Institute for Culture and Society (ICS)’s Post

🌻 The sun is high in the sky, summer has finally started, and the question spotlight is back!     Here is this month's question: Is your job related to your PhD or Post-doc research?   🌱 Go to lormina.ch, to learn more about our interviewees.

how to choose your supervisor

Far too often, I see prospective PhD students make this mistake. Going for the highest-ranking academic might not be the best move, even if it sounds logical. 😕 Sure, a solid track record of publications and grants is important, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. Here are some key things to consider when choosing a senior PhD supervisor: - Will they actually prioritise you amidst their many commitments? - Ambition: Is their drive for supervising another PhD student strong? - Compatibility: Finding a good match is more crucial than rank. - Accessibility: Make sure your supervisor is reachable. Pick your PhD supervisor wisely. Share this with a prospective PhD student to help them with the decision 👊 😎

"Our fieldwork experiences reveal the complexity of the answer to the question ‘why we are not doing research in our home countries’. Addressing this complexity necessitates genuine dialogue and reflection undertaken by both Global South and Western scholars; to create academic spaces to appreciate diverse and multi-layered insider and outsider experiences, to design epistemically just doctoral training programs without imposing singular positionalities, and to build equitable partnerships with the Global South knowledge institutions that might transcend to increasing Global South researchers studying the Global South." https://lnkd.in/dtdwv7Uw

When doing a PhD, breaking down the 4-6-year journey into smaller bits is absolutely critical, as a half decade is a pretty long psychological time period. To enable PhD candidates to do this mental simplifying, most PhD systems around the world have in-built milestone procedures to showcase one's PhD progress in serial steps. In the Australian system, it is common to see a process of three milestone presentations, each spaced about a year apart, where the PhD candidate presents how their thesis is coming along. Of these, often the one that seems most formidable to students is the very first one, about a year to 15 months into the PhD. The focus of this first milestone is to communicate what your broad research topic is and what your specific research questions are. It is also the forum where you demonstrate your personal research proficiencies - in theory and/or methods, highlighting if you have special competency in some areas. For those at that early stage of their PhD, here's a quick high-level priority list that you should be clearly communicating in that first upcoming milestone. Best of luck!

The other day, I asked my supervisor a question that had been burning within me for a long time: "What are the qualities of a PhD student?" The answer he gave me is going to stay with me forever, and I feel I must share it here to benefit many others. The qualities of a PhD student lie in the word itself: 'P' stands for Patience. A PhD student must have the patience to reach their goal. It is a long journey, and the person has to walk through it. It is not like preparing 2-minute noodles. One needs to target each step at a time. For this, patience is essential. 'H' stands for Humility. The day a PhD student feels they know everything, their progress will halt. It is essential to be open, accept feedback with humility, and work towards improvement. Only then can one truly be called a scholar. 'D' stands for Devotion. This is devotion towards the work. In other words, one must own their PhD. Only then will the PhD give the correct reward. The better the relationship you build with your work, the smoother the journey becomes for you. This gave me a new perspective on my journey. What do you feel? Feel free to add your views in the comments.

No PhD Plans? This Might Not Be for You 😌 #imagine you are from an immigrant background, navigating through a world far different from your own. Picture the challenges: language barriers, cultural differences, and the daunting task of pursuing a PhD in this unfamiliar terrain. How high do you think your chances are of completing your doctorate? 🤔 Now, consider this striking fact: Across the US & Europe, only about 50% of PhD candidates reach the finish line of their doctoral journey. The odds seem even more formidable, don't they? Unconventional Doctorates have been established to help candidates who need support. The session on Feb 3rd (09:00 GMT / 10:00 CET) focuses on Doctoral Completion Triggers. It is the first in a series of events planned throughout 2024, designed to support and guide you, whether you're considering a doctorate, are in the midst of one, or are contemplating your next steps. If you're facing barriers that seem insurmountable, let this be your turning point. Check this event to see if it's something beneficial for you 👇 https://lnkd.in/ejY26a7e

Conference: EARLI SIG 24 - Researcher Education and Careers 💡📜 The theme is fostering researcher independence: What are the educational and professional development consequences in doctoral context? 🤓 Read more and sign up 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/dDbGrJQ4

Struggling to achieve progress as a PhD student or researcher? 🤷♂️ Watch this video to learn how to master delayed gratification🥂

Accept that things will go wrong during your PhD journey, advises Emily Dowdeswell. This and other tips for doctoral students on our blog today #EmergingResearchers #EduSci https://lnkd.in/dDbAkpN