Marco (he/him) believes that science and education can change the world, and he is now starting his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University, North Carolina. He is affiliated with the Duke School of Medicine, an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment with a benchmark of scientific discoveries to improve human health. Marco majored in Food Engineering at the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, attended the University of Lorraine, France, as an exchange student in Biotechnology, and earned an MSc in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the State University of Campinas, Brazil. His research and teaching interests include biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, and microbiology. Marco has received several national and international merit scholarships, authored four research papers, and collaborated on six other articles and two book chapters. He has also served in various research assistant roles, including undergraduate research assistant, research assistant, and teaching assistant positions. You can follow Marco on Twitter: @MarcoTPGontijo

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In this article, Bettina Lier shares her experience of applying for a PhD scholarship and how she initially found the application process overwhelming. With the support of her supervisor she overcame her doubts, and successfully completed the proposal. Her story is a great example of how with the right mindset and support, we can overcome any challenge.

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To Be or Not To Be (a Reviewer 2): Should I Review Articles as a PhD Student?

For the wheels to continue turning in research, we need reviewers. Although often a thankless endeavour (littered with Reviewer 2 jokes), acting as a gatekeeper for the integrity of your research field remains vital. As a PhD student, you may find the process of reviewing a manuscript pretty novel, but a reviewer request email may enter your inbox in the near future. This article guides you through the pros and cons of reviewing articles.

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