Jess Wythe (she/her) is a Visiting Lecturer in Childhood, Youth and Community and a second year EdD candidate at Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom. Her research interests are centered around Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and the educational value of school trips to heritage sites. Jess published her first journal article in 2022 which was a study concerning how the Coronavirus restrictions impacted the transition from early years education to Key Stage 1 for learners in a specialist provision setting. Twitter: @wythejess LinkedIn: jesswythe

Should I Complete Side Projects as a PhD Student?

‘Side projects’ are valuable additional endeavours alongside your PhD that can build your skillset, relevant connections and future employability – both in and outside of academia. This article discusses some common side project ideas for PhD students, and highlights some of the short-term sacrifices required to complete them.

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Office 216

Discover how a graduate student’s temporary office space serves as a metaphor for their sense of unbelonging throughout their academic journey, and how they find solace in making the most of the temporary joys that come their way.

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Death by a Thousand Semesters: Are Academic Careers as All-Consuming as People Say?

The stress and all-consuming nature of pursuing an academic career is often detailed in social media posts and anecdotal tales. Whilst it is useful for PhD students to understand the perils of careers in academia, this article provides further context for some of the issues surrounding progression in the academic profession. It runs through five factors that impact on how all-consuming academic careers can be, ultimately advising you to progress in academia at your own pace.

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