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new PhD advice

54 posts & 30 voices | Started 11 months ago by HansRey | Latest reply from zokes

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HansRey - Member

Hi there,

I'm starting a PhD in August and I'd love it if I could get some tips and hear any experiences from STW? Also, can you recommend any guide/self help books?

The PhD is with a UK university and in conjunction with VTT in Finland, where I'll spend most of the 4 years.

I've been told to make all my mistakes and learning in the 1st year, and then aim to perform all lab work in 2nd and 3rd year, and write in the fourth (in theory!). Whether it happens like that, I'm not sure but it's certainly an idealised timescale.

I've also been told to...
-improve my data organisation (have since started using Mendeley to store papers)
-learn CAD (started learning to use Autodesk Inventor)
-become more business orientated and aware (IoMMM membership, Mat.World subscription, will be attending conferences)

How can I also improve on the 3 above areas?

Cheers,
HR

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

Notebooks - buy a load of them. Some big A4 ones for bulk of the work and meetings and some little A5 ones for small work packages.

You should also date every page, photocopy regularly and get some to co-sign them - apparently!

Literature - use a decent database which will do your referencing later on. File your papers well - I prefer by their topic of interest. If a paper fits in 2 categories then either double it up or leave a note pointing to another folder. That way one copy will have all comments on which may be helpful. Oh and I always print so I can write on papers. If you have a tablet then you can write on the screen - much better!

Buy a copy of "how to get a PhD"

Do not get a stack of papers with a note on saying "to read".

Read them, comment, make notes in your notebook for that work topic and then file. Set up email searches with science direct and keep on top of them. Allocate yourself set time every week for literature.

Literature review is vital - but you won't realise how vital until the end. And you won't really know how best to write it until the end. But persevere.

Lab work always goes wrong. Things always take longer. DIY whatever you can - adapt stuff etc etc. Do not rely on other people.

Organisation and planning - boring but VITAL. Set up small work packages - do not plan one large chunk as it might get held up or changed leaving you buggered. Small work packages with an A5 notebook with relevant literature notes at the front and then your thoughts, calcs, results etc for that package as you go. That way that work is all in that little book with no interruptions.

smartphone - check your emails on the walk in. Save time. Regularly turn off email to get stuff done.

Work towards conferences and papers - do not do a load of work and then not have tome to write a paper on it. Again work with your little work packages. Very soon you will have enough for a PhD and its all organised for you to write up.

What is your PhD in?

Posted 11 months ago #
tracknicko - Member

endnote.

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

oh and ditch Word.

I never did. Wish I had.

oh and I used Endnote - apparently there is better one that work with better word procesing packages. Some people used Laytex or something.

Posted 11 months ago #
HansRey - Member

modelling-assisted wear and impact evaluation. I reckon it will focus on hybrid surface treatments.

thanks for the tips so far, especially to andyl. I've been looking at LaTeX... what do you think of this?

Posted 11 months ago #
Kit - Member

Congrats HansRey! I'm waiting to be told whether I've been successful in my PhD application. Had the interview yesterday and waiting to hear back!

edit: ~~What's the PhD title?~~

P.S. I got told at my interview that (in the Prof's opinion), a PhD is the hardest thing you can do (study/job wise I assume he meant )

Posted 11 months ago #
coffeeking - Member

Ditch word for latex if possible but lots of supervisors still hate it.

Not too many things to suggest that haven't already been but I'll double up on the notebooks and literature review!

Posted 11 months ago #
magowen100 - Member

Endnote is a winner - you can store all your references by number so no faffing with alphabetical filing.
I'd agree with yearly play of things you listed but the one thing I've seen time and time again is the 2nd year burnout. Students work like stink in the first year (but it normally comes to nothing) and then get annoyed with supervisors etc etc in the second year and then panic in the third. If you can take it steady and write while you go it'll hold you in good stead.
Good luck it's an amazing thing to do.

Posted 11 months ago #
tracknicko - Member

try not to rely on remote applications running from a server that's shared by 3 universities and requires all sorts of strange text based programming that is common to no other application on earth... to the extent that the jobs you submit dissapear into some kind of meta-world, never to be seen again.

this may explain why i have been more forum active today!

Posted 11 months ago #
bristolbiker - Member

Actually talk to your supervisor/other members of your research group regularly about what you're doing/what it means/what to do next - basically don't disappear up your own ar$e on some dead-end avenue for months at time and regret the wasted time for the lack of a 5 min chat over a coffee.

Posted 11 months ago #
brakeswithface - Member

LaTeX +1.

