Writing Academic Papers

I have some bad news for analysts. Especially those who are really good at their job. You’ve been cursed. More specifically, you have the curse of knowledge - the tendency to assume that others know what you know. (Google it - it’s real!) Not sure if you have the curse? Well, have you ever spent hours analyzing data, crafting what feels like a clear, thorough presentation… only to be met with a) blank stares, or b) questions with answers you thought were painfully obvious? This happens to all of us. And the more knowledgeable you are, the harder it is to put yourself in your audience’s shoes. The problem? If we can’t clearly communicate our insights or meet our audiences where they are, we’ll never change minds or inspire action. So what can you do? ➤ Zoom out before you zoom in Start with what your audience cares about, not what you analyzed. Frame the problem before the details. ➤ Design for clarity, not completeness Prioritize what matters. Simplify visuals, cut fluff, and really nail down your key message. ➤ Test your message with a non-expert Share your presentation with someone outside your domain. If they get it, your real audience will too. The goal isn’t to dumb it down. It’s to bridge the gap between what you know and what your audience needs to understand. —-— 👋🏼 I’m Morgan. I share my favorite data viz and data storytelling tips to help other analysts (and academics) better communicate their work.

Many amazing presenters fall into the trap of believing their data will speak for itself. But it never does… Our brains aren't spreadsheets, they're story processors. You may understand the importance of your data, but don't assume others do too. The truth is, data alone doesn't persuade…but the impact it has on your audience's lives does. Your job is to tell that story in your presentation. Here are a few steps to help transform your data into a story: 1. Formulate your Data Point of View. Your "DataPOV" is the big idea that all your data supports. It's not a finding; it's a clear recommendation based on what the data is telling you. Instead of "Our turnover rate increased 15% this quarter," your DataPOV might be "We need to invest $200K in management training because exit interviews show poor leadership is causing $1.2M in turnover costs." This becomes the north star for every slide, chart, and talking point. 2. Turn your DataPOV into a narrative arc. Build a complete story structure that moves from "what is" to "what could be." Open with current reality (supported by your data), build tension by showing what's at stake if nothing changes, then resolve with your recommended action. Every data point should advance this narrative, not just exist as isolated information. 3. Know your audience's decision-making role. Tailor your story based on whether your audience is a decision-maker, influencer, or implementer. Executives want clear implications and next steps. Match your storytelling pattern to their role and what you need from them. 4. Humanize your data. Behind every data point is a person with hopes, challenges, and aspirations. Instead of saying "60% of users requested this feature," share how specific individuals are struggling without it. The difference between being heard and being remembered comes down to this simple shift from stats to stories. Next time you're preparing to present data, ask yourself: "Is this just a data dump, or am I guiding my audience toward a new way of thinking?" #DataStorytelling #LeadershipCommunication #CommunicationSkills

Some PhD applicants are destroying their own chances… and everyone else’s. Sitting on the other side of the table, I've realised the search is equally hard for both PhD candidates and academics. Yet some applicants are making it harder for everyone. This year alone, I’ve seen and heard things that still shock me. --- 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 Academics invite a student for an interview… and someone else shows up pretending to be them. 🫨 Yes, REALLY. When your only correspondence is email,  it's shockingly easy to fake. And it forces academics to tighten their walls,  even against people who are genuine. If you’re one of those doing things like this… please stop destroying the playing field for others. --- 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 Then there are the emails that scream NO SOUL from a mile away: → Text fighting itself with different fonts and sizes. → Generic salutations (Dear Professor, Dear Sir/Madam). → Zero mention of how your research connects to ours.  → A CV attached with zero context or introduction. Most academics delete these without reading. Because if you can’t treat your first email with care… why should we trust you with a 3 to 4 year PhD? --- 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 Exceptional grades, awards, and publications might get our attention. But what holds it is simple… Show us you’ve done your homework. You don’t need a perfect or error-free proposal. But you do need to show initiative. → Read our recent publications. → Understand the grants shaping our work. → Study where we're spending energy in the last few yrs → Find the gaps in our research niche. → Write research questions that align. This is what signals PhD readiness. This is what signals critical thinking. This is what lifts you above the sea of copy and paste. --- ❌ Don’t email us about AI/ML when we’ve never worked in those areas. ❌ Don’t send the same template to 50 academics hoping someone bites. ❌ Don’t half–commit and pray for luck. If you’re serious about a PhD: ✅ Put in the work. ✅ Show that you understand where our research is going. ✅ Demonstrate that you’re ready for this level of depth. And if you’re not ready to do that… step aside and let the people who are committed have their shot. Because we are searching for you. But we can only find you if you show up properly. PS: Academics reading this… what’s the worst application mistake you’ve seen? PPS: Prospective PhD students… what part of the application process confuses you most? ♻️ Repost to help someone avoid these mistakes. #LearnWithSofiat

