Resources
A collection of resources I put together over time: guides, tips, and tools for scientific writing and research. Feel free to use and share.
Paper Writing Guides
A series of practical guides for writing each section of a scientific paper. Each guide breaks down the structure, logic, and common mistakes, with annotated examples from published papers in physics and materials science.
Writing the Abstract
The abstract is your paper’s first impression, and for most readers, it is the only part they will read. This guide presents a 5-part structural template (Introduction → Problem → “Here we show” → Results → Implications) that ensures your abstract is clear, impactful, and motivates the reader to go further. It includes two fully annotated examples from published papers, one in tribology (Physical Review Letters) and one in materials science (Acta Materialia), with each sentence mapped to its function in the structure. A final checklist covers word count, tense, jargon, and audience accessibility.
Writing the Introduction
The introduction is a sales pitch, not a summary of what you did. This guide explains how to build a compelling argument for why your work matters, distinguishing between two types of papers: Letters (short, fast, controversial) and full-length articles (deep, systematic, authoritative). It walks through the “Hourglass” narrative structure, from broad importance, to the critical gap, to your specific contribution, and covers strategic citing, the “mic drop” final paragraph, and a checklist for PhD students. Annotated examples come from a PRL Letter on ice friction and an Acta Materialia article on metallic glasses.
Writing the Methods Section
The Methods section is not a boring recipe, it is your paper’s technical defense. This guide explains how to write a methods section that no reviewer can break, covering the key difference between a concise Letter-style methods (focused on novelty, standard details in the supplement) and a full-length article methods (comprehensive, hierarchical, with sub-headings). The central principle is the “Logic of Choice”: don’t just state what you did, explain why you chose it. The guide includes a 4-step flow structure (Materials → Environment → Protocol → Measurement) and a detailed checklist covering reproducibility, parameter justification, data extraction, and software citation.
Writing the Results Section
The Results section is a visual argument, not a data dump. This guide teaches you to lead with the “killer plots,” use the “Result-Reason” sentence structure (never just describe a figure, say what it means), and organize figures into a visual hierarchy (main discovery → supporting data → sanity checks in supplement). It covers the tense transition rule (past for actions, present for findings shown in figures), how to hedge correctly without making your discovery look weak, and the “Flip Test”, if a reader only looks at figures and sub-headings, they should still understand the full story. Annotated examples from ice friction (PRL) and metallic glass plasticity (Acta Materialia) show two different approaches for Letters vs. full articles.
Writing the Discussion Section
The Discussion is where you stop being a data collector and become a scientist. This guide explains how to move from your specific findings to their broader meaning, what changes in the field now that your paper exists. It introduces the “Reverse Hourglass” structure (Specific finding → Comparison to prior work → Underlying mechanism → Universal application), warns against the “Summary Trap” (repeating results instead of providing new insight), and explains how to end with a “Future Work” hook that shows where the field goes next. The guide also covers the difference between a Letter discussion (punchy, immediate impact) and a full-length discussion (reflective, nuanced, addresses limitations).
Writing the Conclusion
The conclusion is your final chance to define the legacy of your work. This guide explains how to close the “loop” opened in the introduction, write a definitive statement of the new truth your paper establishes, and end with a visionary sentence that points 5–10 years into the future. It covers the “Big Picture Bookend” technique (mirror the first sentence of the introduction), the difference between a Letter conclusion (one punchy paragraph) and a full-article conclusion (2–3 structured paragraphs), and what to avoid, new data, vague hedging (“we believe”, “it is hoped”), and weak forward-looking statements. The final checklist ensures your conclusion answers the question the introduction asked.
Useful Tools
Writing and Reference Management
Data and Visualization
- Matplotlib, Python plotting library
- VESTA, visualization of crystal structures and electron densities
Atomistic Simulations
Last updated: April 2026