The Struggling Scientists – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Struggling Scientists

Suzanne and Jayron

Science

Health & Fitness

Education

News

Society & Culture

Technology

Frequency: 1 episode/21d. Total Eps: 95

Welcome everyone to the Struggling Scientists Podcast. This is a podcast by Scientists, for Scientists. But also for aspiring Scientists, anyone science adjacent, and perhaps even hobbyists. Together we will be trying to bring back the fun in science. We all know the scientific field can be difficult and hard at times and it is easy to lose sight of our passion and enthusiasm. In this podcast, we will talk about Science and the people behind Science. Website: www.thestrugglingscientists.com

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https://redcircle.com/brands
190 shares
https://thestrugglingscientists.com/
128 shares
https://thestrugglingscientists.com/newsletter
9 shares

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 53%

Publication history

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Latest published episodes

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How to Use Research Rabbit to Explore a Research Field

Monday, September 21, 2026 • Duration 08:56

ResearchRabbit gives researchers a different way to explore scientific literature by visualising the connections between papers, citations and authors. 🐇🔎

In this walkthrough, we show you how we use ResearchRabbit to explore a research field. We start with just one paper and gradually build a collection, before showing how you can start with an existing Zotero library or BibTeX file and explore a much larger body of literature. 📚

We also look at how ResearchRabbit can help you discover connected papers, identify influential research, explore author networks and find connections that can be difficult to spot in a traditional list of search results. 🕸️

🐇 Try ResearchRabbit

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/ResearchRabbit

Chapters

00:00 👋 Introduction

00:56 🐇 How ResearchRabbit changes literature discovery

01:51 📄 Starting with one paper

03:58 📚 Starting with Zotero or an existing collection

04:31 🕸️ Understanding the literature map

05:41 🔎 Refining your literature search

06:20 ⚠️ Research alerts and retracted references

06:49 👩‍🔬 Exploring authors and collaborations

07:23 💭 Final thoughts and takeaways

📚 More research tools and tutorials:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz6aXl5V5V77ziE8Leh9IuMB4yY4m0Yjq&si=OaQLB5nKrTQdyNwJ

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Can SciSpace Simplify Your Entire Research Workflow? | PhD Toolkit

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 20:39

SciSpace has become much more than a tool for chatting with PDFs. In this episode of the PhD Toolkit, we put it through a real research workflow to find out whether it actually deserves a place in your research toolkit.

We test how well it helps with literature discovery, understanding papers, note-taking, writing and overall workflow before scoring it on our PhD Toolkit leaderboard.

⭐ Try SciSpace

This video isn't sponsored, but we do use affiliate links. If you decide SciSpace is right for you, using our link helps support the channel at no extra cost.

🔗 Affiliate link:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/Scispace

🎁 Discount codes:

JNSS20 = 20% off monthly plans

JNSS40 = 40% off annual plans, best for heavy users or systematic reviews

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:10 Setting up the test

01:51 Finding papers

04:56 Understanding papers

05:38 Saving ideas

10:23 Writing

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Why You Struggle to Do Deep Work During Your PhD and how to fix your focus

Monday, May 25, 2026 • Duration 17:30

Learn how to apply the core ideas from Deep Work by Cal Newport to your life as a PhD student, postdoc, or early-career researcher.

In this episode, we break down what Deep Work actually is, why shallow work can take over your best energy, and how to use the four Deep Work methods: monastic, bimodal, rhythmic, and journalistic.

If you want to protect more focused time for writing, reading, analysis, or research thinking, this episode will help you choose the Deep Work method that fits your academic life best.

🎓 About our channel

We are The Struggling Scientists. We make honest videos about PhD life, academia, and how to make your research journey a little bit easier.

If that sounds helpful, consider subscribing.

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👉 We’ve created a free AI prompt to help you apply the Deep Work methods to your own research:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/deepwork

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👉 We also created a full AI Tools for Academics Masterclass, where we walk through how to use AI ethically and effectively throughout the research process:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/MasterclassAI

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The Worst AI Mistakes in Published Research

Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 08:16

AI is already being used in academic research, and some of it is going very wrong.

In this video, we break down real cases where the misuse of AI led to serious problems in published scientific papers. This includes fake references, copy pasted AI text, and completely incorrect AI generated figures that somehow made it through peer review.

From a hospital librarian discovering that most references in a paper did not even exist, to a viral paper with biologically impossible AI images, these examples highlight a growing issue in modern science.

But this is not just about researchers using AI incorrectly. It also raises bigger questions about peer review, journal responsibility, and how these mistakes are slipping through the system.

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👉 We are The Struggling Scientists, a channel for all struggling scientists out there.

We share honest experiences, practical advice, and real stories to help make your life in academia just a little bit less of a struggle.

🎓 Want to learn how to use AI properly in your research?

We created a full AI for Academics Masterclass where we show you how to use AI tools ethically and effectively, without risking your work or credibility:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/MasterclassAI

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⏰ TIME STAMPS

00:00 AI is already breaking research

00:50 Copy pasted ChatGPT in a published paper

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Questions That Destroyed Years of Research (Academia Stories)

Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 17:25

Academia can go wrong… very quickly.

In this episode of Academic Tea, we react to real stories from researchers where a single question at a conference, lab meeting, or thesis defense completely changed — or even destroyed — someone’s research.

From missing control variables… to flawed assumptions… to realizing your entire project might not be based on the right idea — these are the kinds of moments every scientist secretly fears.

If you’ve ever presented your work, worked on a PhD, or sat through a brutal Q&A session… you’ll definitely recognize some of these.