Communicating complex data insights to stakeholders who may not have a technical background is crucial for the success of any data science project. Here are some personal tips that I've learned over the years while working in consulting: 1. Know Your Audience: Understand who your audience is and what they care about. Tailor your presentation to address their specific concerns and interests. Use language and examples that are relevant and easily understandable to them. 2. Simplify the Message: Distill your findings into clear, concise messages. Avoid jargon and technical terms that may confuse your audience. Focus on the key insights and their implications rather than the intricate details of your analysis. 3. Use Visuals Wisely: Leverage charts, graphs, and infographics to convey your data visually. Visuals can help illustrate trends and patterns more effectively than numbers alone. Ensure your visuals are simple, clean, and directly support your key points. 4. Tell a Story: Frame your data within a narrative that guides your audience through the insights. Start with the problem, present your analysis, and conclude with actionable recommendations. Storytelling helps make the data more relatable and memorable. 5. Highlight the Impact: Explain the real-world impact of your findings. How do they affect the business or the problem at hand? Stakeholders are more likely to engage with your presentation if they understand the tangible benefits of your insights. 6. Practice Active Listening: Encourage questions and feedback from your audience. Listen actively and be prepared to explain or reframe your points as needed. This shows respect for their perspective and helps ensure they fully grasp your message. Share your tips or experiences in presenting data science projects in the comments below! Let’s learn from each other. 🌟 #DataScience #PresentationSkills #EffectiveCommunication #TechToNonTech #StakeholderEngagement #DataVisualization

Make writing a proposal for research funding easy. Here is how. There is a tendency to rapidly begin filling in the parts of the application form as soon as possible. With a deadline looming, I used to ask all the partners in a consortium project to state filling in their work packages right away after the first meeting. I had a sooner the better mentality. My plan would be that once we had work packages written I would piece them together. The result. Frankenstein projects. Work packages that did not align, and objectives that sounded like they were each describing different projects. It was a writing nightmare. I was trying sew different ideas together. Reviewers see stitches. Like a good scientific paper, a funding proposal has to have a good logical flow. I now realize that the panicked approach I took previously to funding proposal development is not how to do it. It is much better to be 100% certain of the concept. Then write. For some projects this happens very quickly. Other projects take much more time. Sometimes what you are aiming to do is just complicated and full of uncertainties. Take that time. For scientific papers an outline works. For funding proposals the first step is to get all those involved aligned on the concept. This is not to say you don't write anything at all. To the contrary writing is a way to think. But you need to build up the layers. 1️⃣ Describe the problem and what you will do on a high level. 2️⃣ Then the impacts, outcomes and outputs you intend to have 3️⃣ Then the methods. ➡️ Methods are where you often uncover subtleties and problems that were not apparent at first. You need to solve those problems and the accompanying doubts before you can really begin to write. 4️⃣ Then you can build a project plan. Not before. "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." -Abraham Lincoln Take the time to get the concept right, then write. 

Data without a story is just a spreadsheet. A story without data is just an opinion. Ever wondered why some presentations leave you stunned while others put you to sleep? The answer might be simpler than you think: It's all about how you present your data. Let's dive into a masterclass on data visualization, courtesy of Hans Rosling's iconic TED talk. Rosling starts with a bombshell: Swedish top students know statistically significantly less about the world than chimpanzees. Wait, what? He goes on… Rosling used a simple quiz: → 5 pairs of countries → Each pair: one country has twice the child mortality of the other → The task: Identify which country in each pair has higher mortality The results from his students were…shockingly bad. Why this story works: Simplicity: The test is easy to understand Contrast: Humans vs. Chimpanzees (unexpected comparison) Personal connection: We all think we're smarter than chimps Just like startups need to solve high-intensity problems, your data needs to address high-intensity curiosities. Rosling didn't pick random facts. Instead, he chose a topic that matters (child mortality), a comparison that shocks (educated humans vs. random guessing), and results that challenge assumptions (We're not as informed as we think). This is the "Intensity Imperative" of data storytelling. How to Apply This: 1/ Find the Unexpected What data point in your industry would surprise even the experts? Where do common assumptions fall apart when faced with real numbers? 2/ Make It Personal How can you frame data so your audience sees themselves in the story? What universal human experiences can you tap into? 3/ Simplify, Then Simplify Again Can you explain your key data point in one sentence? If not, keep refining until you can. 4/ Use Vivid Comparisons Instead of abstract numbers, how can you relate your data to everyday concepts? Example: "This much carbon dioxide would fill 1 million Olympic-sized swimming pools" 5/ Build Tension, Then Release Start with a question or premise. then let the data reveal the answer dramatically.

