how to be a successful PhD student?
Yuliar Firdaus
Sunday, 17 May 2009 19:35 UTC
Hi all, I am a new grad student, wonder how you guys manage the first 6 months in the lab. This is something new for me, and kind of surprise because my Prof IMO is too relaxed even never ask about the progress of my works. One of my colleague told me even when I sleep for 2 years he wouldn’t care. please your suggestions.
-
Replies
Jump to resultsResults
-
Never do anything.. what your boss don’t like..
-
A newbie in research generally feels lost in the early days of doctoral life. Things take time to shape and you expect the mentor to guide you in this regard. Do not expect too much from your guide/mentor to be bothered for you since for him, you are just any other new kid on the block. There is no mantra to be a successful PhD student, bur do make a good professional rapport with your peers and the mentor. Work towards your own project rather than looking at your peers’ work. I have experienced that many PhD students look upon their peers and wonder,“Gosh! he is about to complete the lab work, when will i reach that phase?”… mourn, cry, crib…..blah, blah. Concentrate only on your work is the key:)
Agreeing to whatever your guide suggests comes across as a master-slave relationship. As a doctoral scholar/student you have to take stand, at certain phase of your research (generally mid phase) or else you will be frustrated no end. You must have respect towards the mentor, but have your individual opinions on certain project aspects and put forth your propositions with great tact. This is an art one can master with time:)
Wish you luck -
I’ve recently searched the web for ‘successful phd students’, and found a page called “the seven secrets of highly successful PhD students”, which I think will be useful for all PhD students like you and me.
I’ve put the content in my blog.
Hope this helps :-)
-
Good link Sara. I hope members post such links since I am too lazy to google around :)
But user discretion for reading such articles. -
Actually, there’s a short article in Nature about this topic.
Here is the link
-
Recently, I read an article which made me realize that you can actually build a model for success in PhD which is innovative and enthralling.
-
Hi everybody!
From my experience I have learned not to work based on what my supervisor ask me for or expect from me, rather work for what the project requires.
Many times (like in my case) your supervisor will have many many students and therefore he will have no time to pay attention (or remember) every single step of your project, therefore you have to become your own boss and take charge.
I think that you cannot expect feedback most of the time to keep your motivation… the phd is a long process and many times you will feel unsure about your decisions… so keep in contact with your supervisor let him know what you are doing but do make decisions.
I have to add that from my experience as a foreign student, I have learned that your expectations my change according to your culture as well as what its expected from you according to their culture, so keep an open mind about it cause it will be in your hands (your supervisor will be less aware of this fact, and if he is he will be less likely to change his behavior).
btw… Great link Sara!
-
Hi,
good links by sara and joshi. Many times the supervisor may not be able to help the student in the subject since the topic may be sometimes new, but he can lead through the right track from experience, only if the student can aquire the knowledge base required for the project within the short period of time. -
Hi everybody, I have just checked this posting and already a lot replies. Wow Thanks guys.
I agree with Carol, in my situation I need to make my own decisions, perhaps at this early time I can only depend to my colleagues to help me with the training. After that would have to work independently. Also thanks for the link from Payal and Sara. I’m going to read it now, :-).. -
There also is a good Guide for PhDs on the Nature article (http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2006/060511/full/nj7090-252b.html)
PhD are not always easy… well research is not always easy… more downs than ups I find… but in the end it is all worth it!
Results
-
