Tips to Succeed in Your PhD

-How to survive throughout the journey

What is a PhD?
The acronym PhD comes from the Latin
Philosophiae Doctor (or Doctor of
Philosophy), as its original Greek
meaning of love of wisdom or the
pursuit of in-depth knowledge.
In itself, a PhD is just a title: an advanced
academic degree awarded by a university
for original contributions to knowledge.

 The culmination of the PhD consists in the

submission of a written thesis describing a suitable
body of original academic research, which is deemed
worthy of publication in peer-reviewed journals.
The candidate is then expected to defend his /her
work before a panel of experts in a process known as
the Viva (Latin from Viva voce, i.e. with live
voice).
Provided the panel is satisfied with the work carried
out and by its oral defense, the PhD title (at least, a
Dr in front of your name!) is finally and formally
awarded.

A PhD is nothing more (or less!)

than an apprenticeship in science: a
frustrating, triumphant, exhausting,
and ultimately Darwinian career that
will require everything you can
muster.

Qualities Required by a PhD

Candidate
A PhD is not for everyone!
Independence, self-drive,
persistence, adaptability, brightness,
commitment, motivation, reliability,
discipline, creativity, are only some
of the key traits that make for a
successful PhD student.

Sadly, excellent academic grades

alone are NOT enough as the
requirements for a good PhD student
can be very different from those of a
good undergraduate student.

Tips to Succeed in Your PhD

Study
1. Choose your project and your
supervisor wisely. Nothing can
make your life a misery as an ill
matched supervision or project.

2. If you are going to do experimental

work, be prepared for unexpected
setbacks. Despite your best efforts,
things can (and sadly will!) goes
wrong at some point or other. Just
stick with it and be patient. Also, be
open to take a different direction if
the original one proves unworkable.

 Devote your mind and soul to your

PhD. This is a unique time in your
career as a scientist to work almost
exclusively on your research project.
You will hardly ever have the same
luxury again!
(Well, unless you start another PhD,
that is).

 Be reliable. Follow through with your

words, stick to what agreed with your
supervisor, and always communicate
as early as possible if you are
prevented from fulfilling your
commitments for any reasons.

 Ban perfectionism, but be

professional!
Be scrupulous, careful and
accurate. Do not let your
supervisor lose trust in your results,
or worse, with you as a researcher.

Reward yourself for major

achievements and stop working
when you are on holiday.

 Write at every opportunity.

Be it a report, a first year summary
of your progress, a proposal to gain
access time at international facilities
for your research, a first draft of an
article, always make sure you work at
it with the highest dedication and
professionalism. Ask for feedback and
act upon it.

 When attending conferences, use

these opportunities to network and
expand your circle of influential
contacts and to increase your
knowledge base.
Ask questions and be interested
in what others are doing. Focusing on
others is the best way to make an
impression and to get others
interested in you and your work.

 Be prepared and accept that there

will be tough times. It is in the nature
of doing a PhD and everyone goes
through such times sooner or later.

Adopt a constructive attitude:

remind yourself that you are
privileged to be doing a PhD and that
soon enough you will see the end of

Finally
For as much as you can, enjoy it! It
can be the beginning of a fabulous
career.