Knowing what you want to do – at any stage in life – is hard. In this video I talk about how I made the decision to switch from an academic career to a non-academic career. I also cover some of the things that made it possible/easier both as a PhD student, as well as […]
Six Things to Do to Be a Better PhD Supervisor
We need better PhD supervisors.1 Yes – students need to take control of their own destiny. Yes – students need to be more aware of their role in the research, and supervisory process. Yes – students should be self-informing about options beyond their PhD. But…
Four Things to Look for in Your First Job
So, you’ve completed your PhD. What next? Do you stay in academia? Do you leave? If you stay do you work as a Post Doc with your supervisor? Or do you try to find another role in a different group, department, school, faculty, university or country?
How to Be a Good PhD Student
Despite my best efforts I have not been able to find much published work on how to be a good PhD student. I’m not talking about the qualities of a PhD student – such as organisation or perseverance. I’m not talking about good PhD programs – such as planning, professional development and good supervisors. I’m […]
Fifty-Four Reasons to Do a PhD
1. Avoid looking for work – Looking for work is a long process. Especially when you are first joining the workforce. Building your CV is hard. It has to be a short document, but you’re struggling to think of what to include and what to take out. Regardless your CV feels inadequate. So, you complete […]
I Answer the Question What Next
What do I do? I help people getting a PhD or those who already have a PhD answer the question “What next?”.
Three Things That Set Me up to Transition out of Academia
How did I transition from academia to self-employed? In this video I cover the “insurance” I had, the people that supported me and the experiences that facilitated my success.
What Does It Take to Become a Researcher?
For most people the beginning of the answer to this question will be “get a PhD”. However, in my experience a PhD is not necessary to become a researcher. Nor is it necessary to become a published researcher1. Of course, if you want a senior academic role, you’ll need a PhD. But if all you […]
Five Points of PhD Program Failure
In this video, I cover off five different points of failure within PhD programs and how you might address them.
Another 13 Reasons to Do a PhD
There are many reasons to do a PhD. Here are further 13. No judgment. Just a list. With an explanation for each. Adding to the 24 and 17 already published – making a total of more than 54. 42. Turn a PhD into your career – there are countless examples of people turning their PhD […]