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.

Career and Networking
Aly Flint

Is There Life After A PhD?

Discover what life has to offer after completing a PhD as Aly Flint reflects on her experience as an Early Career Researcher. After looking for work in the academic job market, Flint found The Brilliant Club, which offers rewarding and flexible work teaching university-style short courses to secondary school students, allowing her to create bespoke courses based on her current research.

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Experiences
Jake Dunlop

Anxiety in Academia: Using Anxiety as My Superpower  

Anxiety is a debilitating condition that can make the simplest of tasks difficult, let alone a PhD. This empowering article follows Jake’s experience with anxiety during sixth form and university, and how once he discovered research he began to view anxiety as a superpower to keep his PhD pushing forwards. He shares anxiety-reducing techniques for when it gets too much, including affirmations and breath control, and emphasises the value of accepting anxiety in your life.

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Career and Networking
Ben Pettitt

When Dreams Fall Apart: Mental Health and New Beginnings in Academia and Beyond

In this motivational article, the author reflects on his mental health journey of realising teaching wasn’t his dream job after all and starting over in an academia-adjacent career. The article highlights the value of clear boundaries between work and home, of prioritising mental health in academia and beyond, and of being brave enough to choose another road when you reach a dead end.

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Experiences
Chris Thompson

Six Ways To Prepare For Your Upcoming PhD

Dr Chris Thompson offers six ways to prepare for a PhD. Alongside finding rest, students should reach out to current PhD students or experienced academics to absorb their wisdom, research their new surroundings, and connect with future colleagues to create a network before starting.

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ADHD
Kristy Smith

How to do a PhD when you have ADHD Part 1: Academics

Guidance for doing a PhD with ADHD and make the most of your abilities with these helpful strategies. From capitalizing on hyperfocus and taking productive breaks, to creating multiple points of contact for deadlines and commitments, this guide is packed with tips to help you work with your ADHD rather than against it.

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Experiences
Pillalamarri Srikrishnarka

10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before My PhD

Pillalamarri Srikrishnarka shares 10 tips he wish he knew before starting his STEM-based PhD program at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. A final year scholar, Pillalamarri emphasizes networking and time management, he provides useful links to other resources.

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