#phd advice

[honeesblog]

a lot of people in my program really only do their studies and to my other PHD's I urge you: make sure you have other things going on! I have a near endless list of weird hobbies and sports and other interests and I just want you to know that you don't need to eat, sleep, and breathe only your topic and subject! Read a fiction book for fun, paint something badly, find a nice shop to browse in, go for a walk in a green area, take a break and don't rush through it. Pleasure and relaxation are valuable and worth your time. The point of a PhD/Masters is not to work in a hard and unsustainable way until you are done but instead to learn how to be an academic, what type of academic you are, and how you want to live your life/balance your academics and everything else!

When you are studying/working, don't be afraid of being wrong or doing things messily or poorly. On hard days, give yourself leeway, add an extra scoop of sugar to your coffee or tea, and listen to the rocky theme!

#phd #academic #female academic #phd life #phdblr #phdjourney #women in academia #phd advice #light academia #dark academia #chaotic academia #graduate student #graduate school #grad school #mypost

[cybercity-sunrise]

2.8.2024

The past few weeks have been absolutely insane; although stressful due to long hours in the lab and balancing a million things, I can't recall a time I've learned more in such a short period. There is of course still SO much I don't know within my field, but it's satisfying to feel myself becoming more knowledgeable by the day.

Towards the end of last semester, I spent some time reflecting on how my first year was going and considering how to really develop as a researcher. The gap between a first and second year PhD student is huge, in my opinion--since I switched fields from undergrad, it's probably even more true in my case. I did learn a lot last semester, but I was still settling into a new environment and program. There is a lot to get adjusted to in this lab; it's huge, a bit chaotic, and used by multiple groups.

I am finally feeling more confident and independent, so I think this is the time to really grind in order to be where I want to be going into my second year. In addition to ramping up lab work, I've been trying to read way more. For each article I read, I also make a slide in an ongoing PowerPoint that summarizes key findings and any notes or questions I have. This isn't so much an organizational method (I use Zotero for that) as it is a way to follow interesting threads in current research and develop a habit of active reading.

If anyone has a reading practice that really works for them I'd love to hear about it :)

#studyblr #studyspo #grad school journey #gradblr #phdblr #grad school #phd #engineering #environmental science #biotech #PhD advice #sunrise says #study motiviation #study blog #study aesthetic

[notesbyash]

Congrats on getting into your dream phd program!!! Would you mind sharing a little bit about what you mean by cold emailiing working? I'm going to have to start applying to phd programs next year and I'm feeling nervous about it and would love to hear how you did it. Thank you!!!

So. (this is a long rambly post, beware)

PhD applications and programs are unique from undergraduate applications (and most Masters programs) in that it's more of an apprenticeship application than anything. There are certain programs where you're admitted to the program as a whole but in my experience these are relatively rare.

The way that I conceptualized PhD applications, and the way that I was suggested to conceptualize them by my mentors, was to approach it as applying to work with a particular faculty member/lab. From an institutional perspective, think of it as a hiring process. Faculty members write grants to get money to fund some project, then the pick from a pool of PhD applications to find someone that they think will best fit the bill and be able to produce research. This is why it's helpful to not only have a solid GPA (something I didn't have) but also to have prior research experience and publications under your belt (I have research experience but no publications which. f). You're trying to boost the case that if you're handed money, you will be able to make "good use" of it.

So in review - faculty are looking for someone who has an academic or industry background that matches their research intent, has the qualifications to be trusted with a long-term project and displays a level of dedication to not dropping out when the going gets hard. Seems straightfoward enough.

Now comes the networking. See, research lab websites are notorious for not being updated. Faculty profiles are notorious for not being updated. It is incredibly difficult from an outside perspective to even know if a faculty member has the funds or space in their lab to take on a new student. If you've applied to a program but there's no faculty member who has the funds or availability to take you on, you're out of luck before you're even measured against the other candidates.

