The PhD Place

Turning Research Papers into a Podcast: Productivity Hacks

The PhD Place

What if there was an alternative to reading when your eyes need a rest, or while waiting for coffee, or sitting in traffic? SciSpace’s innovative podcast tool transforms your research paper backlog into bite-sized audio summaries. Turn idle moments into productive learning sessions by listening to key research insights while cooking, commuting, or exercising – helping you decide which papers deserve your full attention.

From Dancer to Writer: An Unconventional Path into Academia

Al Meggs

Applying for a PhD: My Struggles and Triumphs

Fadel Fakih

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) for Power Electronic Converters

Erjon Ballukja

The pros and cons of basing your PhD on your Master’s topic

Nicolai Due-Gundersen

How to Handle the Jump Straight from Undergrad to PhD

Tess Watt

Academic Blogs

A Wealth of Resources for Your Doctoral Journey, from Getting Started to Publishing. Created by You.

Webinars

Resources from Your Academic Community. Engage with Passionate Learners and Leading Experts.

AI Walkthroughs

Discover the Latest Academic AI Tools. Improve Your Research Workflow.

Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

Tess Watt encourages you to seek opportunities beyond your department and institution for broader growth, and to be mindful of your time by saying no to things that don’t support your career advancement.

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Featured Authors

The PhD Place blog is co-created by researchers like you. Advice and support for your academic journey.

from our Community

Experiences

My PhD Journey As An International Student

Marika Strano, a first-year PhD student in English Literature at Swansea University, shares her journey as an international student in her PhD program. Despite the difficulties and rejections she faced before being accepted at Swansea, Marika was thrilled when she finally received her offer to study in the UK, but she also shares the challenges of being an international student and how it affects her mental health.

Academic Careers

‘Spectral Schedules’ in Postdoctoral Applications: The Case for Transparency and Consistency in Academic Hiring

This article highlights the issue of unclear and unpredictable application processes for postdoctoral opportunities in the UK and beyond. Drawing on philosophical concepts like hauntology, it calls for universities to honour (or refrain from setting!) their ‘outcome announcement’ dates, as this would alleviate disappointment and foster greater fairness and transparency in postdoctoral applications.

Career and Networking

Finding the Right Supervisors: An Underrated Springboard to Enjoying the PhD Journey

Mentors and supervisors are invaluable helpers on our PhD journey, yet this aspect of a PhD is often not considered enough to ensure they are the right fit for us. This article, from a Ghanian perspective, provides advice on finding and maintaining the right supervisors, who have the potential to completely transform one’s PhD journey into an enjoyable one. It reminds us that supervisors should be seen not as someone to try to replicate, but to springboard us into attaining our own personal goals.

Experiences

How to turn your thesis into a book

Dr Nicolai Due-Gundersen shares advice for turning your thesis into a book.

from The PhD Place

Experiences

Why you should join an online writing group during your PhD

Are you overwhelmed by writing demands of academic study? Nathan H. Clarke explores how joining an online writing group can support you during your PhD, an overlooked resource that can help you achieve success in your PhD studies.

COVID-19

The Art Of Working From Home: Studying During The Pandemic And Beyond

COVID-19 changed the world of academia, making it even more isolating than before. Clarke shares tips and tricks for students and researchers to improve their work-life balance while working from home, including setting boundaries, sticking to routines, separating work from home, taking breaks, and keeping in touch with others.

AI Walkthroughs

Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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