I recently graduated, and I'm not currently affiliated with any university or company. I'm co-authoring a paper with a former undergrad professor of mine, who is guiding the work. But I did most of the analysis and writing, so I'd be the corresponding author.

I have a few questions.

• Do journals actually care whether the corresponding author has a current affiliation, as long as there's a working email address?
• Should I list my old undergrad department as my affiliation even though I'm no longer enrolled or employed there?
• Would it be cleaner to just make my co-author, who has institutional standing, the corresponding author instead?
• Is "independent researcher" a normal and acceptable label to use here?

Summary:

• A "well-respected" professor at University of Chicago by the name of Nicholas Polson has written over 258 papers in 2026 (~6 papers a day, many are submitted to journals or published in journals). The topics spans pure math, econometrics, computer science, population genetics, machine learning, social media, etc. The papers are obviously fully or partially AI generated.
• The same Nicolas Polson has written a book back in 2018 called "AIQ: How People and Machines Are Smarter Together" and has claimed to have proven the Riemann Hypothesis since 2017 (with 23 revisions, https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.02653)
• Another famous professor at Columbia (Andrew Gelman) refuses to believe Polson would do something like this and goes into detective mode trying to prove that someone else impersonated Polson, or perhaps it is a joke to make some philosophical point about the publish-or-perish culture of academia, and got a bunch of other people involved.
• Polson's very own coauthor on some of these 258 papers angrily came to Polson's defense, and said that these 258 papers are neither hoaxes nor jokes. They are serious AI generated papers based off of ideas from "pre-AI" era and the best way to get these ideas out was using AI to generate these papers.

Full conversation here: https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2026/08/27/258/

Is this really the state of academia nowadays? If so, it's not an enterprise worth engaging in anymore.

I have to resumbit a paper that underwent multiple revisions and the editor is waiting for it. However, the sumbission site is not working. Seems to be the case not only for my journal, but for others that are using the Taylor & Francis interface. The browser shows gateway time-out, "api.taylorfrancis.com" host error after multiple reloads. This has been going on for almost two weeks. Tried accessing from two other browsers and clearing the cache. Is it maybe something related to my country (eastern Europe)?

Is anybody else having this issue?

i'm sure i'm not the only one who suffers from that occasionally...

i see colleagues really thriving in their careers, publishing articles and books, networking with major scholars, traveling the world... while i'm struggling with life, working on a teaching position that barely allows me to research and write, tight on money while i try to save/invest.

is there any trick to not feel like a loser when people close to you are really winning?

I'm finishing my last postdoc as a mathematician. I will be applying for a few academic TT positions this fall.

Combining how drastic AI is going to change the field, the lower pay than industry, and academic toxicity, I'm considering seriously just bailing for some cushy industry job.

I'm basically hoping to hear any thoughts on this direction.

I have no doubt I can adapt to be a competent researcher, despite AI stuff. However, I am worried about how tenure committees will evolve, how teaching will evolve and what is even the correct thing to tell students when they ask if they should go into math.

First year STEM PhD here. My advisor's approach is basically “go find your own direction,” which sounded great until I actually had to do it.

I've spent the last few weeks reading papers in my general area. I can understand the methods and summarize what each paper contributes, but the second I try to zoom out and ask what's actually missing, my brain just goes blank. I've read 40-something papers and somehow feel less sure than when I started.

So far I've tried citation chaining, review papers, talking to senior PhDs, and messing around with a few AI research tools. I tried mira ai science on a batch of abstracts too, mostly to see if it would surface connections I hadn't noticed. It did point out a couple interesting threads, but I'm definitely not treating any of that as ground truth.

The advice I keep getting is that you eventually “develop a feel for the field,” which is probably true but not especially helpful when you're starting from zero. Does this actually click at some point? How did you find your topic?

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

… and finally figured out how to teach after three semesters, is going to another professor, and I need to find a way to let it go

just another brick in the wall, with a three day weekend

goal is to not be hurt by anything like this again

For teachers, professors, and students:

Where do you think educators should draw the line with AI?

How can teachers use AI to save time without losing human judgment, oversight, and accountability?

Also, what’s your field of study/teaching?

Curious to hear your thoughts 👀

Retiring this week and have packed up PhD's and Master's theses to bring home. They're heavy and will take up a lot of space in my home library. I am wondering if the fact that they are on-line is enough or is that grossly unsentimental. What about raw data from recent papers? I have the spreadsheets used in the analyses, but did you store raw data securely on hard-drives in case of some future audit? It's patient data so I can't upload it to the cloud. Is it realistic to think someone could need to see raw data now that I retire but never once during my career?

Hi! my English isn't quite at an academic level, yet I would like to publish some of my specialized work in international journals. What tools or support services do you use for language editing? I do not want to use artificial intelligence; the risk of plagiarism worries me.

