Tag: Mendeley Advisors

Meet Dr. Abinaya Sekar, our newest Advisor of the Month

Susan Jenkins

Abinaya Sekar at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, India

Mendeley Advisors can be found not only in university settings but also at research institutes, government departments, and working in private industry. We were excited to meet Dr. Abinaya Sekar, a Senior Research Associate at India’s Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, visiting faculty at School of Planning and Architecture Delhi, and a Mendeley Advisor since 2021.

Abinaya’s research focuses on policy related to air quality and human health. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Technology from National Institute of Technology Calicut, a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, a Masters in Environmental Engineering and Management and an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Thiagarajar College of Engineering.

How did you become interested in your field?

During my undergraduate study, my professor, Dr. Chandran, raised a question that stuck with me forever: “How to control the water hyacinth invasion in water bodies in Madurai.” It was then that I realized I wanted to work for the environment and especially pollution. The paradox that the level of water is increasing, but we do not have water that we can consume, is hard-hitting. For both my undergraduate and master’s thesis, I studied the invasive and beneficial characteristics of water hyacinth. Later, for my Ph.D., I went on to study the challenging discourse of air pollution and gained expertise in exposure assessment, human health risk assessment, and air pollution science.

What attracted you to working at the Centre for Policy Research?

Since my Ph.D. I was interested in working with Delhi’s air quality crisis. I preferred working with the organization because CPR has been a consistent voice in the public discourse regarding the air pollution situation in Delhi. Working with CPR’s scholars, who are from the world’s finest universities, is a truly rewarding experience.

Where do you work the best? What kind of environment suits you?

I function best when it is peaceful. I cannot work around chaos. The Environment Engineering Laboratory at NIT Calicut is one such place. During my Ph.D. days, I would spend most of my time in the lab, carrying out my research. Often, days turned into nights and I often lost track of time while working. It was one place where I was disconnected from the other world and it was me, the instruments and my research. That is the kind of environment I thrive in.

How long have you been using Mendeley?

I was first introduced to Mendeley by professor Dr. Arun Kumar from NIT Calicut in 2017. I’ve been using it since then.

What were you using prior to Mendeley?

Before getting introduced to Mendeley, I was using the very difficult and tedious referencing method in Microsoft Word. After getting familiar with Mendeley, there was no looking back. Not only did it make referencing easier, but it also saved so much time. It was actually a life-changing decision.

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

For the simple reason that more people should be familiar with such an easy to use and time saving referencing tool.

Is there a researcher you admire (dead or alive) that you would like to work with or meet?

Dr. George K. Varghese, my PhD supervisor, is someone I like and look up to. In India, Prof. Varghese is a pioneer in the field of Environmental Forensics. The questions he highlighted throughout our research discussions influenced the way I thought and approached my research questions. In addition to research skills, I’ve learned how to respond to people despite a hectic schedule, how to be approachable, and how to avoid procrastinating on work. I also deeply admire the work of Ms. Sunita Narin, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. I would like to meet her.

What are you reading or listening to at the moment ?

This week I listened to the episode “Breathing the air in Lebanon: E-cigarettes, water pipes, and beyond” featuring Prof. Najat Saliba, professor at the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), hosted by Atmospheric Tales, a podcast that focuses on stories from around the world related to air pollution and climate change.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned this week?

The fact that globally, 40% of the secondary organic aerosols are formed from ammonia. In addition to the health effects associated with ammonia, its secondary particle formation potential makes it an important pollutant to regularly monitor. It may be a well-established fact; however, I came across it only this week.

I also picked up some skills in making chicken biryani as well. This week I made it for my husband’s birthday party, and it was a huge hit.

What is the best part about working in research?

The best part of research is searching. Every time I dig for something I end up finding some other newer related thing and the tabs in my browsers keep increasing.

And the most challenging part about working in research?

The challenging part about research is also attributed to the researching part of it. The fact that to be good at it, one has to go into such depths, can often be mentally draining. I am often tired by the end of the day. Also, there are many repetitive corrections, which require a lot of consistency and commitment.

What advice would you give to young researchers? 

My advice for young researchers is to read, re-read and read again. With that, write and jot down your ideas. Writing is an acquired skill which one acquires from writing a lot.

What is the most important thing that people should know about Mendeley?

Taking notes within the app is the most useful feature for me. It makes Mendeley a useful platform for literature review in addition to referencing.

