Lennart Nacke, PhD
@lennartnacke.com
🧠 Tenured brain, fresh daily takes. Maximum citations but sanity questionable. The prof your prof follows for daily advice. University Research Chair & Tenured Full Professor.
The read that returns your rigour ➜ https://go.lennartnacke.com/newsletter
The read that returns your rigour ➜ https://go.lennartnacke.com/newsletter
Pinned
Nobody taught me how to write.
I came up through engineering.
Then a PhD where I struggled with my supervisor.
The assumption was simple:
Collect data and the paper writes itself.
It doesn't.
I came up through engineering.
Then a PhD where I struggled with my supervisor.
The assumption was simple:
Collect data and the paper writes itself.
It doesn't.
Writing fast doesn't mean writing badly.
It means you have a system.
Templates keep you from staring at blank pages.
Outlines stop you from writing yourself into corners.
Speed comes from decisions you don't have to make twice.
It means you have a system.
Templates keep you from staring at blank pages.
Outlines stop you from writing yourself into corners.
Speed comes from decisions you don't have to make twice.
February 10, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Writing fast doesn't mean writing badly.
It means you have a system.
Templates keep you from staring at blank pages.
Outlines stop you from writing yourself into corners.
Speed comes from decisions you don't have to make twice.
It means you have a system.
Templates keep you from staring at blank pages.
Outlines stop you from writing yourself into corners.
Speed comes from decisions you don't have to make twice.
Your writing clarity is the only skill that works everywhere, no matter what changes.
Everything else disappears when the platform shifts.
Learn Excel?
Useless once AI takes over.
Get good at TikTok?
Doesn't matter when the algorithm moves on.
Clear thinking in plain words?
Everything else disappears when the platform shifts.
Learn Excel?
Useless once AI takes over.
Get good at TikTok?
Doesn't matter when the algorithm moves on.
Clear thinking in plain words?
February 9, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Your writing clarity is the only skill that works everywhere, no matter what changes.
Everything else disappears when the platform shifts.
Learn Excel?
Useless once AI takes over.
Get good at TikTok?
Doesn't matter when the algorithm moves on.
Clear thinking in plain words?
Everything else disappears when the platform shifts.
Learn Excel?
Useless once AI takes over.
Get good at TikTok?
Doesn't matter when the algorithm moves on.
Clear thinking in plain words?
Your paper has been ready for 3 months.
You're not revising anymore.
You're procrastinating with extra polish.
You're not revising anymore.
You're procrastinating with extra polish.
February 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Your paper has been ready for 3 months.
You're not revising anymore.
You're procrastinating with extra polish.
You're not revising anymore.
You're procrastinating with extra polish.
I've given you tons of free protocols yesterday.
13,734 researchers read that article.
Most still won't publish faster.
Here's the thing: saving a framework is not using a framework.
You read my newsletters.
You read the posts.
You nodded.
You hit the bookmark icon.
13,734 researchers read that article.
Most still won't publish faster.
Here's the thing: saving a framework is not using a framework.
You read my newsletters.
You read the posts.
You nodded.
You hit the bookmark icon.
February 9, 2026 at 1:13 PM
I've given you tons of free protocols yesterday.
13,734 researchers read that article.
Most still won't publish faster.
Here's the thing: saving a framework is not using a framework.
You read my newsletters.
You read the posts.
You nodded.
You hit the bookmark icon.
13,734 researchers read that article.
Most still won't publish faster.
Here's the thing: saving a framework is not using a framework.
You read my newsletters.
You read the posts.
You nodded.
You hit the bookmark icon.
Academics who use AI aren't cutting corners, they're being strategic about their time.
The real skill is knowing when to use it and when to write yourself.
The real skill is knowing when to use it and when to write yourself.
February 9, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Academics who use AI aren't cutting corners, they're being strategic about their time.
The real skill is knowing when to use it and when to write yourself.
The real skill is knowing when to use it and when to write yourself.
James Patterson publishes 12+ books a year.
Most authors just publish one.
His secret? He stopped writing first drafts.
Here's what PIs can learn from him:
Most authors just publish one.
His secret? He stopped writing first drafts.
Here's what PIs can learn from him:
February 9, 2026 at 1:04 AM
James Patterson publishes 12+ books a year.
