
From Dancer to Writer: An Unconventional Path into Academia
From dancer to writer. Old dog, new tricks. An unconventional path into academia.
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.

From dancer to writer. Old dog, new tricks. An unconventional path into academia.
Featured Academic

Donna L. Halper’s PhD journey began after she lost her job in radio and wanted to reinvent herself as a full-time educator. However, being in her 50s and a woman applicant meant that she faced rejection from several universities, making her determined to prove them wrong.

Onur Cem Aygın shares advice for PhD researchers based on his doctoral journey.

Relocating for a PhD and academic career is often not only required of the candidate but their partners and/or children, too. How do we acknowledge and amplify the experiences of “the trailing spouse and families” while also creating systemic change that would make academic career moves more feasible and fulfilling for all involved?

This article by Eleazar Reward shares how being a foodie has enriched his life as a doctoral candidate in molecular virology, broadening his cultural integration, creating special memories, and promoting healthy nutrition.

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.

The SciSpace Library is built to help you organise research papers, pull out what matters, and actually understand the papers you are working with. It turns a mess of PDFs into something searchable, interactive, and manageable without the constant back-and-forth between tabs, folders, and notes. In this blog post, we will introduce SciSpace Library and outline the various ways in which you can use it and its key features.

In this reflective article, Gemma Rides shares her PhD experience so far and provides advice for new PhD students. She discusses the importance of talking to supervisors and other students, getting into a routine, celebrating small achievements, and remembering that a PhD is more than just writing a thesis.

This article explores how advice, whether solicited or unsolicited, can damage the morale and hope of those doing a PhD. The purpose of this article is to comment on the boundaries that researchers must put in place to avoid being negatively affected: we must be discerning as to whether advice is useful and pertinent, or whether it is not applicable to us. The main message is: don’t listen to everyone, and trust your own judgement!
Be the first to hear about new content, courses, and events. Join our community today!
You’re in! Thanks for signing up. Keep an eye on your inbox for the latest updates, resources, and exclusive offers.