Good research deserves good poster design. Here’s how to structure every section of your academic research poster They’ll teach you how to collect data. But no one teaches you how to present it. Here’s what academic research poster should include ——————————————— 𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 → 1–2 lines only. → Make it specific, bold, and readable from 3 feet away. → Add your name(s), affiliations, and contact info (email or QR code to full paper). ——————————————— 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 → 2–3 sentences on why this study matters → Use bullet points for major facts (e.g. disease burden, knowledge gap) → Optional: add one icon or small visual (e.g. world map if global) ——————————————— 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 → Numbered list of research questions or hypotheses → Keep them short, clear, and preferably bolded ——————————————— 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬 → Study design (e.g. RCT, cohort, case-control) → Setting (country, site, year) → Sample population (eligibility, key demographics) → Variables (exposures, outcomes, confounders) → Data sources/tools (e.g. surveys, registries, labs) → Analysis plan (stats methods, software used) → Optional: one flowchart or timeline visual ——————————————— 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦 → Table: Key characteristics (age, sex, baseline traits) → Graph 1: Your main outcome → bar, line, or forest plot → Text Summary: 3–4 numbered findings with clear metrics (p-values, CIs, effect sizes) → Visuals: Maps for geographical data; survival curves if time-to-event is critical → Label everything: axes, legends, and font readable from 3 feet away ——————————————— 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 → 2–3 bullet points interpreting the results → 1 bullet: main limitation → 1 bullet: key implication or recommendation ——————————————— 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 → One sentence only → No new data; just your biggest takeaway or impact summary ——————————————— 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 & 𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 → 2–3 most relevant citations → Funding sources and disclosure (if required) → Keep font tiny but readable up close ——————————————— If they have to squint, it’s not a poster; it’s a paragraph. Design it for clarity, not complexity. ♻️ Repost this to help a student, colleague, or conference team build better science communication. #AcademicPoster #ResearchDesign

My first 5 grant applications were rejected. Every single one. Here's how I went from £10k to £10m in research grant funding: I remember opening that fifth rejection email and thinking maybe my research just wasn't good enough. Maybe I wasn't cut out for this. Then a panel reviewer told me something that changed everything. She said: "I stopped reading on page 2." Not because the science was weak. Because the way I presented it was. I had buried the real-world impact on page 3. I led with the literature gap instead of the problem. My methodology was sound but my narrative was invisible. I was writing for academics. I should have been writing for funders. So I rebuilt my entire proposal structure around three principles. I now call it the 3P Proposal Structure. P1: Problem Framing. Lead with the real-world problem and its cost. Not the gap in the literature. Funders don't fund gaps. They fund solutions. "This problem costs the NHS £2.3 billion annually" hits harder than "this area remains under-explored." P2: Path Innovation. Show what you will do differently. Not just what you will study. Every applicant studies something. Very few explain why their approach is the one that will actually work. P3: Projected Impact. Connect your outcomes to the stakeholders who fund research. If the funder can see themselves in your story, you win. Same research question. Completely different proposal structure. The next application secured half a million pounds. Then a million. Then over the course of my career, more than £10 million in research funding. Grant writing is storytelling. Your research is the plot. The funder needs to see themselves in the story. What's the most frustrating feedback you've received on a grant application? Save this framework. Repost for anyone applying for funding. #GrantWriting #AcademicFunding

Gearing up to secure funding for your research project? OR Applying for your PhD and need a Proposal? Crafting a compelling research proposal is your ticket to making a strong impression. Here's my detailed guide to help you put your best foot forward: 1. Start with a Strong Introduction: Your introduction is your chance to grab attention. Clearly state the problem your research aims to solve and why it matters. Think of it as your elevator pitch – concise, engaging, and to the point. 2. Define Your Objectives: Outline your research goals and objectives. What do you hope to achieve? Make sure they’re SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). This helps funders understand the impact of your work. 3. Conduct a Literature Review: Show you’ve done your homework. Summarize the current state of research in your field and highlight gaps your project will fill. This demonstrates your knowledge and the necessity of your research. 4. Describe Your Methodology: Detail your research design and methods. Explain how you’ll collect and analyze data, and why you’ve chosen these methods. Be clear and thorough – funders need to see you have a solid plan. 5. Highlight Your Team : Introduce your research team and their expertise. Showcase previous work and successes to build credibility. Funders invest in people as much as they do in ideas. 6. Present a Realistic Budget: Break down your budget, explaining how funds will be allocated. Be transparent and realistic. Justify your expenses by linking them to your research activities and goals. 7. Outline the Impact: Discuss the potential impact of your research. Who will benefit and how? Highlight the broader implications and the value it will bring to the field, community, or society. 8. Include a Timeline: Provide a detailed timeline for your project. This shows you’ve planned your research carefully and can manage time effectively. Include key milestones and deliverables. 9. Proofread and Peer Review: Before submission, proofread your proposal meticulously. Consider having colleagues review it for clarity and coherence. Fresh eyes can catch errors you might miss. 10. Tailor to the Funder: Finally, customize your proposal to align with the specific interests and guidelines of the funding body. Show you’ve done your research on them too, and explain why your project is a perfect fit. Remember, a well-crafted proposal is not just about presenting your research. It's about telling a compelling story that convinces funders of its value and feasibility. Good luck, and happy writing! #ResearchFunding #GrantWriting #AcademicResearch #ResearchProposals #HigherEducation #FundingSuccess #ResearchTips #researchers #phd