Are Ph.D. candidates students or employees? The answer is a little fuzzy, which makes it difficult to find a work-life balance while pursuing your Ph.D. Here are some thoughts on how we can take back some control.
Ph.D.
Writing Tips from an Aspiring First Author
Posted by | A Day in the LifeIt is exciting to take on writing projects, but sometimes they languish, half-finished, until the mad rush right before the deadline. Graduate student Veronica Busa shares five tips to promote ongoing progress towards a writing goal.
Do’s and Don’ts for Preparing for Your Thesis Committee Meeting: Part 2
Posted by | A Day in the LifeFrom planning the date to structuring your presentation, these tips from current and former Ph.D. students can guide you through the process and help you prepare for a productive meeting that will set you up for a successful year. This post is part two of two, focusing on how to execute a successful meeting presentation. […]
Do’s and Don’ts for Preparing for Your Thesis Committee Meeting
Posted by | A Day in the LifeEvery year, after passing the dreaded preliminary oral exam, Ph.D. students are required to meet with their thesis advisory committee (TAC) to assess their progress and plan future work. These meetings can be incredibly valuable, and they provide important check-ins during the sometimes chaotic day-to-day lab work. While preparing for my last TAC meeting, I […]
Why Do Students Pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience?
Posted by | A Day in the LifeAs a fourth-year neuroscience Ph.D. student, I appreciate the variety of topics that lie within the umbrella of the nervous system. Nowhere is this more evident than in the diverse backgrounds and passions of my fellow students. To provide a glimpse into the vibrant world of neuroscience research, and to provide insight to others considering […]
Graduate School Interviews: It’s All About ‘Fit’
Posted by | A Day in the LifeThe holiday season in Baltimore sees a flurry of activity on campus as graduate programs prepare to welcome prospective students for interviews in early 2016. Interviewees have not yet been accepted into a graduate program, but they have been selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, and as many as half will ultimately be […]
Getting a Ph.D.? Consider “Alternative” Careers
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchIt’s fair to say that the majority of us who come to graduate school have a similar career goal in mind: a faculty position. The Ph.D. is viewed as the gateway to academia and deciding to venture away from that is taboo. We go as far as to call nonacademic jobs “alternative,” which carries a […]