Most authors just publish one.
His secret? He stopped writing first drafts.
Here's what PIs can learn from him:
Most authors just publish one.
His secret? He stopped writing first drafts.
Here's what PIs can learn from him:
Most researchers don't realize: writing isn't just sharing your ideas.
It's HOW you develop them.
When you skip writing, you're outsourcing your thinking to others.
Your notes matter. Your drafts matter. Even the ones that never get published.
They're building your intellectual foundation.
It's HOW you develop them.
When you skip writing, you're outsourcing your thinking to others.
Your notes matter. Your drafts matter. Even the ones that never get published.
They're building your intellectual foundation.
February 8, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Most researchers don't realize: writing isn't just sharing your ideas.
It's HOW you develop them.
When you skip writing, you're outsourcing your thinking to others.
Your notes matter. Your drafts matter. Even the ones that never get published.
They're building your intellectual foundation.
It's HOW you develop them.
When you skip writing, you're outsourcing your thinking to others.
Your notes matter. Your drafts matter. Even the ones that never get published.
They're building your intellectual foundation.
Want to write better research papers?
Read more papers in your field.
Your brain learns patterns, rhythm, and structure through exposure.
No AI tool can replace this fundamental training.
Read more papers in your field.
Your brain learns patterns, rhythm, and structure through exposure.
No AI tool can replace this fundamental training.
February 8, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Want to write better research papers?
Read more papers in your field.
Your brain learns patterns, rhythm, and structure through exposure.
No AI tool can replace this fundamental training.
Read more papers in your field.
Your brain learns patterns, rhythm, and structure through exposure.
No AI tool can replace this fundamental training.
Just dropped a massive deep dive on how to write research papers.
It is the longest of long-forms... 🤣
Read it if you have a full afternoon:
#academicsky #phdsky #researchsky #writingsky #hci
lennartnacke.com/reviewer-2-c...
It is the longest of long-forms... 🤣
Read it if you have a full afternoon:
#academicsky #phdsky #researchsky #writingsky #hci
lennartnacke.com/reviewer-2-c...
Reviewer 2 Can't Touch a Paper Structured Like This
The section-by-section system behind 150+ publications
lennartnacke.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Just dropped a massive deep dive on how to write research papers.
It is the longest of long-forms... 🤣
Read it if you have a full afternoon:
#academicsky #phdsky #researchsky #writingsky #hci
lennartnacke.com/reviewer-2-c...
It is the longest of long-forms... 🤣
Read it if you have a full afternoon:
#academicsky #phdsky #researchsky #writingsky #hci
lennartnacke.com/reviewer-2-c...
Most PhD students think their journey looks like this:
Year 1: Review Literature
Year 2: Collect Data
Year 3: Analyze
Year 4: Write
Year 5: Defend
Clean. Linear. Predictable.
But that's not how research actually works. It's a mess.
Here's what the real PhD timeline looks like...
Year 1: Review Literature
Year 2: Collect Data
Year 3: Analyze
Year 4: Write
Year 5: Defend
Clean. Linear. Predictable.
But that's not how research actually works. It's a mess.
Here's what the real PhD timeline looks like...
February 7, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Most PhD students think their journey looks like this:
Year 1: Review Literature
Year 2: Collect Data
Year 3: Analyze
Year 4: Write
Year 5: Defend
Clean. Linear. Predictable.
But that's not how research actually works. It's a mess.
Here's what the real PhD timeline looks like...
Year 1: Review Literature
Year 2: Collect Data
Year 3: Analyze
Year 4: Write
Year 5: Defend
Clean. Linear. Predictable.
But that's not how research actually works. It's a mess.
Here's what the real PhD timeline looks like...
Develop. Design. Optimize.
Three words that kill research proposals.
NSF reviewers see them and know immediately.
You're not doing research.
You're doing development.
And development doesn't get research funding.
Three words that kill research proposals.
NSF reviewers see them and know immediately.
You're not doing research.
You're doing development.
And development doesn't get research funding.
February 7, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Develop. Design. Optimize.
Three words that kill research proposals.
NSF reviewers see them and know immediately.
You're not doing research.
You're doing development.
