I guess this is an age old question but as academia is ever more competitive nowadays, as a young PhD student, I would like to ask those who have made it to their PI position what do they think is what got them that PI position?
I know there are a lot of excellent alternative ways after PhD, working in science communication, publishing, etc. but let's go back to most of us's "gold standard" is to become a PI, how did you get there? Is that publication Cell, Nature, Science? Is that luck?
Any inside would be appreciated greatly.