The PhD Place

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

Ben Pettitt

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.

“Look Right, Look Left”

Karen Arzate Quintanilla

Dual Discipline: Doing A PhD With A Chronic Illness

Max Portman

How to turn your thesis into a book

Nicolai Due-Gundersen

To Be or Not To Be (a Reviewer 2): Should I Review Articles as a PhD Student?

Chris Thompson

Applying for a PhD in the Sciences: A 7-Step Guide

Mikaila Chetty

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

Tess Watt encourages you to seek opportunities beyond your department and institution for broader growth, and to be mindful of your time by saying no to things that don’t support your career advancement.

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Featured Authors

The PhD Place blog is co-created by researchers like you. Advice and support for your academic journey.

from our Community

ADHD

Realising I Have ADHD During My PhD: A Hidden Battle

This article details the experience of a Professional Doctorate student (and full-time working parent) suddenly becoming aware that she has ADHD – being given a new, neurodivergent lens through which to see herself, and the additional challenges (and solutions) that it brings to a PhD journey. The article offers solutions for coping with a neurodivergent brain in a world generally designed for neurotypical ways of functioning.

Academic Careers

‘Spectral Schedules’ in Postdoctoral Applications: The Case for Transparency and Consistency in Academic Hiring

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.

Alternative Careers

Non-Academic Job Interviews: 4 Questions to Get Ready For

Are you taking the first steps into careers outside of academia? Anxious about selling yourself to a new audience post-PhD? This is normal, but with the right preparation you can knock your interview out of the park and stand out from the crowd! This article guides you through four important questions to prepare your answers for.

Dissertation Defence/ Viva

Navigating Reflexivity: A Guided Example to Move Beyond Reflection

Need guidance writing the reflexivity section of your thesis (or indeed writing reflexively throughout the thesis)? This article defines reflexivity as going beyond reflection to consider the influence of our positionality on our work. It covers three main types of reflexivity – personal reflexivity, methodological reflexivity and philosophical reflexivity – and includes some working examples to illustrate the thought processes and questions that facilitate transparency and rigor in research.

AI Walkthroughs

Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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Tips for Your First Six Months of PhD Success

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