You can read more about Abinaya and her work on these sites:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abinaya-sekar-phd-82097b70
Centre for Policy Research Staff pages: https://cprindia.org/people/abinaya-sekar/

Interested in the Mendeley Advisor program? Visit https://www.mendeley.com/advisor-community to learn more.

Advisor of the Month: Meet Andrii Kyrylchuk, Chemist and 10-year Mendeley user!

Susan Jenkins
person facing the camera with desk and computer in the background

Andrii Kyrylchuk in his office at University of California, San Francisco, USA

We’ve noticed that some Mendeley Advisors’ research takes them places around the globe. One Advisor whose career exemplifies this is Andrii Kyrylchuk. Initially graduating from the National Technical University of Ukraine in Kyiv with a Master’s in Organic Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Organic Substances, Andrii has spent the first decade of his career as a visiting researcher in Finland, Italy, and now as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the United States.

What attracted you to working at UCSF?

 UCSF is one of the world leading institutions in medicinal chemistry and life sciences. Shoichet’s lab, where I am currently working, is among the top research groups that specialize in virtual drug discovery.

How did you become interested in your field?

I’ve been passionate about chemistry since my early childhood. I had my small laboratory at the balcony of the ordinary soviet-style apartment. My bookshelf was full of high-school and university chemical textbooks. I was hunting for new books and glassware across the small city where I lived. So, it was really easy to choose what I want to do with my life.

I studied industrial organic chemistry for my master’s, then did organic chemistry in my PhD years, and then transitioned to computational organic chemistry. In addition to the research in organic chemistry, I worked on carbon membranes during my Fulbright Fellowship. In 2020 I got interested in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, and spent some time working in the leading Ukrainian chemical company Enamine Ltd. This year I joined UCSF and my key focus is virtual screening and early drug discovery.

Where do you work the best? What kind of environment suits you?

Surprisingly, I often find inspiration strikes in rather unusual places: a coffee shop, a train ride or on a flight. I also enjoy working outside. But the best place is always where my colleagues are!

How long have you been using Mendeley?

My journey into science with Mendeley started on May 13, 2012. Oh, I had a 10th anniversary this year!

What were you using prior to Mendeley?

I was using MS Word’s own endnotes for citing, and organized my PDF files in simple folders on my PC. That was dreadful.

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

When I started using Mendeley, I saw how much easier my life became with it, so naturally I wanted to share this joy with others. Many fellow scientists didn’t know much about reference managers at the time, so encouraging them to use Mendeley was difficult sometimes.

Andrii and a llama friend

What book are you reading at the moment and why?

“A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking. My goal is to present my findings in the same engaging and exciting manner this book is written in.

What is the best part about working in research?

The joy of discovering something new, that no one have seen before. Connection through the generations of scientists. And the things you do vary a lot: a bit of programming, wet lab work, paper writing, conferences and so on. Overall, research is the most exciting job one can have!

And the most challenging part about working in research?

For me it is time management and expectation management. Starting a new project, one doesn’t know if the main problem can be solved at all, let alone what means are necessary to solve it. And often it takes much more time and effort thanexpected, and the result is far from the expected.

What advice would you give to young researchers? 

My advice would be not to be afraid to change your field! All science is interdisciplinary, so every researcher must know lots of trades. Entering a new field is scary sometimes, but it’s also fun.

What is the most important thing that people should know about Mendeley?

If you make Mendeley a key point in your everyday research, things will become much simpler. People tend to think of reference managers as of tools for writing papers, but Mendeley is much more. When I start a new project, I add all the papers I find to a new folder in Mendeley so that it’s easier to keep all information in one place. A new paper is out from a group I follow? Adding it to Mendeley. Learning new methods or tools? The papers go to a specific subfolder in “Methods” directory. And don’t forget to highlight and make notes while reading!

You can read more about Andrii and his work on these sites:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrylchuk/
University website: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/andrii.kyrylchuk
Own website: https://kyrylch.uk/

Interested in the Mendeley Advisor program? Visit https://www.mendeley.com/advisor-community to learn more.

