phd-mode-switcher
PhD Mode Switcher
Purpose
Help the user apply the three-mode cognitive framework from the New Researcher Handbook (Section 8.1.3) — Deep Production, Wide Reading, Collaborative Engagement — to the day in front of them. The framework's core insight: productivity isn't primarily about "working harder"; it's about switching between fundamentally different cognitive modes with as little friction as possible, and respecting that the cost of switching is real.
This skill helps the user (1) diagnose which mode matches their current energy, context, and goals, and (2) structure a realistic day that doesn't try to do all three modes in small fragments.
When to Use
- Start of the day / start of a work block
- After a long meeting or interruption, when trying to figure out what's next
- When the user reports feeling scattered or unfocused
- When the user has a known chunk of time (e.g., "I have 4 hours this afternoon") and wants to use it well
- When the user is struggling to switch from one kind of work to another
The Three Modes (Quick Reference)
Deep Production
More from a-green-hand-jack/phd-skills
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Help a PhD student prepare for a meeting with their advisor so that both sides get maximum value from the limited time. Use this skill whenever the user has an upcoming advisor meeting, lab meeting presentation, or committee meeting, and needs help structuring what to bring. Trigger on phrases like "meeting with my advisor", "advisor meeting tomorrow", "what do I show my PI", "prepare for lab meeting", "committee meeting prep", "I meet my advisor in", or whenever the user expresses anxiety about an upcoming research check-in. Also trigger when the user is unsure how to communicate a research problem or a setback to their advisor.
2phd-quarterly-planner
Help a PhD student set and revise a realistic 3-month research plan that connects to their longer-term goals. Use this skill whenever the user wants to plan a new quarter, review how the last quarter went, set research goals for the next few months, think about what papers to aim for, or reorient after things drift off course. Trigger on phrases like "quarterly plan", "next 3 months", "plan my quarter", "what should I work on this quarter", "review last quarter", "my research goals", or whenever the user talks about mid-range planning (longer than a week, shorter than a year). Also trigger if the user is feeling directionless about what to focus on next.
2research-mental-check
Offer a structured but non-clinical space for a PhD student or researcher to check in on their mental and emotional state, especially around imposter syndrome, guilt about rest, chronic over-promising, and burnout signals. Use this skill when the user expresses feelings of inadequacy, constant comparison to peers, fear of disappointing their advisor, guilt about taking time off, or exhaustion that isn't just physical. Trigger on phrases like "I feel behind", "everyone is smarter than me", "I can't rest", "I'm burned out", "imposter syndrome", "I'm not good enough", "I'm afraid of disappointing", "I should be working", or whenever the tone of the user's message suggests emotional strain rather than a technical question. Also trigger gently if these signals appear incidentally in a task-focused conversation.
2figure-results-review
Review experimental results, plots, tables, and figures before they are shown in a meeting, paper, report, or presentation. Use this skill whenever the user wants to present results, check a figure, interpret experiment plots, prepare result slides, validate captions, audit axes/legends/error bars, or make sure results are connected to hypotheses and experimental setup.
2phd-weekly-review
Guide a PhD student through a structured weekly review of their research progress. Use this skill whenever the user wants to do a weekly check-in, prepare a progress update for their advisor, reflect on the past week's research, or plan the upcoming week. Trigger on phrases like "weekly review", "this week's progress", "advisor update", "reflect on my week", "plan next week", "how did my week go", or whenever the user mentions wanting to take stock of their recent research work. Also trigger when the user seems to be venting about the week without structure — help them channel it into a productive review.
2literature-review-sprint
Guide a CS or AI PhD student through a focused literature review sprint that produces a ranked paper map, notes, gaps, and next actions. Use this skill whenever the user needs to survey a topic, prepare related work, check whether an idea is novel, catch up on a field, read papers before a meeting, or turn a pile of papers into an organized research direction.
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