How do you handle rejection from funding agencies and reviewers?

1 Acknowledge your emotions

Rejection can hurt. It can make you feel angry, frustrated, disappointed, or discouraged. It can also affect your confidence and motivation. It is normal and natural to have these emotions, and you should not ignore or suppress them. Instead, acknowledge how you feel and give yourself some time to process your emotions. You can talk to a friend, a mentor, a colleague, or a therapist, or write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal. By expressing your emotions, you can release some of the negative energy and gain some perspective on the situation.

4 Seek support and advice

Rejection can be isolating and demoralizing, especially if you face it repeatedly or harshly. You should not deal with rejection alone, but seek support and advice from others who can empathize and help you. You can reach out to your peers, mentors, supervisors, or collaborators, and ask for their opinions, suggestions, or encouragement. You can also join online or offline communities of researchers who share similar interests, challenges, or experiences, and learn from their stories, insights, or tips. Seeking support and advice can help you cope with rejection and build your resilience and confidence.

5 Celebrate your achievements

Rejection can overshadow your achievements and make you forget how far you have come. You should not let rejection define you or your research, but celebrate your achievements and recognize your value and potential. You should acknowledge your efforts, progress, and accomplishments, no matter how big or small, and reward yourself for them. You should also appreciate the positive feedback, recognition, or opportunities that you receive from others, and use them as motivation and inspiration. Celebrating your achievements can help you handle rejection and maintain your passion and enthusiasm for research.

6 Keep trying and improving

Rejection is not the end of the road, but a part of the journey. You should not give up on your research or yourself, but keep trying and improving. You should view rejection as a challenge, not a failure, and as a feedback, not a judgment. You should use rejection as a catalyst, not a deterrent, and as a chance, not a threat. You should keep pursuing your research interests, questions, and objectives, and keep applying for funding, submitting manuscripts, or presenting findings. You should also keep developing your research skills, knowledge, and network, and keep learning from your experiences and others. Keeping trying and improving can help you handle rejection and succeed in your research.