Insights & points of view from our scientists
The Odyssey of a PhD Student: From Rejection to Publication
It all began with an idea—a simple, elegant hypothesis about NESCGLE theory and its implications for the rheology of complex materials.
manuscript submissions
cups of coffee
For Paulina, a third-year PhD student with a penchant for late-night espresso and jazz playlists, this was the project that could define their academic career. Paulina had spent months immersed in simulations, data analysis, and late-night debates with their advisor over the nuances of viscoelasticity. The culmination of this labor was a meticulously crafted manuscript, one they confidently submitted to the prestigious Journal of Rheology.
And then the email came.
“Dear Paulina,” it began, “Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, we regret to inform you...”
Rejection.
Paulina stared at the screen, half expecting the words to rearrange themselves into something more optimistic. But no—their work had been returned with a litany of reviewer comments. “Interesting approach, but insufficient evidence,” said one. “Clarify assumptions in Section 3,” added another. Reviewer #3 simply remarked, “Does NESCGLE even apply here?”
The initial sting of rejection was followed by a familiar cocktail of doubt and frustration. Was the research flawed? Were the reviewers right? Paulina allowed themselves one night of wallowing—a pizza, a bad movie, and a long call with a fellow PhD student who commiserated with, “Welcome to the club. My record is five rejections.”
But the next morning, Paulina’s resolve returned. Armed with a fresh cup of coffee and the reviewer comments printed and color-coded, Paulina dove back into the manuscript. They dissected every critique, adding new simulations, rewriting sections with clearer language, and crafting detailed responses to each reviewer point. “Does NESCGLE even apply?” became a section unto itself, backed by new calculations and references.
Two months later, the manuscript was resubmitted. This time, Paulina waited with cautious optimism. The reviewers’ second verdict? “Promising, but needs more work.”
And so began a cycle of revisions and resubmissions. Paulina learned to approach each round with a sense of humor, naming their versions with titles like “NESCGLE_Resubmission_3_Final_FINAL_v2.” They found solace in small victories: “Reviewer #2 liked my new graph!” They leaned on their lab mates for sanity, hosting “Reviewer Rant Fridays” where everyone shared the most absurd reviewer comments they’d received that week.
By the fourth round of revisions, something shifted. Reviewer #3, who had been their harshest critic, finally wrote, “The author has addressed my concerns. The work is now suitable for publication.” Paulina reread the sentence at least five times, hardly believing it. A few weeks later, the official acceptance email arrived.
The joy was indescribable. Paulina’s advisor treated the lab to cake, and Alex’s social media announcement received a flurry of congratulations from colleagues and friends. The paper, once a source of doubt and despair, was now published in the Journal of Rheology, standing as a testament to persistence and resilience.
Reflecting on the journey, Paulina realized that success in academia wasn’t just about intelligence or talent. It was about grit, adaptability, and the ability to laugh at the absurdities along the way. They shared their story with younger students, encouraging them to embrace the process, even the messy, frustrating parts. Because, as Alex would tell them, “The road to discovery is rarely straight, but it’s always worth it.”