Advisor of the Month: An awesome team from UASLP in México

Susan Jenkins

Manuel Armenta, Wendy Pérez Díaz, and Sinuhé Rodriguez on the campus of Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México

We decided to do something a little different this time–our first Advisor of the Month story featuring a group of Advisors from a single institution. Since the 2021 LATAM North “Elsevier Live” webinar series where we presented the Mendeley Advisor program, we’ve been hearing more from Advisors in the region. Among them are three from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP), who share Mendeley know-how by organizing events within UASLP’s large library system. Advisors Manuel Armenta, Sinuhé Rodríguez, and Wendy Pérez Díaz spoke with us about their experiences and inspiration. Each works in a different division within the libraries at UASLP. Manuel supports research and user training at the Information Center for Science, Technology and Design; Sinuhé is a Librarian Documentalist at the Information Center for Humanities, Library Science and Psychology, and Wendy works as a Librarian in the central Library Services office.

What attracted you to UASLP?

Manuel appreciated “the large university community, opportunities for research collaboration and cultural outreach,” while Sinuhé says that “it is one of the best universities in Mexico and has beautiful libraries.”  Wendy describes the UASLP library system as “the best place to develop professionally and personally.” She added that the university “is a national reference, and the library system is one of its particular strengths.”  

How did you become interested in your field?

Wendy’s interest grew out of a broad curiosity, “a need to have answers to questions. There is a lot of work to be done and a very wide field to be explored.” Sinuhé highlighted interacting with people, noting he likes working “with PhD students and researchers and assessing their information needs.” Manuel discovered his interest by accident. “I was looking at another area, but the course was changed to focus on reference managers.” He appreciates being able to “propose ideas, to look for solutions that can benefit all who need information for their research.”

How long have you been using Mendeley? What’s the most important thing about Mendeley that people should know?

All three have used Mendeley for eight or more years and highlighted its flexibility and accessibility. Manuel notes that Mendeley’s “free” access is the main thing. Many people he has worked with “think it is necessary to invest money to be able to cite and manage references. When you talk to them about the qualities and wonders within Mendeley and tell them that it is free, they are surprised and excited.” He also appreciates how Mendeley is “in constant growth and adaptation for the benefit of research.”

Wendy Pérez Díaz

Wendy emphasized how Mendeley allows researchers “to organize their information in a smart, dynamic and professional way.” For Sinuhé, who previously had been managing references and citations manually, it’s the ease of creating citations and bibliography and the flexibility to change the citation style automatically that are Mendeley’s most important strengths.

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

Wendy joined to “teach Mendeley to the university community of researchers and share…experience with Mendeley Reference Manager.” Sinuhé finds the Advisor program supports him in offering a higher quality of service to users, as does Manuel: “I worked with researchers and academics who struggled with citations and references, managing their documents…and finding information was a problem. I had knowledge of Mendeley and wanted to share it with more people, so when I saw the opportunity to join, I did not hesitate.”

Is there a researcher you admire (dead or alive) that you would like to work with or meet, and why?

Wendy appreciates Dr. Lourdes Feria “for being a librarian who inspires and motivates colleagues to generate research.” Sinuhé admires medical technology and innovation researcher Samuel Kolosovas, who he has known since childhood, “because of his superb analysis of power and the relationships and dependencies it creates in individuals.” 

Manuel Armenta

A researcher Manuel would have liked to meet is Rui Pérez Tamayo, “a Mexican pathologist and immunologist, researcher, science popularizer and academic. I liked very much how he expressed himself about science, his contributions, how he saw the future – and how directly and indirectly everyone contributes to science.”

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned this week?

Manuel participated in a “Design thinking” collaboration “to find solutions for problems in our university community. Incredible as it may seem [after] 7 years inside the institution, we have realized that we are really far from knowing. We are excited about the idea of looking for possible solutions to the most frequent problems.”

Wendy’s insight is “the importance of shared knowledge, and the fact that there are new things to learn every day.”

Can you recommend a “good read?”

As you might expect, these Advisors have diverse reading and listening interests. Manuel “would always recommend the series of ‘The Cemetery of Forgotten Books’ by the author Carlos Ruiz Zafón. “There is no age limit, there is no reading order, you are immersed in the reading from beginning to end.”  Sinuhé suggested George Orwell’s “1984” and Wendy likes the podcast “Creative,” “because they talk with outstanding creative people from different industries to learn a little about their way of seeing life.”

What is the best part about working in research?

For Sinuhé, it’s that you can “learn about many topics and interact with knowledgeable people,” while Manuel points to both the cross-disciplinary aspects and the opportunities for “collaboration, and freedom to share knowledge.” Wendy also appreciates “sharing new knowledge” and being able to contribute to the larger community.