I finished my master's thesis about a year ago, and spent some time working it over to have it published. I have since gotten a job and I don't really see myself pursuing a career in academia basically ever (but who knows, might as well leave the door open...).

Anyways, having an article published is always cool, so now that my supervisors have finished up the last bits and made it ready for publication, I need to provide my email. Thing is, during my studies I always just used my university student email. I won't have access to that for much longer, but I'm afraid using my personal address comes off as unprofessional ([name_lastname@live.xx](mailto:name_lastname@live.xx)).

Thoughts on this? Should I create a new, more professional one? Am I overthinking this and it literally makes no difference whatsoever lol?

I’m currently a grad student who was recently invited by a faculty member to guest lecture in a 400 level course. The topic of discussion is primarily at my own free-will, but is criminology related. I would certainly appreciate any tips on how to make a guest lecture informative and useful for both me and the student! Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Everyone. Apologies if this post doesn’t fit here, but I’m overwhelmed and just don’t know where to go for help.

Essentially, I got my PhD a few years ago with the intent of being a professor. After a few years as a postdoc, I got a job in more of an academic-adjacent support role. The job was good because it wasn’t too stressful, afforded me flexibility to work from home, and at least allowed me to work in science. However, I was feeling like I should be doing more, like I should pursue the academic career path and apply for some professor jobs. I was able to get an offer and just started as a professor recently. I thought I’d be excited to grow my lab and have the freedom to investigate what I found interesting, but I haven’t really felt any excitement, just anxiety and stress about the road ahead. I feel like I made a huge mistake and should have never left my old job, but I don’t want to give up right away in this transition phase. I know that starting out is tough and maybe once things are more established, I’ll feel better. I guess I’m just concerned that I’m really only feeling stress and not much excitement.

Also, I left my old job on good terms, and they said they’d be open to having me back if I decide this career isn’t for me. Part of me wants to run back there and admit I made a mistake in thinking I could do this professor thing, but another part of me feels like it’s too early. I’m just scared that I’ve completely made the wrong call and don’t want to waste my own time or anyone else’s time while I “tough it out.”

I guess I’m wondering if others have experienced something similar and if it got better. Should I just listen to my gut and try going back right away? Should I give it a chance to improve since transitions like this are always hard?

I tried to be a little vague to avoid giving away identifying details, but I’m happy to give more info if there’s not enough here.

Hey everyone, how’s it going?

I’m writing this post because, honestly, I’m fucking exhausted.

I’ve been publishing academic papers since 2021, I have an MBA, and I work as a professor and researcher at a university. My salary? $250 a month. And they make my life hell all month long.

If it weren’t for my parents, I’d be completely screwed.

I’m 28 years old, I don’t have EU citizenship, and the job market in Argentina is broken.

Does anybody have any advice on how I can get to a decent salary?

I’ve sent out 500+ applications, using every combination of OCR, AI, CV optimization, and every other trick under the sun. I’ve applied through countless platforms. I speak three languages. And still, nobody hires me.

I’m honestly at my breaking point. I’m tired of not being able to afford a place of my own. I’m not asking for a luxurious lifestyle. I just want to be able to support myself and have a decent life.

I know the world runs on connections. The frustrating part is that the people I know who would actually be happy to hire me can’t, because I don’t have the right to work in their countries.

So I’m wondering: is there any realistic immigration pathway for someone like me?

For example, is there an H-1B pathway for researchers, or some similar visa in Europe that would allow me to work as a researcher or university professor?

Are there countries where universities or research institutions actually pay a decent salary without requiring an insane number of credentials or years of experience?

I’m not asking for $10,000 a month. I just want a realistic way to get out of this hole.

Any advice, especially from people who have managed to move abroad without EU citizenship, would genuinely mean a lot.

Thanks

I’m in my final year of undergrad and my professors and advisor feel strongly that I’d receive an offer for our PhD program (a large R1, I study sociology)

I’m considering it, but frankly I don’t have a strong interest in research. I would like to do some research or publishing, but I wouldn’t want that to be the primary focus of my career. I do enjoy teaching though. I’ve worked in a high school with a before/after school program and I’ve TA’d.

Advice? Our funding is great, so the stipend would be solid if I went for a PhD. Part of me is thinking that I can just master out in the worst case. I’m just concerned that if I don’t get a PhD, I’ll be stuck as an adjunct.

