Ten simple rules for training yourself in an emerging field.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Whitney M. Woelmer, Virginia Tech; L. M. Bradley, Emory University; Lisa T. Haber, Virginia Commonwealth University; David H. Klinges, University of Florida; Abigail S. L. Lewis, Virginia Tech; Elizabeth J. Mohr, Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America.; Christa L. Torrens, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America.; Kathryn I. Wheeler, Boston University; Alyssa M. Willson, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America.
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-10
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 Woelmer et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009440
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PLoS Computational Biology
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 10
• Start Page: e1009440
• End Page: e1009440
• Grant/Funding Information: LMB was also supported by the National Institute of Health T32 (award # A1138952).; The authors acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (to WMW and ASL under DGE-1651272, LMB under DGE-1650114, DK under DGE-1842473, and KIW under DGE-1247312) and NSF research grants DBI-1933016 and DEB-1926050 to WMW, DEB-1655095 to LH, 1638577 to KIW, 1241874 to AMW, and 1945941 to EM.; EM was also funded by a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Grant/Award Number: Hatch Project 1015745.; AMW was also supported by an Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellowship and University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center Graduate Fellowship.
• Keywords: Career Choice; Publications; Goals; Occupations; Humans; Forecasting; Students
• Research Categories: Biology, Bioinformatics; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences

Abstract

The opportunity to participate in and contribute to emerging fields is increasingly prevalent in science. However, simply thinking about stepping outside of your academic silo can leave many students reeling from the uncertainty. Here, we describe 10 simple rules to successfully train yourself in an emerging field, based on our experience as students in the emerging field of ecological forecasting. Our advice begins with setting and revisiting specific goals to achieve your academic and career objectives and includes several useful rules for engaging with and contributing to an emerging field.