Use your first year to gain some skills (including writing in LaTeX!). Learn a new programming language if relevant (find out what is status quo in your field), brush up on your maths if needed. Don't forget it's as much about acquiring a skill set as getting the title, and you will never have such a rich opportunity to acquire random talents.

I'll stick my neck out and say if you're working in science then learning to use a Linux system is a solid step to take, though I guess some will disagree. You will find post doc positions in many fields that demand linux experience though.

Mind mapping software can be good for getting your ideas together.

Accept that some supervisors are crap, and need managing - try to find out early on (from their other PhDs) if yours is one of them.

Read PhD comics. here

Posted 11 months ago #
tracknicko - Member

as above actually. remember to leave your office/place of work and ask around.

i often acheive more in 5 min bursts by talking to people than in weeks sat on my own trying to reinvent stuff.

Posted 11 months ago #
brakeswithface - Member

Oh, and don't be too proud to ask for help from other PhDs, staff, technicians etc, ask early and ask often. Many PhDs spend weeks working out how to do something that a 3rd-4th year could have explained in 5 mins!

Posted 11 months ago #
TheBrick - Member

For any mathematics based subject latex wins. Word documents look like a school report in comparison. There is a learning curve to using it but it's well worth it.

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

tht is quite linked in to what I did/do.

what kind of impacts/materials/surface treatments?

Posted 11 months ago #
geoffj - Member

Mendeley is the new Endnote
Don't plan to do 4 years. Plan to write up in the second half of year 3.
Digital notebooks with online backup like evernote are where it's at now - buy an ipad
Learn to manage your supervisor early on.
Dont take a job before you have finished
Good luck

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

oh and a stack of 10-12 sheets of A3 paper on your desk infront of you as your work surface in landscape format. Useful for scribbles and jotting stuff down - but remember to transfer stuff into your note book before you throw each sheet away (or file them).

Careers events - go for the free pens. Always useful.

Lined spiral bound A5 notebook - use it for daily/weekly to do lists - even "pay gas bill" and when you need a scrap of paper. Always carry it around with you. Again you can use it to jot stuff down when you don't have your proper notebook with you and you can rip pages out to leave notes on equipment etc. Do not rip pages out of your proper note books and used fixed bound ones. Maybe a tablet or smart phone can replace that but nothing provides the freedom of a pen and paper.

(as you can see I like to draw/sketch/write ideas down - they are what your phd is made of)

Posted 11 months ago #
CharlieMungus - Member

And remember, It's only a Ph.D. you don't need to change the world

Posted 11 months ago #
coffeeking - Member

And remember, It's only a Ph.D. you don't need to change the world

But if you don't you're a failure.

Posted 11 months ago #
chewkw - Member

Good supervisor(s) or learn to manage them/him/her.

Posted 11 months ago #
atparry - Member

Learn how to manage your supervisor!

Some can be absolute tyrants!

Posted 11 months ago #
brakeswithface - Member

Better a supervisor that is a tyrant, than one that doesn't give a @*%#!

Posted 11 months ago #
chewkw - Member

atparry - Member

Some can be absolute tyrants!

Or they love themselves too much.

brakeswithface - Member

Better a supervisor that is a tyrant, than one that doesn't give a @*%#!

Tyrant usually gives, as my Yankee mate said, jackshite as s/he is up their own arse so much so that s/he just wants to have a phd student to boost his/her career profile.

Posted 11 months ago #
HansRey - Member

this is great, keep them coming. Good luck Kit, i hope you get the place.

The project title is still to be finalised, however I reckon we'll start to evaluate how grain shape(s) affect impact, erosive wear and adhesive wear behaviour of thermally sprayed WC-Co and it's derivatives. It's reasonably researched, but it fits into VTT research and modelling work where they need models validating, and allows me to get trained up on the equipment quickly.

Posted 11 months ago #
Graham_Clark - Member

Don't forget to enjoy it.... you have chosen to spend a large chunk of your life doing this work....

That being said my viva was the scariest thig I have ever done!!!!

Posted 11 months ago #
chewkw - Member

HansRey - Member

The project title is still to be finalised, however I reckon we'll start to evaluate how grain shape(s) affect impact, erosive wear and adhesive wear behaviour of thermally sprayed WC-Co and it's derivatives. It's reasonably researched, but it fits into VTT research and modelling work where they need models validating, and allows me to get trained up on the equipment quickly.

You passed as your PhD is related to engineering/science but if you are in the social sciences then you might have a nightmare. i.e. too many egos in Social Sciences ...

Posted 11 months ago #
chewkw - Member

Graham_Clark - Member
That being said my viva was the scariest thig I have ever done!!!!

