Hoang-Phuc Pham is a PhD student in Polymer Science at the University of Connecticut. He was born in Vietnam and spent six years in Taiwan for his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. In addition to research, he is enthusiastic about helping PhD peers become more productive and overcome the shared difficulties of a PhD journey. Hoang-Phuc is especially interested in the arts of multidisciplinary communication and storytelling, recognizing their increasing relevance, even though formal education often neglects these vital skills.

How Generation Z Can Thrive in a PhD

This insightful article highlights how young Gen Z academics can make the most of their unique skills and attributes cultivated by their generational upbringing, and propel themselves towards achieving triumph in their PhD programme and beyond.

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The Week Before My Viva

Sue Lynn Mah shares her experience preparing for and passing her PhD viva in her article. In the week leading up to the big day, she re-read her thesis, had a mock viva with her supervisor, practiced explaining her work to people outside of her field, and printed out a physical copy of her thesis. Her tips for viva success include picking out your outfit in advance and practicing your elevator pitch.

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Building a Rainbow: Ideas and Coalition Building on the American Left, c. 1973-88

To some observers, the emergence of Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other parts of the American left can appear to have come from nothing. Yet by looking at the intellectual and political changes of the 1970s and 1980s, we can see that they in fact have clear historical origins. The idea of a ‘rainbow coalition’ in particular reveals how they owe much to concepts developed in this foundational period.

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