An opinionated take on how to do important research that matters

Nicholas Carlini's article, "How to win a best paper award (or, an opinionated take on how to do important research)", offers a candid and comprehensive guide for researchers aiming to produce work that truly matters and stands out in academia. Drawing from his own journey, including recent award wins, Carlini emphasizes that while luck plays a role, a systematic and thoughtful approach to research and writing can significantly increase one's chances of impact.

• Idea Generation: Cultivating "good taste" for identifying important problems, building strong collaborations, strategically engaging with existing literature (reading deeply then intentionally ignoring to foster originality), and picking ideas with high potential impact are crucial. Finding one's comparative advantage in research is key, along with acknowledging and capitalizing on "luck" when it arises.
• Research Execution: The process demands ruthlessly killing ideas that aren't working, de-risking projects early by tackling the hardest parts first, and pivoting quickly to higher-impact opportunities. Carlini advocates for an "unreasonable amount of effort" in execution, ensuring every experiment is meticulously performed and each paper maintains a singular focus while being the "maximal" version of itself.
• Paper Writing: Writing well is as important as the research itself. Papers should convey a single, clear idea, be tailored to a specific reader (e.g., a six-month-younger self), and feature compelling abstracts and introductions that tell a story. Figures must be self-explanatory, and conclusions should provide profound reflection rather than mere summary, articulating the ultimate "so what?" of the work.
• Post-Submission & Persistence: Carlini highlights various forms of "luck" required for a paper's success, including timely submission (not being too early or too late for a hot topic), avoiding being scooped, and having award committees appreciate the work. He strongly encourages persistence through rejections, noting that many award-winning papers were initially rejected, often becoming stronger through revision.

Ultimately, Carlini stresses that the goal isn't to win an award, which is largely out of a researcher's control, but to produce good research that is accurate, approachable, and advances scientific knowledge. By focusing on the quality and potential impact of their work, researchers can ensure their contributions are meaningful, irrespective of external accolades.