PhD Compass | Research Systems for PhD
Proven systems for academic productivity that work.

Latest

15
Jul
phd-compass graphic titled "How to respond to reviewer comments" with three response chips: Incorporate, Rebut, Pivot.

How to Respond to Reviewer Comments (3 Ways to Handle Any Comment)

Reviewer 2 came back brutal? Every comment gets one of three responses—incorporate, rebut, or pivot. Here's the calm method that gets papers published.
7 min read
08
Jul

How to Organize Your PhD Research So You Never Lose a Paper Again (PARA for Researchers)

I once spent forty minutes looking for a paper I had already read, already annotated, and already decided was central
6 min read
01
Jul

From Zettelkasten to First Draft: Turn Atomic Notes into Academic Paragraphs

You open a blank document. The cursor blinks. You have read forty papers, you have opinions, you have a deadline
5 min read
24
Jun

How to Take Literature Notes You'll Actually Reuse (The 6-Field System)

You've read the paper. You even highlighted it, maybe scribbled half a page of notes. Then, three months
5 min read
14
Oct

How to Write a Journal Article: Introduction and Methods

Hello. My name is Thomas Bertelsen, and I want to share with you some strategies that have helped me write
14 min read
06
Oct

Master Your Article Outline: From Scattered Notes to Structured Academic Writing

When I first began writing articles during my PhD, I would sit at my computer for hours, paralyzed by a
8 min read
24
Sep
How to Collect Everything You Need to Write an Academic Article

How to Collect Everything You Need to Write an Academic Article

Hello. I want to share with you a painful lesson that took me years to learn about academic writing. When
19 min read
18
Sep
A picture of a notebook laying beside a computer showing notes. Meant to vizualise the zettelkasten system

How to create links in the Zettelkasten Method: A PhD Student's Guide to Smart Note-Taking

Discover how PhD students can use the Zettelkasten method to create meaningful connections between notes, enhancing their academic research and writing process.
11 min read
11
Sep
How to Create Atomic Notes That Actually Stick: A Simple Guide

How to Create Atomic Notes That Actually Stick: A Simple Guide

Discover how to create atomic notes that enhance your thinking. Learn practical approaches to build sustainable systems and make your notes useful over time.
10 min read
04
Sep
How to Use the Zettelkasten Method to Supercharge Your PhD Research

How to Use the Zettelkasten Method to Supercharge Your PhD Research

Discover how the Zettelkasten method can help PhD students organize research, connect ideas, and write more effectively by creating a personal knowledge network.
6 min read