Sinuhé Rodriguez

And the most challenging part about working in research?

Both Wendy and Manuel identified the time investment necessary for the process of scientific research, while Sinuhé mentioned the challenge of trying to understand researcher’s needs.

What advice would you give to young researchers? 

Manuel advises that “they love their discipline” and feel encouraged to further the research in their field. Wendy suggests that they see the generation of new knowledge as contributing to the community. But Sinuhé offers perhaps the most important piece of advice: “Approach the librarian. They can help you.”

You can follow these Mendeley Advisors on LinkedIn:

Manuel Armenta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-de-jesús-armenta-martínez-1ba3735a/
Wendy Pérez Diaz:https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-ariadna-d%C3%ADaz-997a8823b/
Sinuhé Rodríguez:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinuh%C3%A9-rodr%C3%ADguez-3

Interested in the Mendeley Advisor program? Visit https://www.mendeley.com/advisor-community to learn more.

Advisor of the Month – Chinwe Chukwudi

Susan Jenkins

We’re delighted to introduce Dr. Chinwe Chukwudi, Senior Lecturer of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka. Chinwe is currently a visiting fellow of the African Postdoctoral Training Initiative (APTI) at the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland (USA).

Where did you start your research journey?

My research journey started at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London where I obtained my PhD in Molecular biology and Microbial genetics, and subsequently did my first postdoc, both sponsored by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK.

While growing up in a semi-urban community in South East Nigeria, I had a first-hand experience of the impact of infectious disease burden in Africa. Knowing that the sufferings caused could be alleviated with dedicated research into these diseases spurred my interest in researching on therapeutics/interventions for infectious diseases.

What is your favorite place to work?

A scientific laboratory and/or classroom, anywhere in the world!

How long have you been using Mendeley? 

11 years (since 2011)

What were you using prior to Mendeley?

Endnote

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

To help others unlock the immense benefits of using Mendeley for reference management.

Teaching Mendeley at University of Nigeria Nsukka in 2021

What is the most important thing about Mendeley that you think people should know?

It’s free and easy to use.

Is there a researcher you admire (dead or alive) that you would like to work with or meet, and why?

Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley, USA who discovered the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors that have revolutionized genome editing.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned this week?

I was at a drug repurposing conference this week, and realized how much the little we do as scientists could impact the lives of people/populations we may never know, and how much some of these people are helplessly waiting for us (scientists) to ‘discover’ a cure for their ailment.

What is the best part about working in research?

You get to explore your imagiNATION and make impact in the lives of people doing that.

And the most challenging part about working in research?

Having no defined work time….you have to work in and out of ‘normal’ working time, including through the nights, weekends and public holidays!

Levity in the lab: a few favorite organisms decorating a mask.

Do you have any advice for young researchers? 

Research is a commitment to serve humanity, and that should be the driving force and yardstick for the measurement of success for young researchers.

You can follow Chinwe and her work by visiting her LinkedIn profile, ResearchGate profile, or searching her OrchidID. Curious about the Mendeley Advisor program? visit our website.

Advisor of the Month: Bertha Santos

Susan Jenkins

We’re pleased to introduce April’s Mendeley Advisor of the Month, Bertha Santos!

Bertha is an Assistant Professor of Transport Infrastructure Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Beira Interior in Covilhã, Portugal.

How did you get into your field? 

I have always been fascinated by civil construction. When the opportunity arose to study civil engineering, I discovered my interest in the field of transportation engineering, in which I have been researching and teaching since 1998. Maintenance of transport infrastructures, road user costs, road safety and sustainable mobility are topics of my interest. 

Where do you prefer to work? 

I especially enjoy working at my university, surrounded by and interacting with colleagues and students. 

How long have you been using Mendeley?  

About 4-5 years. 

What were you using prior to Mendeley? 

I was using EndNote. 

Why did you decide to become an Advisor? 

As a higher education teacher, adequate referencing of scientific and technical documents is essential for me. To make students aware of this important aspect, and to support them in the use of referencing tools as a way to fight plagiarism, I became a Mendeley Advisor. 

What researcher would you like to work with or meet, dead or alive, and why? 

I would like to meet and work with transportation researchers from around the world to exchange knowledge, experiences and understand their perspectives. Among the leading researchers in the field of transportation, I would like to work with Prof. Gerardo W. Flintsch of Virginia Tech and Prof. Fred Mannering of University of South Florida-Tampa, and continue to work with Prof. Luís Picado-Santos of Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. 

