PhD

We have received a comment from one of our blog readers, reacting to our article “PhD Comics” (and apparently, to “Sit Down and Write”, too) “No offence, I love PhD Comics - both the comic strips and the PhD movies - I really do. Jorge Cham and his team have created something unique, entertaining and impactful over the years. I have been following their work for years. … [Read more...] about Procrastination is NOT cool

Metrics are super important in every project, in and outside academia, and a PhD program is no exception. If you are a PhD student: What metrics do you live by? How do you measure your progress? What goals you have set for your PhD? Is it just finishing it on time time, or the quality of your publications over time? Measuring your professional progress is an important … [Read more...] about What Are Your Own Metrics?

Doing a PhD without regular feedback from your supervisor is like driving your car to a faraway destination without a GPS: You will get lost a few times along the way, and it will certainly take you a lot longer to get there. While it is true that proper guidance is key to avoid pitfalls and dead ends [1], maintaining an effective working relationship with your supervisor(s) … [Read more...] about Effective Supervision

If you are a PhD student, you most probably live a sedentary life, sitting at a desk all day, eating too much junk food, not getting enough sleep at night, nor do you exercise often enough. In order to stay healthy throughout your PhD, you need to take good care of your health - especially when it comes to stressful periods (deadlines, exams, etc.). Get enough sleep. Sleep … [Read more...] about Stay Healthy

"The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail." (Charles R. Swindoll) Attention to detail is the ability to achieve thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing a task [1], and it counts among the most important qualities of successful graduate research candidates [2]. In fact, it is a key problem-solving skill in many different … [Read more...] about Attention to Detail

Choosing the right PhD supervisor is key. You can be super passionate about your research topic, but you will only graduate if you and your supervisor are a good match. Your supervisor is the most important person to help you finish your PhD. He/she has to be there for you when you need guidance in anything, and fluid communication is key. Although finding someone you get … [Read more...] about Your PhD Supervisor and You

If you are already doing a PhD, you can A) either skip this article, or B) read it and compare it to your actual situation / progress since you’ve started. If you are thinking about applying for a PhD, think about it twice. Do you really know what it takes to finish a PhD? Do you have what it takes? Doing a PhD is nothing more than concentrating on the same thing long … [Read more...] about Are You Ready for a PhD?

Every PhD student or young researcher faces the challenge of writing a research proposal at least once in his/her life.Keep a couple of things in mind before you submit your research proposal. 1. Define the goal of your research proposal first. What exactly do you write it for? Will you apply for a PhD? Do you want to get some funding for your next science project? Is it for … [Read more...] about How to Write a PhD Research Proposal?