The fastest way to save time (and money because jfc these apps aren't cheap) is to straight up cold email the faculty member or lab you want to work with and ask if they're taking students. Include a little bit about yourself, your background and why you're emailing them. Talk about how your interest matches theirs. Reference a paper or two they wrote recently. Not everyone cold emails faculty, so this is a great way to stand out and get them to see you as an individual, not just an application number. From there, you'll get a response. Sometimes the lab/faculty won't have the funds to take on a new student in which case you've saved yourself time and money. Sometimes they do have funds and will want to know more about you or see some work. These conversations don't always have to be long, but it allows you to get an idea of the faculty member, the lab, and/or the program culture. It gets your foot in the door and a chance to see what the next 4+ years of your life might be.

The core of this is that when you apply to a PhD program, you apply to do research. You should be going into a PhD program with, basically, an idea of what you want to do with your life (academically speaking) and how you want to contribute to the field (I was asked point blank what I wanted my contribution to the field of aerospace to be when I died at the end of my career). You find a faculty member or lab that you want to work with because that allows you to fulfill your own dream research, because the work that they are doing is work that you want to contribute to and that you believe in.

Cold emailing faculty members allows you a chance to directly communicate with the people you want to work with and tell them that this is where you really want to be, that you have a clear goal and that you're dedicated to your craft.

(And it means that sometimes, you happen to be exactly the person they are looking for.)

#wrote this in one sitting apologies for tonal inconsistencies lol #from the po box #phd advice #idk that it's advice but hopefully it's helpful #there's a lot about the behind-the-scenes machinations of academia i learned in this process #this being my second round i also can speak a bit to what does/doesn't work #not much tho but it might help idk #studyblr

[stringsandtheory]

Hi, in this video I want to share with you lessons I learned after starting my PhD that I wish I knew earlier :) If you like this video please subscribe because I'm trying to partially fund my PhD with this Youtube channel 🙏(close to 50 subs now!)

#academics unite #physics #studyblr #women in stem #phd life #phd advice #phd student #Youtube

[lepusrufus]

While Moira ever admitting to not being able to do anything is a little ooc, I think it's infinitely funnier for her to get hella annoyed at people taking one look at the Doctor title that came with her PhD and assume she can do anything medicine or science related like

"Oh yeah sure I brainwashed Widowmaker right after finishing my course in The mind of depressed housewives with murder tendencies sure do I look like a fucking psychologist to you?" "No I can't perform open heart surgery on you unfortunately you'll just have to deal with it." "The fuck do you expect me to do about those symptoms I don't know sounds like either flu or terminal cancer here would you like to flip a coin?" "Well no I can't tell why your blood pressure has been fatally high for two days, I can however tell you the likelihood of your child being born with green eyes though." "What do you mean your cells are dying agai- actually Gabe yeah that's something I may be able to solve sure take a seat."

#the trope of an all in one scientist is boring and tired #i want Moira to take one look at her PhD in genetics and give the most tired suffering sigh #when the sixth person walks into her lab asking for advice on some symptoms #This is why I liked having Angela around #-Moira every day probably #overwatch

[sage-thephdstudent]

I’ve just enrolled in an undergrad class at my university in data science / coding. It is the first time I’ve done any kind coding. It’s also been almost four years since I was in undergrad myself, so I’m pretty nervous for the exam.

Does anyone have any study tips, particularly for data science / coding, which they would be willing to share? This topic is so different from anything I’ve ever done before I’m feeling pretty out of my depth.

