That Published Feeling

That Published Feeling – A Journey of Resilience and Recognition

“After being forced to leave my formal academic role due to personal circumstances, life took an unexpected turn. Without institutional affiliation or lab access, continuing my passion for materials science and nanotechnology felt nearly impossible. But passion doesn’t fade – it adapts.

While working as a freelance Research Consultant and Native Language AI Trainer, I continued externally supervising my PhD scholar. Thanks to her determination and support from my network, we executed our experimental plans. The results were excellent – but our manuscript faced editorial rejections, time and again. I have reasons to believe that my lack of institutional affiliation was a silent disqualifier.
In that moment of discouragement, I turned to the publisher I deeply trust – IOP Publishing, with whom I had published my first paper back in 1999, followed by many others.

We submitted to the IOPP journal Advances in Natural Sciences: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ANSN) — and the experience was everything that academic publishing should be: fair, rigorous, respectful, and free. Our paper was reviewed by experts, improved through their constructive feedback, and finally published in April 2025.

That feeling? Overwhelming. Not just for me — but for my PhD student, who once thought all doors were closed.
This moment reminds me why I’ve always respected IOPP. In a time when academic publishing is often clouded by biases and gatekeeping, IOPP stands tall – supporting genuine research and researchers, regardless of affiliation or title.
Publishing, to me, is not just about adding a line to my CV – it’s a vindication of effort, a breath of hope, and a renewed purpose to keep contributing, no matter the odds.”

“Seeing the paper published was deeply meaningful. It wasn’t just a personal achievement—it felt like a way to contribute something real to city planning and to the ongoing conversations about how we live with risk. It was fulfilling to give something back to the city that is my hometown, especially in a way that might inform or support future decisions.

I didn’t do anything grand to celebrate, but it was still special. I met with my co-authors, and I shared the news with friends and family. The real celebration was more internal—the quiet recognition that this work, rooted in my own city’s challenges, might help others see it more clearly—or think differently about its future.

Being published felt like a moment of validation, the culmination of a long process. But more than that, it was about contributing to one of the city’s ongoing and urgent conversations. I like to think of it as offering a grain of sand toward greater awareness. Maybe it won’t change everything, but it could inform, provoke thought, or support decision-makers. And that, in itself, feels meaningful.”

“When our paper was published, I felt genuinely delighted – not just because the work was finally out in the world, but because I had the opportunity to publish alongside people I deeply respect and am proud to call friends and collaborators. To celebrate, I treated myself to a new mug set (I love collecting them!). This one was a cheerful pink and red duo labeled “Night Owl” and “Early Bird” – a little nod to the different rhythms that carried us through the research process.

Being published means a lot to me. It’s both a responsibility and a privilege. As scientists, we strive to share our work with the broader community and contribute something meaningful to the field. This publication, in particular, was part of my PhD research, so seeing it come to life in print feels incredibly rewarding. It marks a milestone not just in my academic journey, but in the broader effort to move science forward.

Comment from Dr. Stephanie Willerth:
“I first met Amanda when I was visiting Brazil as part of a collaboration and it was delightful to have her be able to come work in our lab – resulting in the lovely publication! It reflects how diversity and international collaboration can advance materials science research!”

“Seeing our work published was incredibly rewarding. It marked the culmination of months of effort, experimentation, and collaboration. There is a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that our research is now accessible to the broader scientific community.

We celebrated modestly but meaningfully with a small team gathering, and a shared sense of achievement.

Being published means more than academic recognition; it is a step toward contributing to meaningful progress in the development of sustainable materials and processes for energy devices. It reinforces our commitment to research that has both scientific value and societal impact.”

“I felt incredibly proud and grateful when my paper was published. Seeing our work published was both rewarding and emotional—it reflected months of dedication, collaboration, and curiosity. It also gave me a deep sense of fulfilment, knowing our research might contribute to the advancement of sustainable materials.

I celebrated the news by sharing it with my family, colleagues, and friends. Being published means that our work has found a voice in the scientific community. It validates the importance of our research and encourages me to keep pushing boundaries in the field of green chemistry and sustainable polymers. It’s also a reminder of how collaborative science can inspire real-world change.”