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Should I stay or should I go? |
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Gut check time: should you stay in academia, on the bench or even quit science? Do you have a nagging feeling that academic research might not be the place for you? Listening to your intuition and trying your hand at new things could place you in your dream career. Link (Nature Jobs, 12/2006) |
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Mastering Your PhD: Science Papers that Shine |
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It's a big day when you have enough results to publish a paper. Not only is it great to see your name in print, but a published paper is also tangible evidence of your hard work and an important step in your career. But first you have to sit down and write the thing. Link (Science Careers, 04/2007) |
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Mastering Your Ph.D.: Opportunities for Ph.D.s in Corporate Research |
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As you worked toward your Ph.D., it might have crossed your mind that your research activities seem to be of little short-term value and mostly curiosity driven. Join the club. Relatively few academic scientists see an immediate or short-term payoff to their work. Link (Science Careers, 09/2008) |
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Mastering Your Ph.D.: Setting Goals for Success |
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Everyone has bad days in the lab. If you've been having a string of bad days (or weeks), however, it may be time to step back and assess the situation. Does it seem like the days just slip away and you have little to show for your efforts? Link (Science Careers, 12/2006) |
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Mastering Your Ph.D.: Dealing With Difficult Colleagues |
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In an ideal world, your lab would contain only bright, capable people working harmoniously together in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. If this describes your lab, count yourself lucky, because most scientists work in close quarters with at least one person who tries your patience or is difficult to get along with. Link (Science Careers, 01/2008) |
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MentorDoctor: Is There an M.D./Ph.D. in My Future? |
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I am currently an undergrad at Howard University, and my long-term career goal is to do research as well as clinical work. At first I thought I could do that by just getting an M.D., but I've heard it's more advantageous to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. Link (Science Careers, 08/2006) |
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Hidden Talents, Hungry Markets: Ph.D.s Have Many Skills to Offer Industry |
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Wondering whether you've got what it takes to find work in the real world? You may be better prepared than you realize. Young scientists develop skills during their postgraduate education that employers outside academia value. The trouble is, these newly minted Ph.D.s don't always realise it. Link (Science Careers, 06/2008) |
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Focus On Europe: Research by the Numbers? |
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In 2002, the European Union (EU) set a goal, referred to as the Lisbon strategy, that member states should be spending 3 percent of their gross domestic product on research and development by the year 2010. At present only a few countries are at that level, such as Sweden (3.9 percent) and Finland (3.5 percent). Powerhouses such as Germany (2.5 percent), France (2.1 percent), and the UK (1.7 percent) strongly support R&D, like the US (2.6 percent); Spain (1.1 percent) and Italy (1.1 percent) have some catching up to do. Link (Science Careers, 07/2008) |
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Will new data suggest ways for PhD students to shorten their time to degree? |
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Having trouble finishing graduate school? You're not alone. Many students, especially in the United States, drag out their postgraduate education for up to ten years. Arguably, these extended stays waste not only the time and energy of students, but also the resources of universities and funding bodies. Link (Nature Jobs, 07/2007) |
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Mastering Your Ph.D.: Better Communication With Your Supervisor |
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Is poor communication with your supervisor getting in the way of your progress in the lab? Perhaps you’ve reached an impasse in your research and can’t see a way through. Or maybe it seems that--from your supervisor’s point of view--nothing you do is good enough. Link (Science Careers, 06/2008) |
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Internships Offer Ph.D.s Early Leap Into Job Market |
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Work placements can offer Ph.D. students some experience applying their skills in the real world and give them extra credibility and insight when they go on the job market. Link (Science Careers, 12/2007) |
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Mastering Your Ph.D.: Writing Your Doctoral Thesis With Style |
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Writing a thesis is easier said than done, of course, and you have plenty of work ahead. But like any big undertaking, writing a thesis is easier if you break it down into smaller steps. Link (Science Careers, 12/2007) |
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A Doctor of Philosophy degree, abbreviated Ph.D., is the highest academic degree anyone can earn. Because earning a Ph.D. requires extended study and intense intellectual effort, less than one percent of the population attains the degree. Society shows respect for a person who holds a Ph.D. by addressing them with the title ``Doctor''. To earn a Ph.D., one must accomplish two things. First, one must master a specific subject completely. Second, one must extend the body of knowledge about that subject. Link (D.E. Comer, Purdue) |
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It's a dangerous thing, asking a third-year Ph.D. student about their research experiences. Pressurised, disillusioned, and bitter, don't expect an enthusiastic response! Still, who better to give an honest, warts 'n' all account? And if you are thinking about doing a Ph.D., or you're going round the country looking for the right project, the best thing you can do is to talk to the students in the lab. Link (Science Careers, 01/2000) |
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Undergraduates Ask: Should I Do a Ph.D.? |
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Deciding whether to do a Ph.D. is tough: It's a huge investment of time and effort. Spending some time investigating your interests before starting a Ph.D. will improve the likelihood that you pick a project that keeps your interest over several years. Link (Science Careers, 09/2007) |
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