Many students report feeling intense anxiety, negative self-talk, and feelings of imposter
syndrome when conducting independent research for graduate theses and dissertations
for the first time. This ‘research anxiety’ is perfectly normal and is a common experience
for most students and even experienced researchers. Yet, it is rarely ever directly
addressed as part of the academic research process, which can exacerbate the cycle of
anxiety, procrastination, and even depression researchers can and often do experience.

The workshop will introduce the practice of Zen ‘mindfulness’ – the process of
practicing nonjudgmental present moment awareness – as central to facing research
anxiety and imposter syndrome in the academic research context. What is research
anxiety? Where, exactly, does it come up in the research process so we can identify it in
real time? What research strategies might be effective when it does arise? Who can we
ask for help when it inevitably does? These are some of the main questions we will
explore in the workshop, particularly within the context of conducting literature reviews
for advanced research.