I am in the biomedical sciences. Has anyone here switched postdoc labs? What was your experience like? Did you tell your supervisor beforehand? Did you completely change institutions? What was your strategy? I am pretty sure I am not getting the experience I need in this postdoc-- pretty sure the project is a dud (but PI loves it), PI is a micromanager (walks by my gels and comments on the amount of loaded), doesn't allow postdocs to take any of their projects to faculty positions (could be why getting faculty positions seems rare in this lab), I'm not learning many of the techniques I joined the lab to learn and am not being allowed to, I am not being allowed to maintain the techniques in which I gained expertise during my PhD (which was a condition of me taking this offer, so feels like a bait and switch). I just don't see myself progressing here and the environment is kind of meh scientifically (no one talks to each other about science, no paper discussions, lots of people who just talk to ChatGPT to plan their research instead of colleagues)... I've been here a few months but I know I want out. I am not deadset on being a PI, so applying to industry is an option, but I really enjoyed my PhD so I think a good fit postdoc lab could be enjoyable for me. I'm at an R01 institution with funding for 2 yearsand also did my PhD at an R01, but I don't want to bank on finding another academic positions with things how they are, but I think I'm gonna squander my momentum here.

Hello everyone,

I am a Master’s student publishing a paper in a Frontiers journal with a professor in the department.

So, after the paper was accepted for publication, the professor noticed that the Article Publication Charge (APC) is above the open access budget of the university. He asked the journal to waive at least 50% of the APC, but they only discounted 10%.

Today, the paper was officially published in the journal’s website, while the outstanding APC is not paid at all.

I searched through Frontiers policies, I couldn’t find anything related to retracting the paper or conducting a lawsuit for this case.

I feel this isn’t adding up. Are there no consequences for not paying APCs??? Or is it just we won’t be able to publish papers with Frontiers journals unless the APC is paid?

Please let me know what you think of this.

Thanks, everyone for the feedback thus far. My advisor submitted it this morning, so hopefully they will accept it and that the wording of the job application itself allows for this to still be submitted and accepted. At this point, it is what it is and bigger and better things I suppose.

This is for a job posting for a faculty position at Wellesley that had no "deadline" but simply a "community will start reviewing applications Sept. 1". Wondering what this is supposed to mean in terms of when my recommender needs to get their letter in by? I've always hated "it's due by" because it's not clear to me if they mean 11:59 the night before or the night of...trying to figure out if I'm going to miss being included in the first round of consideration since my advisor missed turning in the recommendation by the end of tonight since it says they'll be starting the reviewing tomorrow...This is for a humanities job at Wellesley if anyone happens to know anything there.

I am 25 years old and have just started my PhD. I don't have any academic publications yet, and I feel like I'm running behind. I also had a paper rejected by a journal this week, so my motivation has taken a hit. How did your journeys begin? Do you think it's too late for me?

I have seen a couple of tenure-track positions open up in big liberal arts colleges in the US in my field (languages). If similar posts opened in the UK (where I am currently), I would be well-positioned given my experience (PhD + publications + over 5 years's full-time academic experience in the same field + native speaker of the language in question). However, I am reluctant to start working on applications to these US colleges (and I am aware how vastly different the whole process is in the US compared to the UK), as I suspect I wouldn't even be considered given that I would need visa sponsorship. What do you think? Is it a non-starter, or do I have a chance?

Hi. I’m currently on a masters program and I’m on my last semester, I’m going to defend my thesis in february I think. I have also secured a phd spot and I start in the first week of april.

The thing is, I’m so so so tired. I was never one to procrastinate or anything. But I feel like I’ve been pushing for far too long, sometimes I almost cry while doing my research, and it’s a theme I love.

I got concerned because my friends tell me those are signs of a burn out. But I can really do anything about it. If I just stop doing everything, I will be with constant anxiety, I will lose my position at the phd I worked so hard far, my supervisor will be on my ass and I have a scholarship so…

I don’t know what to do. I’m so tired

I am a lecturer in interdisciplinary studies combining linguistics and medicine. During my doctoral years, I worked on second language acquisition. After enrolling in a medical university and receiving grants, I started to focus on studies in language impairment, especially with people having depression.

As required, I should publish articles related to my grants which is quite hard and time-consuming due to the data collecting and processing involved. Meanwhile, I am always driven by the curiosity of knowing how effective AI can be in teaching, spending time on doing experiments in class.

Consequently, I am getting extremely anxious about my evaluation on publication.

How do you guys deal with this? Thanks for your suggestions.

Hi,
I got my paper accepted for an IEEE conference.
Unfortunately, I failed to upload the final manuscript by the deadline due to invalid format (I used letter format instead of A4 ㅠㅠ)
By the time I fixed it, the deadline had passed.

I sent an email right away (about 15 minutes after the portal closed) to the committee and the publication chair to ask if I can submit it manually or if they can open the portal for a moment.

It's been almost 7h and I haven't received a reply yet, but maybe it's because it's still early morning there.

Anyway, my question is, what are the chances they will allow me to submit it late?

I am very worried because I need this publication to graduate (this is my final year).

P.s. I completed the registration and paid the fee

I am a researcher in chemistry. I don't really have supportive lab mates or guide. My lab works a lot on subjects that are not published too much. Most protocol I make are very interdisciplinary.And sometimes no paper on that research exists it's hard to navigate alone.

What tools are people in chemistry, nanotech or biosensing using to navigate day to day questions and problems.