Publishing Your Dissertation Work Quickly as an Early Career Researcher

As an early-career researcher, turning your dissertation into publications is a smart move to build your CV, secure grants, and advance your career. The key to speed is strategic planning: focus on high-impact outlets, leverage your existing work, and target journals/conferences with fast turnaround times. Below, I'll outline a step-by-step approach based on standard academic practices (drawn from advice from sources like Nature, the American Psychological Association, and experiences shared on platforms like ResearchGate).

1. Assess and Repurpose Your Dissertation Content

• Why it speeds things up: Your dissertation is already a polished body of work—don't start from scratch.


• Steps:


• Break it into 2–4 papers: One core empirical paper (your main findings), a methods/review paper, and perhaps a conceptual piece. Aim for 6,000–8,000 words per paper to fit journal norms.


• Remove redundant sections (e.g., literature review if it's too lengthy) and add fresh elements like updated references or new analyses to make it "new" for publishers.


• Timeline goal: 2–4 weeks to adapt content.


• Tip: Consult your advisor or a mentor for feedback to avoid revisions later—this can shave months off the process.

2. Target Fast-Publishing Venues

• Journals with Quick Review Times: Prioritize those with median review times under 3 months (check Journal Citation Reports or Scimago for data).


• Examples by field (adapt to yours):


• STEM: PLOS ONE (2–3 months to first decision), PeerJ (1–2 months), Scientific Reports (3 months).


• Social Sciences/Humanities: Frontiers in Psychology/Sociology (2–4 months), SAGE Open (fast open-access).


• General: MDPI journals (e.g., Sustainability, Energies)—often 1–2 months, but ensure they're reputable in your field.


• Avoid top-tier journals like Nature or Science initially; they take 6+ months and have low acceptance rates (5–10%).


• Conferences for Quick Wins: Submit abstracts or full papers to upcoming events with proceedings published rapidly.


• Examples: ACM/IEEE conferences (3–6 months to publication), or field-specific ones like NeurIPS (for AI/ML) or APA conventions.


• Bonus: Conference papers count as publications and can lead to journal invitations.


• Open-Access Options: Use preprint servers like arXiv, bioRxiv, or SSRN to share immediately (preprint status builds visibility and citations fast, then submit to journals).

3. Streamline the Submission Process

• Prepare Efficiently:


• Use tools like Overleaf for LaTeX formatting or Google Docs with templates from target journals.


• Write a strong cover letter: Highlight novelty, fit, and why it's timely (1 page, no fluff).


• Get co-authors on board: If your advisor or collaborators can contribute, it adds credibility and speeds peer review.


• Submission Timeline:


• Week 1–2: Finalize manuscripts and select 2–3 venues (submit in parallel if policies allow, but disclose to avoid conflicts).


• Monitor with tools like Journal/Author tracking systems.


• Respond to reviews quickly: Aim for 2–4 weeks per revision round—most journals have 1–2 rounds.


• Common Pitfalls to Avoid: Don't submit to paywalled journals if you're unfunded (go open-access with waivers via ORCID). Check for predatory publishers using Beall's List or Cabell's.

4. Boost Visibility and Speed Up Impact

• Share preprints on your Google Scholar profile, ORCID, or personal site to get early feedback and citations.


• Network: Attend virtual webinars or join Twitter/X academic communities (#AcademicTwitter) for tips on fast journals.


• Track Metrics: Use Scopus or Web of Science to monitor your h-index early—quick pubs help here.


• Funding Angle: If postdoc hunting, mention "submitted/under review" in applications; it's better than nothing.

Realistic Timeline and Expectations

• Fast Track: 3–6 months from submission to publication if everything aligns (e.g., one revision).


• Factors Affecting Speed: Field (STEM is faster than humanities), your revisions, and luck with reviewers. Aim for 1–2 pubs in the first year.


• Resources: Read "How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper" by Robert Day for nuts-and-bolts advice. Join early-career networks like the Future of Research or Young Academy groups for peer support.