In this episode of the Scholarly Peers podcast, host Sin-Wang engages with Susan Samardjian, who shares her experiences and insights on academic travel. They discuss the essential items Susan brings on her trips, including a physical notebook, a book related to her research, an iPad for convenience, and snacks for stress relief. The conversation dives into the importance of reading for relaxation, the role of technology in academia, and how these items reflect Susan's identity and values. They also explore the stress associated with academic life and future aspirations.

In this episode , host Sin-Wang Chong introduces a new series titled 'Researchers in a Bag,' focusing on the personal aspects of researchers' lives beyond their academic work. Joined by guest Jenny Taylorson, they discuss the significance of personal items that researchers carry during academic trips, the balance between work and life, the importance of staying connected with friends, and the ongoing debate about online versus in-person conferences. The conversation highlights the multifaceted identity of researchers and the need for flexibility in their professional lives.

In this episode, Sin-Wang discusses the support systems for early career researchers (ECRs) from the perspective of a journal editor. He reflects on the mentorship scheme implemented in his journal, Review of Education, which aims to provide ECRs with hands-on experience in the peer review process. The conversation explores the challenges faced by ECRs, the importance of empowerment in support systems, and the need for cultural shifts within academia to better support the next generation of researchers.

Review of Education: https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20496613

Scholarly Peers on Substack: https://scholarlypeers.substack.com/ 

Repository of Early Career Researcher Peer Reviewers: https://forms.gle/kWzPYTMdPCeZwmqK9 

In this episode of Scholarly Peers, host Sin-Wang engages with doctoral student Thomas Stringer from the University of St. Andrews. They discuss Thomas's multifaceted identity as a language lecturer and researcher, his doctoral journey, and the motivations behind his publications. The conversation delves into the peer review process, the challenges of academic writing, and Thomas's new role as a co-editor for an in-house journal. The episode concludes with advice for early-career researchers, emphasising the importance of curiosity and experimentation in academia.

Thomas' publications:

Synthesisability and optimising exploratory action research for continuing professional development https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09650792.2024.2362706 

A conceptual framework for Emergent Language Learner Autonomy – a complexity perspective for action research https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17501229.2024.2371505 

Thomas' websites: 

Language Learner Autonomy Research Portal

St Andrews Profile