What’s the most interesting book or article you’ve read recently? 

I have recently read several interesting documents on European strategies and policies to promote sustainable mobility in urban areas, especially those related to cycling and pedestrian transport modes. For those interested in this topic, I recommend reading: 

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned this week? 

Once again, I realized that perseverance and hard work are essential for our personal and professional evolution. 

What is the best part about working in research? 

Discovering new things and solving problems that help ensure people better living conditions. 

And the most challenging part about working in research? 

To convey research findings in a clear and supported way and inspire young researchers. Mendeley can help address these challenges. 

What is the one thing you want people to know about Mendeley? 

I would like people to know that Mendeley is a precious tool that can be used in the process of researching, organizing, analyzing and referencing the information consulted in a given research area.

Do you have any advice for young researchers?  

My advice is don’t give up and enjoy the investigation process as much as possible. These are the two fundamental pillars of success in research. 

You can follow Bertha by viewing her profile on LinkedIn. Curious about becoming a Mendeley Advisor? Visit https://www.mendeley.com/advisor-community to learn more.

Advisor of the Month – Devarajan Rathish

dmitriyshlyuger

Meet Devarajan Rathish, our July Advisor of the Month! 

Advisor of the Month - Devarajan Rathish
Advisor of the Month – Devarajan Rathish

Dr. Devarajan Rathish is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, located in the Anuradhapura district in North Central Sri Lanka. He studied medicine (MBBS), completed his master’s degree in public health (MPH) at EUCLID University and obtained a master of philosophy (MPhil) at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.

How did you get into your field?

I like teaching, treating, and researching. Also, I had a passion to work in a rural region of my country. Therefore, I choose to become a Lecturer in a faculty of medicine located in a rural region. And, now I am happy teaching medical students, treating patients, and doing research in Anuradhapura. My fields of interest are Pharmacology, Primary Care, Public Health, and Medical Ethics. 

Where do you do work the best?

I feel fortunate to work in fields that focus on broader aspects of medicine. It has given me an opportunity to achieve a diversity of knowledge. Further, I prefer to work in an environment where my teammates have competency, a strong sense of companionship, and a good work ethic. 

How long have you been using Mendeley?

I have been using Mendeley for six years. Since June 2015, I have been a Mendeley Advisor. I am happy to have introduced Mendeley to many undergraduates, postgraduates, and academic staff members of Sri Lanka. 

What were you using prior to Mendeley?

I used to make references manually. Thanks to my Mendeley advisor Dr. Buddhika Wijerathne (my previous colleague and now a general practitioner at Ropes Crossing Medical Practice, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), I could learn Mendeley at the very beginning of my career. 

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

To share the treasure that I found – “Mendeley”. The need for Mendeley was felt by many of my academic colleagues who are involved in research work. Also, annual workshops on Mendeley had to be conducted as part of the “Research in medicine” module for the 3rd year medical undergraduates at the university. Thus, my role as an official Mendeley advisor was important. I extend my gratitude to the team Mendeley for extending their continuous support. They register my workshops on time and provide useful materials and merchandise as well. 

What researcher would you like to work with or meet, dead or alive?

I would like to meet and work with Dr. David Nalin, Professor Emeritus, Center for Immunology and Microbial Diseases, Albany Medical College. He along with Dr. Richard Cash, and their colleagues “successfully tested the efficacy of an oral glucose-electrolyte solution, later known as oral rehydration therapy (ORT), to be used instead of intravenous fluid for the treatment of patients with severe cholera”. The Lancet called it “… possibly the greatest medical discovery of this century”. And, the UNICEF describes its value as follows: “no other single medical breakthrough of the 20th century has the potential to prevent so many deaths, over such a short period of time and at so little cost”. The above are compelling reasons for my willingness to meet and work with him. 

What book are you reading at the moment? 

I am reading John Murtagh’s General Practice. The textbook describes the essentials of general practice in depth. It’s a great read for anyone that aspires to progress as a family physician, and I would recommend it to my colleagues and students. 

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned this week?

The new variants of Coronavirus. There will be a lot more to learn on the above topic during the next few months as well. 

What is the best part about working in research?

I like reviewing and referencing. It helps me broaden my existing knowledge.

And the most challenging part about working in research?

Finding suitable collaborations and research grants have always been a challenge. However, once the above two are finalized the journey is much easier.

