Explore the world of doctoral research and academia with insights, tips, and guidance for prospective and current PhD students. Navigate the challenges and rewards of the doctoral journey.
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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In this article, Jodie Boisvert discusses her experience with imposter syndrome during her journey to earning a PhD. She shares tips she learned from her professors and peers, including skimming reading materials to highlight key points and writing notes in the margins to enhance critical thinking skills.
This article suggests a number of places to start, such as building a good relationship with your supervisor, networking with your peers, planning your move and checking out any additional course requirements.
Discover the secret power of blogging for PhD students looking to combat boredom and isolation. Kerry McPherson shares her experience starting a collaborative science communication blog and how it led to networking, expanding her communication skills, learning, and even career opportunities.
At ninety years old, Dr Bronwyn Herbert has completed her PhD at the University of Queensland, Australia. The PhD Place had the pleasure of interviewing her across the globe to share her inspiring story with our readers! Drawing on her extensive career in social work and her wealth of life experience, Bronwyn promotes the joy of lifelong learning and showcases the power of resilience that every PhD student can seek to emulate.
Mentors and supervisors are invaluable helpers on our PhD journey, yet this aspect of a PhD is often not considered enough to ensure they are the right fit for us. This article, from a Ghanian perspective, provides advice on finding and maintaining the right supervisors, who have the potential to completely transform one’s PhD journey into an enjoyable one. It reminds us that supervisors should be seen not as someone to try to replicate, but to springboard us into attaining our own personal goals.
How do you get from the first day of your PhD program to a functional dissertation proposal in two years? In this article, a now-Associate Professor discusses how they used every class to funnel down their PhD proposal while reading widely. *Results may vary.
Starting a PhD can be daunting at the best of times, but even more so during a pandemic. In this article, Olivia Eve Arkley shares her experiences and advice for making the most of the first month of a PhD, including practical tools and mental skills to aid completion. She also discusses the importance of becoming part of the academic community and carving out your own place within it.
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.
