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.
Read D. Gabriel Cruz’s inspiring story of how he pursued a doctoral degree. Cruz’s faith in God, his perseverance, and dedication helped him attain a higher academic level, and he hopes his story will motivate and encourage others to pursue their goals.
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Are you studying for a PhD abroad? Are you worried about integrating meaningfully into your PhD life in a different country? In this article, Dai Wenqi explores how to socialise and adapt to a new culture during your PhD abroad, providing advice from her lived experiences to help you enjoy your doctoral life to the fullest. This includes respecting and engaging with the culture of your host country, learning the language (but forgo the pressure of perfect fluency), and leaning into your unique personal charm.
This article highlights the issue of unclear and unpredictable application processes for postdoctoral opportunities in the UK and beyond. Drawing on philosophical concepts like hauntology, it calls for universities to honour (or refrain from setting!) their ‘outcome announcement’ dates, as this would alleviate disappointment and foster greater fairness and transparency in postdoctoral applications.
In this article, Badryah shares her personal journey of overcoming fear, stress and perfectionism around public speaking, by seeking support, enrolling in a skills course, and shifting her mindset.
Navigating the unexpected departure of her advisor, Claire shares her tips on dealing with the challenges of this uncertainty during her PhD.
Adrienne Darrah discusses the advantages and difficulties of pursuing a PhD later in life, and presents reasons why you should contemplate undertaking a PhD as an older student in this talk.
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.
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!
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.
