Deirdre Dingman is an associate professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Temple University. Prior to joining the faculty at Temple in 2016, she completed a RWJF post-doctoral fellowship in public health law research. Her degrees include a BS in social work, PBC in gerontology, an MPH and DrPH. Dr. Dingman currently teaches several undergraduate and graduate courses. Her areas of expertise include substance use and addiction, harm reduction and stigma. She has personal, professional and educational experience in prevention and treatment of substance use and substance use disorder, and recently completed a SAMHSA grant to study the opioid crisis in higher education. Her work continues to focus on reducing stigma and discrimination around substance use, especially through service with the American Public Health Association's ATOD committee.

It’s Your PhD: How to Deal With Unhelpful Advice

This article explores how advice, whether solicited or unsolicited, can damage the morale and hope of those doing a PhD. The purpose of this article is to comment on the boundaries that researchers must put in place to avoid being negatively affected: we must be discerning as to whether advice is useful and pertinent, or whether it is not applicable to us. The main message is: don’t listen to everyone, and trust your own judgement!

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You Belong Here! The Battle With Your Inner Voice

In this article, Rohan Samuels talks about his personal experience dealing with imposter syndrome and personal insecurities during his doctoral journey and how he overcame them by embracing who he truly was. He suggests that the battle with the “inner-you” is an illusion and encourages doctoral students to be authentic and recognize their self-worth.

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Stops And Starts: The Growing Pains Of The PhD

Get insights from a PhD candidate’s reflective diary on the process of starting, struggling with, and ultimately completing a doctoral research project. Discover the trials and tribulations of getting ethical approval, recruiting participants, and navigating the pandemic while working towards a degree.

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