Vanessa Corcoran (she/her) is an advising dean and adjunct professor of history at Georgetown University. Her memoir, "It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint: My Road to the Marathon and Ph.D." is now available. Follow her on Twitter: @VRCinDC

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.

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