Special thanks to @jmijin.bsky.social, Deepa Das Acevedo, Crisóbal Rodriguez, @christinemle.bsky.social, @planetdr.bsky.social, David Baltrus, Ramon Alain Miranda-Quintana, and Kyle Davis for sharing their advice.

A step-by-step guide to nailing your tenure promotion package It’s an important milestone in many academic careers, yet the tenure process is surprisingly nebulous. Here’s what it takes to succeed.

Are you coming up for tenure review in the next couple of years? See the @nature.com Careers team's advice for assembling a kick-ass tenure portfolio.

Reporting by @scattercushion.bsky.social

A step-by-step guide to nailing your tenure promotion package www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Special thanks to Frank Hemmings, Marten Schöle, Philippa Broadbent, Henry Biddle, and Fiona Lynch for sharing their stories and perspectives.

How hidden contributions power modern research The people who work behind the scenes to keep research moving say that there should be more recognition for their roles.

Fantastic piece on the research support specialists who are the 'stagehands' of science - their names rarely 'in lights', but they make research work from behind the scenes. Great reporting by @shihabjamal.bsky.social

How hidden contributions power modern research www.nature.com/articles/d41...

14 things our PhD supervisors got right and why it mattered PhD students reflect on how their supervisors made a meaningful difference — from quiet acts of kindness to career-shaping guidance.

In the last piece on @nature.com's 2025 Global PhD Survey, we give you great PhD supervisors and the kind, supportive and career-boosting things they did for their students.

Yes! A feel-good read about PhDs from @lindanordling.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Engaging the head and the heart: why scientists turn to poetry Some researchers use verse to visualize complex problems or translate the wonders of science for wider audiences.

In the midst of all the world events, it's nice to have a piece like this in @nature.com on scientists who write lyrical, moving poetry. Many thx to @josiegz.bsky.social for the wonderful pitch & piece.

Engaging the head and the heart: why scientists turn to poetry www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Why I made a river my co-author Anne Poelina gives first authorship to a source with deep knowledge about water — the river itself.

What does it mean to bring Indigenous knowledge to bear on scientific studies? Anne Poelina explains in this #WorkingScientist profile @nature.com. She made the river she studies a co-author on publications as a source of her expertise. By @ljevanso.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Same same. I have never seen so many fire hydrant tests so early in the spring before...

I paused my PhD for 11 years to help save Madagascar’s seas Marine scientist Ando Rabearisoa creates sustainable, community-managed fisheries.

ICYMI: Excellent @nature.com Q&A with Ando Rabearisoa about why she took an 11-year break in her PhD studies to help establish locally managed marine conservation areas in #Madagascar.
As told to Mark DeGraff.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

My PhD student is stuck. How do I teach them perseverance and problem solving? A new principal investigator wants to help PhD students to develop resilience and creativity in the laboratory without hovering or doing the work for them.

(Oh, how I identified with this illo when I was a PhD student.)

How should PI's teach perseverance when their grad students are stuck – without swooping in to rescue them? Next in the Dear @nature.com series. Reporting by @mnicolen.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Uncharted: Understanding women’s health across the body Disaggregating data by sex is a powerful way to help develop better diagnostics and treatments for women — but researchers say it’s not used enough.

How and why to filter men out of your data

Did you know that women are significantly more likely to suffer severe side effects from cancer treatments? Disaggregating data by sex reveals life-saving differences and improves health care for – wait for it – everyone.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Please share this far and wide with any woman in your life who is age 30-60. I learned a lot about what science does and doesn't say about the benefits and risks of menopause hormone therapy. This is anti-hype, evidenced-based and clearly written!

The missing pieces of menopause science Hormone therapy is back after decades in the shadows. But evidence gaps remain for treating perimenopause — often the most disruptive part of the menopause transition.

Might be my fave piece that I've edited so far this year! It was a pleasure to work through how best to present all the various missing pieces and evidence gaps in #menopause science with @lindanordling.bsky.social

Plus fantastic art by Maria Corte.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Fantastic photo illustration!

Cracked, but still there: the glass ceiling persists for senior women in science To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, Mangala Srinivas reminds junior colleagues that career success won’t protect you from gender-based bias.

Leading in science as a woman doesn't mean smooth sailing through gender bias, unfortunately, writes @mangalasrinivas.bsky.social @nature.com. She gives practical advice for navigating the shards of the cracked glass ceiling (hint: there's no magic bullet).

