What does it mean to be independent researcher?

The first post is about independent research and researcher. Now, after leaving Russia I’m an independent researcher. In simple terms, this means I’m not affiliated with any university or institute (although I tried to find formal job). This position has its ups and downs.

The biggest upside? Freedom! I can dive into any research topic that fascinates me, set my own schedule, and skip the endless deadlines. But the downside? Resources—or rather, the lack of them. Without a university or institute backing you, access to academic literature becomes tricky because you don’t have subscriptions. Conferences? They’re expensive, and you have to cover the costs yourself. Summer schools, workshops, or other learning opportunities? Same issue—no funding. And don’t get me started on publishing in open-access journals. Spoiler alert: you need money for that too.

Grants could solve many of these problems, but there’s a catch. Most grant providers require you to have an institutional affiliation or find a host institution. I tried to find one in Serbia but didn’t succeed. Of course, there’s the age-old option of finding another job and doing research in your free time. Many great scientists did just that in the past and managed to succeed.

Despite the challenges, most time I enjoy being independent. In an ideal world, I believe all scientists should have this kind of freedom 😊. I have no shortage of ideas or data, but I lack the time and resources to bring all my plans to life. While figuring out how to fund my work, I decided to start this blog. Sharing ideas and sparking discussions here seemed like a great alternative. Usually, researchers can debate ideas with colleagues at seminars, conferences, and meetings. Independent researchers like me have the internet—a blog, a YouTube channel, and preprints are our tools.

And so, here I am 😊!