What is the one thing you want people to know about Mendeley?

Mendeley is a high-quality reference manager provided free of charge for all. 

Do you have any advice for young researchers? 

“Research is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.” – Albert Szent-Györgyi (1893-1986) 

Interested in becoming a Mendeley Advisor? Learn more about the Advisor Community.

Advisor of the month: Nick Hood

sallyransom

Nick HoodWhat is your name and job title?

My name is Nick Hood and I am a Senior Teaching Fellow in Secondary Education.

Where do you work?

I work at the Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh.

How did you get into your field?

I took the long way round. I spent some years in the military and aerospace before starting my own software business. Part of that business involved training others in programming and data manipulation, and that led me to become a physics and mathematics teacher. I moved into teacher education about eight years ago.

Where do you do work the best?

Honestly, I think my best work is in supporting people who find our programmes challenging. Part of my job is as a personal tutor, where I get to work one-to-one with people who struggle with aspects of our very intensive postgraduate courses. Sometimes this is more pastoral, but often it is about getting to grips with academic writing.

How long have you been using Mendeley? 

About eight years.

What were you using prior to Mendeley?

Good old manual methods. I just typed what I wanted on the page.

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

A friend and colleague was our local Mendeley Advisor and when she hinted that she would retire, I thought I’d step up.

What researcher would you like to work with or meet, dead or alive?

A scientist who had an idea that saved millions of lives, Robert Watson-Watt. Or, if I am allowed a fictional researcher, Hari Seldon from Asimov’s Foundation series of stories.

What book are you reading at the moment?

Barthes, R. (1980) Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography, Hill and Wang.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned this week?

How to take photographs in infrared.

What is the best part about working in research?

I like learning how to manipulate and present data for understanding – sometimes that is a matter of drawing a picture.

And the most challenging part about working in research?

Getting away from distractions that frustrate understanding of the thing you are trying to make sense of. We all know that moment when we can almost clearly see some complex idea, when we are so close that we can nearly touch it – and the email pings, or a knock at the door collapses it all like a house of cards.

What is the one thing you want people to know about Mendeley?

Mendeley is the smart choice for the complex task of managing your sources when writing for academic or professional purposes.

Do you have any advice for young researchers? 

Get organised early. Establish your workflow. Use tools that get out of the way of your research activities and your data.

Find out more about Nick by following and viewing his Mendeley profile.

Interested in becoming a Mendeley Advisor yourself? Find out more about the Advisor Community here.

 

Advisor of the Month: Andi Anto Patak

Rachel Brennesholtz

What is your name and job title?

My name is Andi Anto Patak and I am a senior lecturer at Universitas Negeri Makassar in Indonesia.

How did you enter your field and what is your research focus?

I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English Education at Universitas Negeri Makassar, then went on to a Ph.D. in Measurement and Evaluation at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

The development of extensive literacy and research has interested me for many years. I have published several Mendeley-themed papers in Scopus-indexed journals as well as two books about Mendeley, which both came out in 2012. My first was also the first ever Indonesian-language book about Mendeley (*editor’s note: maybe even the first book about Mendeley!*). It had a print run of 1,000: 300 copies were sold and 700 were distributed free to students and lecturers.

My second book was also in Indonesian and also had a print run of 1,000. With this book, 500 copies were sold and the remaining 500 were distributed free. Digital versions of both books are available online and for free.

Here are links to my books:

Mendeley: Citation & PDF Reference Manager plus Jejaring Sosial by Andi Anto Patak, Erwin Akib – Books on Google Play (published in 2012).

Hindari Plagiat dengan Mendeley by Andi Anto Patak, Erwin Akib – Books on Google Play (Published in 2015)

I hope that everyone who has a passion for writing can have easy access to Mendeley. My current research is focused on developing a Mendeley-based thesis submission model that helps to avoid plagiarism.

What is your history with Mendeley?

I have used Mendeley for more than eight years. In the first year of my PhD, I used EndNote. For a short while after I discovered Mendeley, I used the two solutions together. Then I found that reference management was simpler with Mendeley — it was more user friendly for writing dissertations and papers too. So I switched full time to Mendeley.

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

Because I find Mendeley easy to use, I decided to become a Mendeley Advisor. I’m able to invite fellow international students in Malaysia and my colleagues in Indonesia to jointly use Mendeley for writing dissertations, articles, research papers and other publications.

What academics, researchers or librarians would you like to work with or meet?