And development doesn't get research funding.
Three words that kill research proposals.
NSF reviewers see them and know immediately.
You're not doing research.
You're doing development.
And development doesn't get research funding.
I read papers every week.
I highlight the parts that make me stop and think.
Then I turn those insights into posts. I either adapt their framework or borrow their core argument.
This is how you transform research into content that actually lands.
I highlight the parts that make me stop and think.
Then I turn those insights into posts. I either adapt their framework or borrow their core argument.
This is how you transform research into content that actually lands.
February 6, 2026 at 10:03 PM
I read papers every week.
I highlight the parts that make me stop and think.
Then I turn those insights into posts. I either adapt their framework or borrow their core argument.
This is how you transform research into content that actually lands.
I highlight the parts that make me stop and think.
Then I turn those insights into posts. I either adapt their framework or borrow their core argument.
This is how you transform research into content that actually lands.
Being the best writer in your lab is the worst possible bottleneck.
You fix everything because you can.
That is exactly why nothing scales:
x.com/acagamic/st...
You fix everything because you can.
That is exactly why nothing scales:
x.com/acagamic/st...
February 6, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Being the best writer in your lab is the worst possible bottleneck.
You fix everything because you can.
That is exactly why nothing scales:
x.com/acagamic/st...
You fix everything because you can.
That is exactly why nothing scales:
x.com/acagamic/st...
Research = knowing what to investigate
Methodology = knowing where to look for answers
Theory = knowing who your findings matter to
Publication = knowing how to present your work
Together...
They turn your curiosity into career-defining contributions.
Methodology = knowing where to look for answers
Theory = knowing who your findings matter to
Publication = knowing how to present your work
Together...
They turn your curiosity into career-defining contributions.
February 6, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Research = knowing what to investigate
Methodology = knowing where to look for answers
Theory = knowing who your findings matter to
Publication = knowing how to present your work
Together...
They turn your curiosity into career-defining contributions.
Methodology = knowing where to look for answers
Theory = knowing who your findings matter to
Publication = knowing how to present your work
Together...
They turn your curiosity into career-defining contributions.
Writing a research proposal without a clear problem statement feels like assembling IKEA furniture without the manual.
Possible? Sure.
Fun? Absolutely not.
If your proposal feels painful to write, your problem statement is probably missing.
Define your problem first.
Possible? Sure.
Fun? Absolutely not.
If your proposal feels painful to write, your problem statement is probably missing.
Define your problem first.
February 4, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Writing a research proposal without a clear problem statement feels like assembling IKEA furniture without the manual.
Possible? Sure.
Fun? Absolutely not.
If your proposal feels painful to write, your problem statement is probably missing.
Define your problem first.
Possible? Sure.
Fun? Absolutely not.
If your proposal feels painful to write, your problem statement is probably missing.
Define your problem first.
Funded PIs do not wait until their grant makes sense.
They submit before it feels ready.
Perfect clarity is one of the most expensive ways to lose a grant.
Specious barriers burn grant time:
• Reformatting citations
• Re-reading foundations
• Building elaborate templates
They submit before it feels ready.
Perfect clarity is one of the most expensive ways to lose a grant.
Specious barriers burn grant time:
• Reformatting citations
• Re-reading foundations
• Building elaborate templates
February 4, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Funded PIs do not wait until their grant makes sense.
They submit before it feels ready.
Perfect clarity is one of the most expensive ways to lose a grant.
Specious barriers burn grant time:
• Reformatting citations
• Re-reading foundations
• Building elaborate templates
They submit before it feels ready.
Perfect clarity is one of the most expensive ways to lose a grant.
Specious barriers burn grant time:
• Reformatting citations
• Re-reading foundations
• Building elaborate templates
Four professors apply for the same grant.
One writes nonstop.
One networks hard.
One resubmits old work.
One co-leads.
Who wins?
One writes nonstop.
One networks hard.
One resubmits old work.
One co-leads.
Who wins?
February 4, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Four professors apply for the same grant.
One writes nonstop.
One networks hard.
One resubmits old work.
One co-leads.
Who wins?
One writes nonstop.
One networks hard.
One resubmits old work.
One co-leads.
Who wins?