Eh!? Viva is the easiest! It's easiest because you have written the stuff yourself ... unless someone asks you to do a research not of your interest and in that case you are in deep shite.

It is putting the work together to make sense of them that drives people nuts or the hardest. Your view of a perfect might be someone's half baked.

Posted 11 months ago #
coffeeking - Member

Viva was scary at first but nothing more than a discussion in reality, so not worth getting scared about in the end. It's the years of self discipline, methodical work, keeping on top of the latest developments, going and presenting and writing and being challenged by leaders in the field that are the difficult bits.

Posted 11 months ago #
CharlieMungus - Member

VTT wouldn't happen to be Velo-Tout-Terrain would it?

Posted 11 months ago #
chewkw - Member

Viva is ego boosting ... when the external starts to talk about him/herself instead.

Posted 11 months ago #
HansRey - Member

CharlieMungus, i wish it was... a phd of biking in france. Lovely thought. It's this here...

Posted 11 months ago #
ourmaninthenorth - Member

I've been told to make all my mistakes and learning in the 1st year, and then aim to perform all lab work in 2nd and 3rd year, and write in the fourth (in theory!).

The reason to avoid this is that your money will finish at the end of year 3, and so you find yourself self-financing in year 4. This is exactly what happened to Dr North, though I'm the one who financed her..!

In many ways I'd love to do one, but the self-discipline described above is what I lack and, as an observer, it's the most important thing along with a sheer determination to finish the damned thing.

Posted 11 months ago #
HansRey - Member

finance isn't an issue. It's a 4 year contract. I have to finish in 4yrs because of the awarding Uni stipulation, otherwise it's reasonably relaxed. So, learning to use Linux... What for exactly?

Posted 11 months ago #
DaveRambo - Member

Congrats on doing one - best thing I ever did.
a few random thoughts that stick in my mind...

+1 for notepads - buy a few very nice ones (and some really nice pens) and use them - write all your thoughts down - don't rely on a laptop etc as you will lose/trash it and you won't back it up properly.

The hardest part is writing the thesis. Especially the background stuff you do in the first year/18mnths. The exciting stuff you do later is easy to write up so try and document the background stuff as you go - try and get some papers published as it gets you into the habit of writing properly.

Don't get carried away with the ego side of doing one as you are essentially now at the bottom rung of a different ladder and it isn't easy. As mentioned, the most important part is sharing ideas with other research students - Looking back I think a degree teaches you how to learn stuff semi-independently, where a PhD teaches you to think/be creative on your own. It's nothing like doing a degree and by the end you should be the world expert in your niche. You should be directing what you do in the last year as you should know more than your supervisor.

3/4 years is a hell of a long time to spend on one niche area (with associated reading on related and non/related topics) so accept that you will get fed up at times. I recall a couple of weeks where I didn't leave the pub most days - I also spend many weeks working until 3am when things were going well - it's not a job it becomes your life.

Makes me want to do another one now

Posted 11 months ago #
Pippin - Member

lit review - fundamental - don't go reinventing the wheel, use whatever software you like for citations and paper storage...

Objectives - no doubt you will be handed some - use to define the scope of project

Project Manage - you can only do so much - try and build a project plan, try to stick to or exceed it. If things are changing (they will) be realistic and replan.

Objectives 2 - as everythiing has now gone sideways and you can now prove you can't meet objectives, work out new objectives and timescale

Reading - Keep on top of reading, sign up to citation alerts, feed in all useful stuff to citation software and UPDATE YOUR LIT REVIEWS. No point submitting with somethiing 2 years out of date

Supervisor - yup, learn how to drive early on, communicate as much as possible, assess the risk of them wandering off halfway through (seen this alot)

Experiments - you're lucky, you should be ablre to break experiments into chapters/papers - makes life easier and is easier to project manage

Writing - always, always, always write up anything (even the more scribbly notes) as if you are going to include in a paper - chapter intro, lit, methods, results etc. Saves so much time, you can just cut and paste...

writing 2 - structure and justification - major things for examiners (they are not mind readers) and helps for you to spot flaws/weak areas

Data - get on top of it - analyse asap - see where you are going, what is working, you don't want to get a huge lump of work done only to find out it is irrelevent.

Stats and maths - major things in examination - examiners love pickiing holes in setup and analysis.

Software - identify the analysis packages yo will need and get happy with them

network - don't reinvent the wheel again

Treat it like a job - work regular hours, get in your 40 hours minimum a week. self discippline. Aim to finish within the period you are paid for or very soon after. Write-up almost certainly will get hellish though

Enjoy the Finnish girls

Posted 11 months ago #