#gradblr #phd #student #student life #studyblr #school #study tips #advice #coding #data science #programming #how to study

[harbingersecho]

some short felix stuff. also price is there for a second

#red vs blue #rvb #aiden price #price #felix #*24 #mine #video #i dont think these are as good as the other one but i REALLY like the felix's eye shift thing i did so. im posting it #i dont get to draw price like ever. which is a shame cuz i love that guy. even if he was a manipulative pos ''counsellor'' who ruined live #so was hannibal!! at least price doesnt eat ppl you know. he just lets them be taken over by an ai and abuses his position to test his #''patients''. free my mans! also im putting quotes on all that bc (i think ive said this before) its a genuine fucking miracle if he has a #license. like post-pfl it def got revoked but UNSC's vetting process or the state of the intragalactic psych licensing sucks ass. idk which #it is! or if its a third options where price just didnt have a license/it got revoked way before pfl and there's just a small disclaimer of #''this is not medical advice im not a licensed professional'' hidden in his resume that no one ever read theyre just. yeah hes got a phd! #idk enough abt halo lore to know which one it is but considering the spartan program i wouldnt be surprised if their ethics board is just a #money-laundering front or smth. if they even HAVE one. ok im rambling i'll stop

[hotvampireadjacent]

I’m asking leddit since they’re good for advice like this but I’ll post it here bc there’s more trans people who might know here. Copy and pasting what I posted:

Hello, I’m going to be applying to law school in the future but I’ve had a name change since my undergrad degree. My question is how should I present my degree? Do I contact the university I graduated from’s office and ask for an updated one? Is that a thing I can do? Anyone who has applied to something similar like a masters or phd program have advice? It’s a first name change and not a last name.

#name change advice #college admissions #PhD admissions #I know it’s not a PhD program but like both require undergrad info

[dancingwiththefae]

Yes world building yes tropes but what do you want to say? What is the story you want to tell? What do you have to tell us that only you can?

#ramblings #writing #writing advice from your tired literary nerd who is back in their ‘considering their PhD’ phase #it’s 7am these things happen #on writing #writers on tumblr

[thephdpensieve]

5/100 days of productivity • 29-Oct-23, Sunday

About today

Still could not get out of my PhD slump. Been feeling guilty all day. So if you have any hacks, please feel free to share <3

Went to lab and sat at desk for sometime, snacking on some mishti doi, a traditional Bengali dish that's sweetened cooked yogurt. (I live on campus, so going to lab is like taking a break from my room. Applies vice versa too)

Rested well, took an afternoon nap and feeling better with my cramps all gone

Cooked dinner - made chapati and paneer gravy

Exploring the first week of this #100daysOfProductvity thing, I am wondering if I should set Sundays to be strictly rest & recreation only. For, we all need time to wind down. But with my PhD schedule, I am not making such decisions right now. Once I get into the rhythm, I can take days off fully. Till then we are going with #NoZeroDays on Sundays too.

So how was your weekend, people?

#send me advice to get over this slump #study slump #dark academia #chaotic academia #gradblr #gradschool aesthetic #phdblr #phd aesthetic #grad school motivation #phdjourney #phd life #physics phd #mental health #phd struggles

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

With the world going in the direction it is, do you, personally, think it's worth it for a US American to go into a PhD program for (integrative) biology?

I mean, look, I honestly do. When you receive a thorough, good education in science, accurate science that shows the complexity of the world for what it is, it allows you to understand the world better. And the more good people we have thinking about this and trying to discover new information - which is what a PhD is - the more we will know, and the better we will all be for it.

Plus, the world is going to shit. What do you have to lose? Follow your dreams. I mean it. If you can, do it.

#biology #education #phd programs #school #advice

[casual-eumetazoa]

hi does anyone have ideas for ways to occupy your brain so that it doesn't blast intrusive thoughts 24/7. activities need to also be not super brain heavy and able to be done in bed if needed. for now I'm playing a lot of mobile games and watching a lot of youtube but it's getting repetitive and starting to lose the effect. thank in advance