Professor Wendy Sutherland Smith of Deakin University, Australia, who pioneered research on plagiarism.

What is the best part of working in research?

The best part of being a researcher is finding the gaps in knowledge where we can research. Also, I like when we can find the full text of all the relevant references for a research project!

And the most challenging part?

The most challenging part is trying to work with participants who do not honestly respond to data collection.

What is one thing that you want people to know about Mendeley?

I created a Facebook group to let people know about Mendeley events in Indonesia and get feedback from Indonesian Mendeley users. You can find it here: Indonesian Mendeley Community.

Find out more about Andi by viewing his Mendeley profile.

Interested in becoming a Mendeley Advisor yourself? Find out more about the Advisor Community here.

Advisor of the Month: Yahaya Gavamukulya

Rachel Brennesholtz

Editor’s note:  We’d like to congratulate Dr. Gavamukulya on finishing his PhD and inspiring a new group of Mendeley Advisors!

What is your name and job title?

I am Dr Gavamukulya Yahaya (PhD), a Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale – Uganda. I am also a dynamic Global Mendeley Advisor.

How did you get into your field?

Quite a very long story, but to sum it all up, passion led me where I am and has helped me stay here.

Where do you work the best?

In an environment with people who not only take me as a colleague, but get to learn and understand each and every one as an individual yet moving together as a team. Reciprocally, I really enjoy knowing everyone in my work environment as a person rather than just knowing them as colleagues, students, peers among others.

How long have you been using Mendeley? 

I have been using Mendeley for 6 years, 4 of which have been as an Advisor.

What were you using prior to Mendeley?

It’s quite embarrassing, but I was adding references manually without any reference manager.

Why did you decide to become an Advisor?

With resources on the website, I taught myself how to use Mendeley and it took me some time before perfecting it. Once I perfected and became experienced in all the features, and with the gaps analysis in the communities I was living in, I decided to enroll as an Advisor in order to help train and enroll as many people as possible in order for them not to go through what I used to go through prior to discovering Mendeley. Additionally, research being at the core of our training, having a resource person with interest and expertise in guiding learners through Mendeley becomes an added advantage to the Institutions. I have so far recruited, enrolled and trained more than 1,700 Mendeley users globally.

What researcher would you like to work with or meet, dead or alive?

Prof Kary Banks Mullis (December 28, 1944 – August 7, 2019), just to thank him for the revolutionary technology of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

What is the best part about working in research?

Navigating uncharted waters and eventually creating a trail…

And the most challenging part about working in research?

Uncertainty…

What is the one thing you want people to know about Mendeley?

Mendeley is here to accompany them through the entire research journey.

Do you have an advice for young researchers? 

Passion, Passion, Passion, Patience, Perseverance and the correct team… It shall keep you there even when the going gets tough.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Find out more about Dr. Gavamukulya by viewing his Mendeley profile.

Interested in becoming a Mendeley Advisor yourself? Find out more about the Advisor Community here.

Join the Mendeley Advisors

sallyransom

Mendeley Advisor Community logo_ColorIn 2019, we welcomed tens of thousands of new users to Mendeley and the magic of good reference management. When it comes to discovering the platform, one of the best ways is through our brilliant Mendeley Advisor Community, which goes beyond recommendation to support users worldwide.

We are actively recruiting new Advisors for 2020. Could you be the next great Mendeley Advisor?

The Mendeley Advisor Community includes people from all over the world. Most Advisors are PhD students and early-career lecturers, but the community also includes librarians, tenured professors, government lab employees and corporate researchers.

Mendeley Advisors are the voice of Mendeley on campus, helping their peers use its great features to save time and reduce stress levels. They share their knowledge of Mendeley in classes, office hours and fun events on campus!

In 2019, the Advisors spread their love of Mendeley in all sorts of ways, including:

Besides the satisfaction that comes from helping your peers, Advisors receive a whole range of benefits, such as:

  • Increased free library storage
  • A coveted Mendeley T-shirt
  • Giveaways for your workshops
  • Invitations for speaking opportunities and to be profiled on Elsevier blogs
  • Sneak previews of new Mendeley products and features
  • A certificate to acknowledge your contribution to the community
  • Support, advice and collateral from the Mendeley Community team
  • Invitations to do UX and BETA testing, so you can be part of Mendeley’s development

It’s so easy to apply to be a Mendeley Advisor: just click here.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Community.