target titles, authors, or years ⚡️ Quick lookup: Quickly find authors and more

At Paperpile, we’re focused on one thing: helping you read and write papers without the overhead. Here’s what’s new: 🔍 Smarter, faster search 🛠 Cleaner reference editing and organization 🤖 Key takeaways from our AI user survey 👀 A sneak peek at what’s next Read more 👉 paperpile.com/blog/product...

At Paperpile, we’re focused on one thing: helping you read and write papers without the overhead. Here’s what’s new: 🔍 Smarter, faster search 🛠 Cleaner reference editing and organization 🤖 Key takeaways from our AI user survey 👀 A sneak peek at what’s next Read more 👉 paperpile.com/blog/product...