PhDs take forever. Well, it seems that way. Data on completion times suggests 7 years is the average. Yet, (Australian) universities are pushing 3 years, perhaps with a 6 month extension. So, how do you stay focused? Or, more to the point, what are the kinds of things that distract you from making meaningful progress […]
Sometimes, talking with your PhD students can be like trying to negotiate with a silverback gorilla. And, maybe in those times you’re better off taking the same response as we did with COVID19 and physically distance yourself. But, for the other times, when its going to be tough but not gorilla tough – what can […]
One of the most overlooked steps in the PhD process is topic selection. In this FREE on-line workshop, I’ll go through how potential applicants might choose a topic. Importantly, I’ll also look at factors that influence topic such as where you live, where you are willing to study and what your background is. If you’re […]
So often I hear “what program should I use to write my thesis?” And, like photographers say the best camera is the one you have with you, the best program to write your thesis with is the one you have. Most people have MS Word. Yet, many overlook it for other programs (e.g. scrivener). Or […]
Whether it is a global pandemic or broken machinery, there are times when doing experiments might not be possible. In this webinar I’ll go through some of the things you could do when collecting data is not possible. We’ll also hear from you – the participants – about your go to things to do when […]
Starting a PhD is a big decision. And there are lots of choices to make. What university? What topic? What group? Not to mention your supervisor. Then of course there are the practicalities of life such as work, where you live, and who you live with.
Average completion times for a PhD vary, but most data suggests at least four years (full time) as an average. In some cases, the average completion time is more than seven years! So, how can we reduce that time. Short of doing more work or more hours (which I do not recommend), or being more […]
It is no longer enough to offer “just a PhD program”. Universities and their faculties, colleges, schools and departments all need to prepare PhD graduates for the workforce. And not just the research or academic workforce, but the wider workforce. We know that 50% of PhD graduates will immediately go onto a non-academic career, and […]
There are often cries in research “you should have a mentor” but what does that mean, and how do you even get one? IMHO a mentor is someone who has been through some of the things you are going through and can provide advice, guidance, and suggestions on the types of actions and approaches you […]
According to research from the UK, 2/3 of final year PhD students are unclear on what they want to do after their PhD. And about 1/3 (30%) of PhD graduates would not do the their PhD again. In this webinar we’ll take a look at the academic and non-academic job application process and some of […]