What do you wish you had known when you started your PhD?That’s the question Nature recently asked PhD candidates and supervisors worldwide. The result: 27 honest, relatable and sometimes painful lessons. They confirm something I’ve seen for years: being smart or working hard isn’t enough. What matters is your process.…
“Say, you have taken that ethics course at the graduate school, right? Otherwise you can’t get your PhD,” says your colleague. Your neighbor approaches it differently: “I really admire you for being so smart, all that reading, all that studying. I could never do that. Your parents must be so…
On March 21st, Promovendi Netwerk Nederland presented their report Four Years of Contract, Five+ Years of Work: Factors Hindering and Supporting a Timely PhD Completion at a symposium. It was a sharp and well-substantiated presentation, followed by a lively panel discussion moderated by Joeri Tijdink. The panel members were Marie-José…
Some time ago, I conducted a workshop for the PhD candidates at Amsterdam Movement Sciences. The workshop was titled ‘Taking the Helm: Strategic Leadership and Feedback Tactics for PhD Students’. Take Charge of Your PhD Journey We discussed how to take charge of your PhD journey, emphasising that the…
It’s such an itch-inducing word: networking. Immediately, I’m reminded of networking events where you don’t know anyone and have to pretend you’re having a good time, and of forced introductory rounds with games. Yuck… Maybe I’m projecting my own discomfort onto you, but I know few people who say, ‘Great,…
I’m not really into New Year’s resolutions because they don’t tend to work. I’m more about learning from the past and applying that knowledge to the present. Or focusing on how you want to feel first, and then setting your goals accordingly. And I can certainly attest that there’s a…
