So it is the first day of your PhD. Maybe you are going into an office filled with other academics and students, an office filled with just fellow PhD students, out into fieldwork, a lab, or a workspace at home. Perhaps you are in the area of physical sciences, social sciences, history, arts, design, education, literature, mathematics, engineering, or medicine. […]
I was warned by my supervisors that submitting a PhD is a big life adjustment… in a positive way, but nonetheless still an adjustment. You go from spending a ridiculous amount of time thinking about your PhD or feeling guilty for not thinking about your PhD, to not having to think about your PhD at all. I had two weeks of marking left when I submitted my PhD (on top of my full time job) so I think that was a good way to wean myself off of the 16+ hour work days. However, my supervisors were definitely right, it is a big adjustment. I have never been particularly good at being bored, my partner actually said “I think the one thing you are terrible at is being bored” and it has been a really long time since I have experienced guilt free boredom. It is an odd and confusing feeling between submission and defense because you cannot fully relax (as there is still lots of PhD to do) but you are also free to relax. I am still working through these feelings and have so far realised a few key points; Be kind to yourself- you have just submitted a PhD- be kind to your mind and body. Sit with your boredom-I have found that it is important to just sit with your boredom and get yourself used to the feeling of not having anything. You will be exhausted- […]
I think the most logical place to start this guide is at the start (very innovative – I know), and the start is why on earth I decided to undergo a PhD in the first place. If you had asked me at highschool, or even during the first few years of my undergraduate degree where I was going to end […]
Hi everyone! My name is Jordan Rogers and I’m a PhD Candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. My degree is in Human Factors which is a blend of psychology and engineering and centers around informing product and system design through understanding human limitations and capabilities. My research and career interests involve optimizing medical device design and healthcare […]
Introducing the newest segment to the Dr.ofwhat blog, one that I have been thinking about and working on for a long time now. The Dr.ofwhat PhD Survival guide. A complete end-to-end guide of all aspects of a PhD. Like a PhD, although this guide intends to progress in a linear fashion, it digresses and goes on random tangents, but ends […]
Academia is such a weird place, filled with weird traditions, weird rules, and weird experiences…. Like the fact that not only do you not get paid when you publish an article, you actually have to pay to get it published. Like the fact that you get employed by a university and often a key aspect of your job is winning […]
** In Collaboration ** Anyone who’s ever done a PhD will tell you how all-consuming it can be. From the sleepless nights to all of the sacrifices, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing it in the first place. Everyone goes through tough times with their PhD, but it’s important that you put your health and wellbeing first. […]
Click here to read about other sells you should be selling-Problem Solving & Creativity The third PhD skill we should all be selling is our resilience. Like creativity this is probably not something you read on job applications and I doubt you would be ever asked about your resilience in an interview. However, it is a valuable skill that we […]
The PhD process is most definitely not over after you click that little submit button- there are many, many steps that come after. These steps differ between country and also institution so, I wanted to share the steps at my university that I will be going through in the next few months. Step 1: Hit that little submit button […]
What is my PhD even about? What did I actually find? I don’t even know anymore. How do I have imposter syndrome worse than ever four years into my PhD?!? This paragraph is really well written- maybe my thesis isn’t as terrible as I thought I wonder what my PhD examiners are doing right now? I forget I found that […]
