Academic Diary

People love telling PhD students to “pick a topic you’re truly passionate about.” I disagree. Trends such as AI, geopolitics, climate adaptation and so on, shape publications and hiring, since departments need people who can teach in those areas. With enough time, most topics become interesting anyway. I’ve grown to enjoy subjects I once thought I’d hate; I had been underrating my versatility and my ability to build interest. In academia, practicality is often dismissed while ideals like “passion” and “impact” are oversold. It’s ultimately a survival game. Not always, but sometimes, researchers should be flexible and learn how to cultivate interest.

At my early conferences, I often thought, “What meaningless interactions. We’ll never talk again.” I soon learned the opposite: even brief conversations can become lasting assets. A PhD student you meet today might be in the very department you later apply to, either as a student or as a faculty member, and share insider tips for your job search. The stranger at last night’s dinner could become a future convenor who invites you to a panel. This may sound instrumental, but it’s simply how our symbiotic networks form and where unexpected, beautiful friendships sometimes begin. The key lesson I learned over the years is: don’t undervalue any interaction in academia. Cherish them, no matter how trivial they may feel in the moment.