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

For this piece, I keep trying (and failing miserably) to come up with an appropriate female twist on "standing on the shoulders of giants". Butterfly people, help me out?

‘No one quite like her’: meet the female colleagues who inspire these award-winning women in science To mark International Women’s Day, Nature asked winners of its awards programmes to nominate a colleague who brings out the best in them.

This weekend is International Women's Day. For the 2nd year, Nature Careers is celebrating by asking award-winning women to nominate the women who inspired them.
As told to @scattercushion.bsky.social.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

And on women in science:
*These women inspired award-winning women by @scattercushion.bsky.social
*Q&A with Changemaker Dorceta Taylor by @virginiagewin.bsky.social
*The $120K 'motherhood penalty' by @sarahemilywild.bsky.social

Inside on women's health:
*The missing pieces of menopause science (shocker: there are many) by @lindanordling.bsky.social
*How and why to filter men out of your data by @smjyoti.bsky.social
*Drug safety in pregnancy by @giorgiag-sciwriter.bsky.social

International Women's Day 2026 Nature highlights developments in women’s health research and career guidance for women in science.

It's International Women's Day this weekend! @natureportfolio.nature.com celebrates with a collection of articles exploring how to improve gender equality for women's health and women's careers in science.

Eye-popping art by illustrator Maria Corte.

www.nature.com/immersive/iw...

Does she have a nearby Little Library in her neighborhood? Or if a local indy bookstore might be willing to set up a 'subscription by mail' service for her to send books once a month or so, then you (or someone) could return them to the bookstore for credit once read?

Huge thanks for reporter @scattercushion.bsky.social pulling this all together and to the nominators Jiawen Li, @elisabethbik.bsky.social, @nancyolivieri.bsky.social, Maheera Ghani, Yating Wan, and Chelsea Polis!

‘No one quite like her’: meet the female colleagues who inspire these award-winning women in science To mark International Women’s Day, Nature asked winners of its awards programmes to nominate a colleague who brings out the best in them.

For International Women's Day on 8 March this weekend, @nature.com's Careers team presents award-winning women scientists and the women who inspired them. If you need some feel-good news these days or pro tips for mentoring in your own science career, dive in!

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

It's been a privilege to edit this series @nature.com, which features scientists, including Robert Bullard, who were willing to to speak boldly and candidly about their own professional and personal encounters with racism and how they pushback to make the pursuit of science better for all.

I will continue the fight for environmental justice in Black communities Nicknamed the father of environmental justice, Robert Bullard argues that researchers in the field have more reason than ever to back up their work with action.

As the final @nature.com Changemakers in science Q&A, it's truly fitting to highlight the work of Robert Bullard @bullardcenter.bsky.social to put action behind environmental justice research in the most vulnerable communities. As told to @virginiagewin.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Why every scientist needs a librarian Librarians can be key research partners who help to scour the literature, manage data and make science open.

Scientist, get thee to the library!
If you're not collaborating with librarians to support your literature searches, open science and data management, you're missing out.

(Alternative hed not copyeditor approved - all credit to wonderful writer Amber Dance!)

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Historically Black US universities chase top research ranking Howard University is reaping the rewards of becoming the first such institution to reach ‘R1’ status.

Howard University (re)earned the coveted R1 research rank one year ago – see how other HBCUs are working their way closer to the top research rankings. Reporting by @alexwitze.bsky.social

Historically Black US universities chase top research ranking www.nature.com/articles/d41...

How big is the ‘motherhood penalty’? In Denmark, it adds up to $120,000 An analysis documents the cumulative income hit mothers incur — as well as the extent to which state aid can offset the loss.

Wow – a calculation of the $120K in wages that women are 'docked' to become mothers, and how gov't aid does or doesn't help.

Crazy that the US still has no federally mandated parental leave!

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

My professor said ‘Black people are not interested in the environment’. I set out to prove him wrong Environmental sociologist Dorceta Taylor has helped her field to be more welcoming to researchers of colour.

The latest #Changemaker Q&A features environmental sociologist Dorceta Taylor who is a fierce champion of early-career Black researchers and their contributions to environmental, climate change and conservation science. As told to @virginiagewin.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

My mission to make life more user friendly for the disability community Inventor Josh Miele says that accelerating change requires uprooting social attitudes about blindness and other disabilities.

Excellent profile of blind inventor Joshua Miele by @laurieudesky.bsky.social. He's spent his career making accessible technologies for the blind and low-vision community, such as improved screen readers and tactile maps. Also an outspoken disability rights advocate.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...