The more papers I review, the more I realize gaming metrics is a terrible way to measure impact.
February 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM
The more papers I review, the more I realize gaming metrics is a terrible way to measure impact.
Nobody taught me how to write.
I came up through engineering.
Then a PhD where I struggled with my supervisor.
The assumption was simple:
Collect data and the paper writes itself.
It doesn't.
I came up through engineering.
Then a PhD where I struggled with my supervisor.
The assumption was simple:
Collect data and the paper writes itself.
It doesn't.
February 3, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Nobody taught me how to write.
I came up through engineering.
Then a PhD where I struggled with my supervisor.
The assumption was simple:
Collect data and the paper writes itself.
It doesn't.
I came up through engineering.
Then a PhD where I struggled with my supervisor.
The assumption was simple:
Collect data and the paper writes itself.
It doesn't.
Your advisor's H-index won't write your recommendation letter.
Their citation count won't answer your 3 AM panic about methods.
Their grant total won't help you figure out what to do when your experiment fails for the sixth time.
Pick someone who will.
Kindness compounds.
Their citation count won't answer your 3 AM panic about methods.
Their grant total won't help you figure out what to do when your experiment fails for the sixth time.
Pick someone who will.
Kindness compounds.
February 3, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Your advisor's H-index won't write your recommendation letter.
Their citation count won't answer your 3 AM panic about methods.
Their grant total won't help you figure out what to do when your experiment fails for the sixth time.
Pick someone who will.
Kindness compounds.
Their citation count won't answer your 3 AM panic about methods.
Their grant total won't help you figure out what to do when your experiment fails for the sixth time.
Pick someone who will.
Kindness compounds.
Mentoring costs 30 minutes now.
Rewriting costs 30 minutes forever.
After five mentoring sessions, the student handles it themselves.
After five rewrites, the student still needs you.
One scales. One doesn't.
Rewriting costs 30 minutes forever.
After five mentoring sessions, the student handles it themselves.
After five rewrites, the student still needs you.
One scales. One doesn't.
February 2, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Mentoring costs 30 minutes now.
Rewriting costs 30 minutes forever.
After five mentoring sessions, the student handles it themselves.
After five rewrites, the student still needs you.
One scales. One doesn't.
Rewriting costs 30 minutes forever.
After five mentoring sessions, the student handles it themselves.
After five rewrites, the student still needs you.
One scales. One doesn't.
AI workflow for entry point selection:
1. Gap analysis (Elicit + Consensus)
2. Extension opportunities (Claude Sonnet on discussion sections)
3. Correction candidates (methodological reviews)
Run all three.
Compare timelines.
Choose strategically.
Don't pick based on excitement alone.
1. Gap analysis (Elicit + Consensus)
2. Extension opportunities (Claude Sonnet on discussion sections)
3. Correction candidates (methodological reviews)
Run all three.
Compare timelines.
Choose strategically.
Don't pick based on excitement alone.
February 2, 2026 at 3:56 PM
AI workflow for entry point selection:
1. Gap analysis (Elicit + Consensus)
2. Extension opportunities (Claude Sonnet on discussion sections)
3. Correction candidates (methodological reviews)
Run all three.
Compare timelines.
Choose strategically.
Don't pick based on excitement alone.
1. Gap analysis (Elicit + Consensus)
2. Extension opportunities (Claude Sonnet on discussion sections)
3. Correction candidates (methodological reviews)
Run all three.
Compare timelines.
Choose strategically.
Don't pick based on excitement alone.
The longer you avoid reviewer feedback.
The scarier it becomes to open.
The scarier it becomes to open.
February 2, 2026 at 1:01 AM
The longer you avoid reviewer feedback.
The scarier it becomes to open.
The scarier it becomes to open.
"So what?"
Two words that kill grant proposals.
If you can't answer them, you've confused your research problem with your research gap.
Let me explain:
Two words that kill grant proposals.
If you can't answer them, you've confused your research problem with your research gap.
Let me explain:
February 1, 2026 at 6:57 PM
"So what?"
Two words that kill grant proposals.
If you can't answer them, you've confused your research problem with your research gap.
Let me explain:
Two words that kill grant proposals.
If you can't answer them, you've confused your research problem with your research gap.
Let me explain: