surviving the rigours and hurdles of phd
TRANSCRIPT
Surviving the rigours and hurdles of PhD
Mushafau Adebayo Oke Institute of Biological Sciences Department of MicrobiologyFaculty of Science Faculty of Life SciencesUniversity of Malaya, Malaysia. University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
NiSCUM Integrated WorkshopIPS Auditorium, University of Malaya
June 16, 2016.
by
Intense study Highest academic degree
What is PhD?
PhD
Doctorate of Philosophy
For research/academic positionsAn independent journey
A good PhD extends the boundaries of knowledge…
http://www.slideshare.net/EnricoDeAngelis/2014-11-03-abc-ph-d-program-polimi-kickoff
Typical challenges and pressuresFamily pressure
Extraneous pressuresFinancial pressure
?DISTRACTIONS
Typical challenges and pressuresInnate/personal pressures
Procrastination
Isolation/loneliness
Lack of motivation
Lack of self-confidence
Perfectionism
Pessimism Fear of failure
Avoiding risks
Typical challenges and pressuresAcademic pressures
Stress
Lack of focus/direction
Quest for novelty/originality
Pressure to publish (UM)
Lack of experience and requisite skills
Difficult supervisors
When PhD pressures are managed wrongly…
marital problems psychological problems
plagiarism
Violence and fatalities
Surviving your PhD… Essential skills
Prayer Time management
• Define your goals from the start• Identify tasks needed to accomplish them• Make short-term and long-term plans
– PhD calendar snake, Gantt chart• Identify your creative/productive time and guard it ruthlessly• To-do-list: long-term, short-term• Prioritize: Eisenhower’s method• Be flexible and realistic
Surviving your PhD… Essential skills
Information management• Categorize different aspects of your research• Create folders accordingly• Track latest relevant papers using Google alerts, Science Direct
alerts, Researchgate• Save them in appropriate folders• Use reference management software: Endnote, Mendeley, etc.• Back up your raw data: cloud storages, external HDD, hard
copy…do so regularly• Work directly from cloud
Surviving your PhD… Essential skills
Work-life balance• Achieved when neither affects the other• Dedicate time for family: calls, visit, attention• Don’t encroach on work/family time• Communicate your problems with your family• Pay attention to your health, take a break when necessary• Give room for leisure
Self-discipline• Avoid distractions, do the right thing at the right time• Punish yourself when you derail, reward yourself when you
achieve• Stay focused
Surviving your PhD… Essential skills
Manage your supervisor• Build a healthy relationship• Define your expectations for/from each other• Communicate the expectations• Understand your supervisor: study his CV, his publications, ask
his postdocs, ex-students, senior students… how to with relate him/her
• Avoid communication gap• Arrange for meetings in advance and prepare his/her mind• Be considerate• Be respectful• Study institutional regulations on supervisor-student
responsibilities.
Surviving your PhD… Essential skills
Acquire necessary skills• Attend workshops, trainings and seminars (IPS workshops)• Learn essential software related to your work: SPSS, Endnote,
Turnitin, NVivo, Matlab, etc.• Learn writing and presentation skills
Deal with financial problems early• Scholarships, sponsorship, research assistantship• Part-time jobs?
Networking Rigorous literature review
• Plan to write a review article if possible
Qualities of a good PhD student IntelligenceCreativityHard workGood expression abilityEnduranceDeterminationTenacity Honesty and Integrity
Characteristics of a good PhD topic
Must add to knowledgeNovelty, originalityShould be manageable and achievable
• time, resourcesShould interest youStudent capability
• topic that aligns with your strengths• move out of your comfort zone though
existing knowledge
Who is a good PhD supervisor?Has good grasp of your research, knowledgeable in
your fieldWell-connected in govt., industry and academiaSomeone you are comfortable working withCan give good advice and guidance on the topicMakes time for youResponds in a timely manner for submissionsGives good feedback on your writing Inspires and motivates you
Hurdles to scale at University of Malaya
Proposal defense/colloquiumConferences/seminarsLanguage course (Bahasa Melayu)2 ISI publications OR in faculty-approved journalsCandidature defense3 months noticeThesis submissionViva
Lessons from my personal PhD experience
Publish earlyResolve supervisor issues earlyDecide what will go into your thesis, sift out ‘irrelevants’Be prepared to take risksDon’t be discouraged by journal rejections, learn from
themDon’t hide your ignoranceBe realistic about your goals, acknowledge your limitsSeek help from outside when necesary
Recommended readings1. Phillips, E., & Pugh, D. (2010). How to get a PhD: A handbook
for students and their supervisors. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
2. Wallace, M., & Wray, A. (2011). Critical reading and writing for postgraduates. Sage publications.
3. Ridley, D. (2012). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students. Sage.
4. Golding, C., Sharmini, S., & Lazarovitch, A. (2014). What examiners do: what thesis students should know. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 39(5), 563-576.
5. Mullins, G., & Kiley, M. (2002). 'It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize': How experienced examiners assess research theses. Studies in Higher Education, 27(4), 369-386.
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