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How to Survive your PhD

How to Survive your PhD. Jennifer Moffatt PhD student, Department of Microbiology. Plan, plan, plan. Plan, plan, plan. Try to treat you PhD as a job Have a weekly task list Stick to it! Keep in mind the big picture What is the next chapter/paper?

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How to Survive your PhD

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  1. How to Survive your PhD Jennifer Moffatt PhD student, Department of Microbiology

  2. Plan, plan, plan

  3. Plan, plan, plan • Try to treat you PhD as a job • Have a weekly task list • Stick to it! • Keep in mind the big picture • What is the next chapter/paper? • Have regular project direction meetings

  4. Keep up to date in your lab book!

  5. Keep up to date in your lab book • Write in it as you go (limit note book use) • Make sure it is up to date once a week • Analyse data as you go • Label all figures as if ready for publication

  6. Get to know the postdocs in your lab

  7. Get to know the post-docs in your lab • They are a brilliant resource • They have all survived a PhD • Source of great advice and support • Often come from different universities • Have different perspectives • Potential mentors

  8. Get to know your supervisor

  9. Get to know your supervisor • Most important relationship during your PhD • Need to be able to communicate with them • All supervisors are different • Discuss expectations (yours and theirs) • Don’t be afraid to ask for their help • But remember, they are not there to do your PhD for you!

  10. Keep things in perspective

  11. Keep Things in Perspective • PhD can be really tough (when stuff doesn’t work!) • Failed experiments are not the end of the world • Rely on your support network • Seek help! • Councilors, student reps, HDR coordinators, supervisors, etc…

  12. Maintain your social life!

  13. Don’t listen to bitter PhD students (you can do a PhD in 3.5 years)

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