I couldn't help but wonder: Do we really need to love our research?

A guest post by Dr. Carrie Bradshaw

Love and passion are words that pop up frequently in discussions of academic work. We describe it as the inner flame that supposedly fuels all successful research—the intrinsic motivation that pushes us towards epiphany. I believe I’ve even joined other professors in encouraging early-career scholars to pursue their passions—advice we give on how to find one’s research path. Passion is portrayed as the rocket fuel needed for the arduous work of a thesis, dissertation, or first book.

While I believe I am passionate about some aspects of my work, I am not sure my passion is always burning as brightly as the professorly advice would have you believe. Sure, I am passionate about my work at times, but it is not a constant force that I rely on to keep moving forward.

Dr. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in Sex and the City

So today, in my most Carrie Bradshaw voice…“I couldn’t help but wonder:”

Do we really need to be head over heels in love with our research topics to do good work?

Is passion a prerequisite for research or an occasional effect of doing the work?