Some advice to early career scientists: Personal perspectives on surviving in a complex world

I began writing this paper with some trepidation as I can imagine many readers asking: What makes you an expert on providing advice to young scientists? I do not claim to have any special expertise in this area, other than the practical experience I have gained from mentoring a large number of young scientists over the last three decades. My ideas on this topic have been refined over the past few years when, after being awarded several teaching and mentoring awards, I began receiving invitations to provide talks and workshops focused on mentoring young scientists. To date, I have provided presentations on this topic on five continents, indicating broad interests in these issues. The impetus for this commentary was reinforced further when the Editor of Ideas in Ecology and Evolution recently listened to one of my presentations and invited me to provide this perspective. The 13 points of advice outlined below summarize some of the main topics I have attempted to develop in my various workshops and presentations to young scientists. These points have evolved over time, and were modified following discussions with students and mentors. I certainly do not claim that any of them are highly original, but they represent what I believe to be practical suggestions and points for discussion.