Kieron (he/him) is a first year PhD student at the Distributed Algorithms CDT, part of the University of Liverpool. In this article he reflects on his own journey prior to joining the CDT, and gives his advice to others searching for the right PhD project. During the thesis writing stage of my Master’s in Physics, I began exploring what lay beyond undergraduate degrees, both in academia and in the world of employment. I decided on a PhD as I had been considering a move to Computer Science for some time, and this was a good opportunity to hone my skillset instead of trying to dive in without a good background in the area. I still benefit from my Physics background, and have found that having experience in both is opening a lot of doors for the future. Currently I am working on using machine learning techniques to improve the functionality of augmented reality displays in cars. I am lucky to have a group that is placed on the boundary of academia and industry, since it provides opportunities for placements, collaborations, and other projects in the future. One thing that can sometimes go unmentioned with PhDs is how rewarding it can be to see something you have worked on or helped with come to fruition

Preparing For Your PhD Interview

Ready to take the next step in your academic career with a PhD? Don’t miss out on these top tips for acing your PhD interview, from finding the right project to researching your supervisors and preparing for presentations.

Read More »

How to Handle the Jump Straight from Undergrad to PhD 

Are you considering going straight from an undergraduate degree to a PhD, skipping the master’s? At 22 years old, Tess shares her experience of this and provides some valuable insights about how she prepared and applied for her PhD in Computing without doing a master’s degree.

Read More »

15 Years in Academia: 10 Things I’d Do Differently If Starting My PhD Again

This article reflects on the author’s 15-year academic journey, detailing the lessons learned from disorganised PhD student to effective work habits as a postdoc and assistant professor, and applying these lessons to their current role at Paperpile. Suzanne offers practical advice on academic writing, productivity, and professional development, emphasizing the importance of daily writing practice, systematic note-taking, reflection, goal setting, and the use of digital tools like reference managers. She shares these insights to help current PhD students avoid similar pitfalls and develop productive habits early in their academic careers.

Read More »
Your contribution to our PhD Stories helps us disseminate valuable support to researchers worldwide.
Update cookies preferences