💬 Have you ever had a question completely throw you off during a presentation or meeting?

Let us know in the comments — we might feature your story in a future episode!

☕ Academic Tea is our series where we react to real academic stories — the good, the bad, and the painfully relatable.

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👉 We’re The Struggling Scientists — a channel for all struggling scientists out there.

We share honest experiences, practical advice, and real stories to help make your life in academia just a little bit less of a struggle.

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⏰ TIME STAMPS

00:00 When one question destroys your research

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Episode 87: How to Actually Focus During Your PhD (Without Burning Out)

Thursday, April 2, 2026 • Duration 09:58

Most PhD students don’t struggle with focus because they’re lazy.

They struggle because their attention is constantly being pulled in ten different directions.

In this episode, we break down a simple framework to help you actually focus again — without burning out or relying on motivation.

If you’ve been feeling scattered, stuck, or mentally drained, this will help you lock back in.

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🎓 About our channel

We are The Struggling Scientists. We make honest videos about PhD life, academia, and how to make your research journey a little bit easier.

If that sounds helpful, consider subscribing.

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👉 We’ve created a free AI prompt to help you apply the LOCK framework to your own PhD:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/lock

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👉 We also created a full AI Tools for Academics Masterclass, where we walk through how to use AI ethically and effectively throughout the research process:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/MasterclassAI

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Episode 86: What a Dutch PhD Defense is Actually Like

Friday, March 20, 2026 • Duration 09:32

Did you know that in the Netherlands, by the time you defend your PhD… you’ve already passed?

Unlike in many other countries, the Dutch PhD defense is usually not the final exam that determines whether you get your degree. Your thesis has already been approved, failing is extremely rare, and the defense itself feels more like a formal and historic ceremony than an exam.

In this video, I take you behind the scenes of my own Dutch PhD defense, exactly one year after it happened. I explain:

Why the Dutch system is so different

What “Hora Est” means

Why you have to defend in Dutch

The historic role of paranymphs

What the 45 minutes of questioning are really like

And how it felt to finally become Doctor

If you’re working toward your own PhD defense, curious about academic traditions in different countries, or simply wondering what a Dutch PhD ceremony looks like, this video is for you.

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🎓 About our channel

We are The Struggling Scientists. We make honest videos about PhD life, academia, and how to make your research journey a little bit easier.

If that sounds helpful, consider subscribing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Episode 85: Academia Stories That Are Almost Too Awkward to Be Real

Thursday, March 5, 2026 • Duration 25:30

Academia can get weird fast. In this episode of Academic Tea, we react to real Reddit stories about awkward academic interviews, PhD supervisor dilemmas, and thesis mistakes that every researcher will recognize.

Would you like your story to be (anonymously) featured in a future episode?

Submit your story here:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/stories/

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👉 We also created a full AI Tools for Academics Masterclass, where we walk through how to use AI ethically and effectively throughout the research process:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/MasterclassAI

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⏰ TIME STAMPS

00:00 Welcome to Academic Tea

00:30 AI interview disaster

06:40 AI tools mention

07:25 PhD supervisor red flag?

20:50 Thesis mistakes after submission

25:10 Final thoughts

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Topics covered in this video:

PhD life, academic interviews, PhD supervision, academia struggles, Reddit stories, research life, thesis writing mistakes, graduate school experiences.

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Episode 84: 7 Tips to nail your PhD interview with a future supervisor!

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • Duration 12:49

Got a PhD interview coming up?

This isn’t just another job interview, it’s the start of a 4+ year research partnership. In this video, we share 7 essential PhD interview tips that most applicants overlook. From your first email to the toughest interview questions.

If you want to stand out, impress your future supervisor, and feel confident walking into your graduate school interview, this is for you.

🎓 Your PhD acceptance starts before you step into the room.

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👉 We also created a full AI Tools for Academics Masterclass, where we walk through how to use AI ethically and effectively throughout the research process:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/MasterclassAI

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⏰ TIME STAMPS

0:00 - Introduction: Why PhD Interviews Are Different

1:06 - The First Impression Most Applicants Get Wrong

5:45 - What You Must Know Before You Walk In

6:27 - The Question You Will Be Asked

7:20 - Don’t Forget This Crucial Step

9:37 - The Trait Supervisors Secretly Look For

10:19 - The Mistake That Can Cost You the Position

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Episode 83: PhD's Worst Fears: How to Avoid These Grad School Disasters

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 • Duration 38:15

In this special Halloween episode, we dive into the scariest real-life PhD horror stories submitted by our listeners. From crashed software hours before a big deadline to lab disasters and terrifyingly toxic supervisors, these tales of PhD struggles will leave you on the edge of your seat. We’ll share our thoughts and advice on how to navigate these grad school nightmares—so you don’t have to face them alone. Tune in to hear the stories, the fears, and, most importantly, how to avoid these grad school disasters!

Will you survive the PhD horror? Find out now!

🤩Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss new episodes like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/@thestrugglingscientists

🤖Want to find our favorite AI tools for PhDs and researchers? Look no further 👇

https://mtr.bio/Tools

🔴Find your favorite science shirt, stickers, or coffee mugs here:

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/webshop/

📰Get our FREE (AI) Tools guide 🤖 by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

https://thestrugglingscientists.com/newsletter

👍Follow us for more fun and interesting memes, videos, and threads guaranteed to improve your PhD experience here:

Twitter: https://x.com/TheStrugglingS4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestrugglingscientistspodcast/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thestrugglingscientistspodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-struggling-scientists-podcast/?viewAsMember=true

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The Struggling Scientists – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Struggling Scientists – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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