#chronic illness #spoonie #intrusive thoughts #disabled #my current list of issues is. uh. its a lot #started with severe autism burnout #which caused EDS and dysautonomia to flare like hell #then it turned out i also have hyperthyroidism and probably need surgery #then it turned out what i always thought was just anxiety is actually OCD #and its also flaring like so bad #i had to go back on the meds i was on when i was 18 which are first gen antipsychotics #just to be able to eat and drink without the intrusive thoughts telling me it will kill me #now I'm on two psychiatric medications at once and its still kinda hard to do anything #half the days im stuck in bed because of dysautonomia/postural hypotension #i can't concentrate on shit because of the thyroid and burnout #so even reading and writing are super hard #but i need to constantly be doing something or the thoughts get overwhelming #so like. any advice is appreciated #its also quite likely i will lose the spot in the PhD program because of this #because there is no system for medical leave for us #so me and partner will lose our only source of income #but for now they're still paying me even though i havent showed up for a whole month #so that's a problem for another day #oh i also need a wisdom tooth removed ...... #feels like my life has been repeatedly hit with a hammer

[rollercoasterwords]

hihi i was wondering what you’re studying in grad school? i’m debating going LOL

i’m currently in a master’s program 4 a gender studies degree! my experience has been. pretty good so far but if ur located in the u.s. my honest advice is don’t go 2 grad school unless u can get it fully funded…or unless ur rich enough 2 just eat the cost of paying 4 a program in which case u can probably do whatever u want lol

#can only speak 2 the higher ed system in the u.s. but #master’s programs in particular r harder 2 find funding for #& most people in them r getting a degree 4 a specific career or planning 2 continue working in academia #phd programs here r funded but harder 2 get into bc of it & a bigger commitment & also still underpaid so #anyway. only reason i was able 2 do this master’s degree was bc one of the schools i applied 2 gave me tuition remission + a stipend #i would NOT recommend going into debt 4 a master’s degree. generally speaking… #also don’t generally recommend going into grad school straight from undergrad…obv every person’s situation is different etc #but my general advice would be go 2 grad school if u have a specific career path in mind not just if u aren’t sure what else 2 do etc #like lbr the university is not a sacred bastion of learning lol it’s a job like any other & comes w its own forms of exploitation #esp if ur a grad student…one thing a university will NEVER do is pay u well!!!

[rotzaprachim]

The rebelcaptain kid fic premise that might interest me most is. What if Lyra Erso’s ambiguous force sensitivity skipped a generation?

#Rebelcaptain #look for all the SECRET TOOL THAT COULD HELP US LATER vibes in the plot #A kiddo and their ability to summon the force ghost to summon abuela #Who gives lots of useful advice like read widely travel extensively and never ever ever hook up with #Or have a baby with an unwashed PhD student who keeps a massive SECRET NONSUSPICIOUS WORK FILES document on his laptop ever

[imaginariumgeographica]

Im very sick with mystery disease but i also have 250 book reports still to grade and i need to do those but i also feel like absolute shit so its do i work on them because idk when im gonna get better and they need to be done or do i not and rest and hope i feel better soon

#genuinely actively resenting this prof for making me grade 300 book reports over december as if I didn't have 1 billion other things to do #and i cant ask anyone for advice because its the holiday! hell #i can only grade like 30 per day and ive done 60 so i have like. 8 more days of grading if i can do my 30 per day idk. everything is awful #like i cant drop out of my phd over this but i ddfinigely want to. i should take another ativan but i feel guilty whenever i have to take i #more than once in a week. hell brain. awful

[crazy-fruit]

So close to snap at my flatmate for her complaining about her "PhD struggles" right now.

By today she has one PhD position for sure (she doesn't really want it), was asked to apply for two other ones (one which she really wants and has good chances of getting) and could apply for a fourth one which she'd get as well.

#jojo rambles #like girl you chose this path yourself #and I get that one of these is your dream but maybe just once ask how I'm doing #I have stopped talking about anything personally to her weeks ago #cuz it always ended up with her talking only about her problems #which sometimes are a bit ridicilous...like her weekly meetings with her supervisors #i had around 7 meetings with my supervisor in total and only one with both of them #and friends of mine barely get a reply to their emails #she hasn't even commented on me finishing my thesis #I have not yet told her of my new job because of that #nor that my father is in hospital #gaaaah its so annoying #and she does not see how much support she gets #her one supervisor basically created a PhD position for her #she can always ask her father for academic advice cuz he is not only a professor but also a vice dean