I'm well into my PhD in my 70s, and loving every minute of it because I am doing it purely for love of knowledge and research. It is incredibly liberating.
I feel the same about doing a joint PhD in psychology and quantum physics! I've always been fascinated about these 2 subjects and I actually found scientists who bridged them both, to come up with the "quantum model of bending reality"
Enjoy! I just got my PhD at 64. I really enjoyed the learning, however the process... not so much. Part of that was because I had no guidance whatsoever, an absentee advisor and as an elder, no real peer group. Additionally, it was an "interdisciplinary" program so there was no "department" either. But what drove me was the goal. And I did it. Glad you're having a good experience.
Probably that is one in a billion..cause people in that power position tend to be cruel,egotistic and unhelpful..all the contrary your supervisor is often the source of your stress and not really the system..that at the only only cares about the fees being paid...
Totally agreed. Like Laura mentioned, i thought my supervisor was the second person that knew the best and interested in the topic besides me. I was totally wrong. All he said was 'You need to figure it out.' 'This is your problem.' when I approached him for some support. And during the thesis reviewing process, most of his comments were wrong...gosh...
@@朱晓晶 so they r too wrong and seriously the phd is soo dat much difficult i mean how u overcome that stress publishing paper researching on topics and many more pllzzzz reply
I have recently finished my PhD. I was able to feel the stress in Laura’s voice. And it all reminds me of my own journey. If you are doing a PhD or you are planning to do one, you might appreciate these free information. Above all, doing a PhD means being focused, it mean being alone, but being alone is different from being lonely! You should sacrifice. If you are an extrovert, never make your home your office. I did most of my PhD at apartment cafè and starbucks. No need to say it is not easy, according to my grandpa if it was easy everyone was able to do it.Remember, people care about, you just need to find them which signfies the imortance of quality social resources. Ask for help when you needed it. And never ever give up, you came all this way, it is too late to give it up! All the best..
Mohammad Mohammadipour All my life, i dreamt about having a PhD, now when i came to the critical point of applying and preparing the entry exam (in Algeria we have an exam to do to be selected), I'm frustrated and I lost all my motivation to revise. But your comment gave me some confidence and courage, thank you very much.
I have few things to say- 1. Planning is everything 2. Thinking 10 steps ahead 3. Think how you'll execute the journey 4. Be ready for failure 5. Have a good company 6. Try motivating yourself and others 7. Develop affection towards your topic 8. Understand it's a battle which is to be fought alone 9. Don't expect too much from Dear Supervisor 10. Have a hobby (aquarium, gardening) 11. Chisel the mountain, bit by bit 12. Develop network, talk to others about the topic 13. Join some sports or jog a little Getting late stipend will trigger your insecurities, stress, anger, everything.... But stay calm and keep going
Good ones are not many. We invite many people to aspire to these offices.......... what happens, I have seen PHD holders completely confused after graduation......... it is like those challenges stick to their system...... strange
Now I’m in my sixth year of PhD . My ex- advisor was horrible and she left me in my fourth year since she had to move out of the university. Everyone left the lab and I was the single student who tolerated her to the max. Then my current advisor adopted me and I’m happy in my current lab and hoping to graduate next year. A good advisor is more important than a good project.
Timestamps 1. I am stuck - 2:22 It takes time to learn and understand 2:53 2. There is more out there 3:40 It is important to leave things out - 4:12 3. Motivation - 5:08 Importance of Small Achievements - 6:22 Progress need not be only on your thesis - 7:13 4. I forgot what I did - 7:57 Make a research diary - 8:20 Keep Track of Variables - 9:57 Never save changes on original data set - 10:30 5, Is what you're doing relevant? - 11:17 Read the primary source - 12:09 Read Recent journals - 12:45 6. Loneliness - 13:03 Connect with colleagues - 13:36 Talk to supervisor - 13:55 Find a new hobby - 14:23 Connect to family and friends 14:36 7. What is the right way of doing PhD - 15:24
The single most important piece of advice, for me, would be the importance of choosing the right PhD supervisor. It matters more than even your choice of topic. The PhD is an apprenticeship in research and you are going to be this person’s apprentice for a number of years. You need to admire and trust this person for their academic competence but it must also be someone with whom you get along well, and who can bring out your best talents. I always tell my students that finding the right supervisor is one of the most important decisions for the success of their PhD and for their happiness while doing it. In Japanese martial arts we say you should invest at least 3 years to find your sensei and there are some parallels between the two...
The Stress is real, lack of motivation is real, feeling of stucked in is real. First you feel synopsis is most difficult, then the research is difficult and then the writing is hard. Every level is hardest. But once you are out of it you are a whole different personality. After being through the process of PhD, you are more calm, have more endurance, you no longer stress over minor things in your daily life.
Mam, I am really stuck whether to go for a PhD or not. I am 24 yrs JRF holder. Evn there's no surity regarding the job. What after PhD. I'll be 29-30 till I graduate. Investing 5 yrs on a single thing is a hard decision to make.
A Ph. D. is a truly, painful, and confusing journey. In this journey, it is easy to get lost, become frustrated, and never reach your destination (you either quit or the university expels you). In my opinion, many things contribute to this horrible situation. First, a Ph. D. is not something that you routinely do. Everyday matters are easy-a Ph. D., however, is something that you do once in your life. It's like traveling to a remote and uncharted area where everything terrible can happen to you. Second, neither universities are 'professional' environments, nor most professors are 'professional' individuals, and I mean 'professional' in the business sense. You would notice this if you spent several years working and then went back to a university. This lack of professionalism is probably a legacy of the times when universities were regarded as 'Temples of Knowledge,' and professors were thought of as the priests of these temples. Practically speaking,however, you would suffer from practices that you would never see in a professional organization: ambiguity, lack of direction, unclear instruction, …etc. With this lack of professionalism, I think that if universities were privet companies, I expect that most of them would bankrupt in a few years. What fuels this unprofessional environment is that most universities are funded by their respective governments.
Third, most universities wouldn't train their professors on how to become mentors and supervisors. Exactly as they don't train them on how to teach. It seems to me that most universities assume that if someone has a Ph. D., he/she would be capable of teaching and supervising. This lack of training results in bad teaching in undergraduate classes and poor supervision in postgraduate programs. The fourth issue is that postgraduate students are enrolled in Ph.D. programs before giving them any information on what to expect ahead, i.e., they are not trained on how to be doctoral students. This is like asking someone to fish without teaching him how to fish. It is the issue of the lack of training that results from the problem of lack of professionalism. I could go on, but this is not the place for it. Dr. Laura Valadez-Martinez has made an excellent presentation about her subject. We need more on it.
I've worked in academia for a while, and I've noticed that graduate students working on their PhDs see writing and defending their dissertation as the end goal. A lot is said about how to survive this process, until finally you graduate with your PhD (like this talk). However, much less is said about what these new PhDs are going to do with their degrees. Usually students start thinking about this a year or two before graduating, but that is often too late. A PhD isn't some kind of prize to earn or a test to overcome. It's a process by which you gain the skills and knowledge that will allow you to pursue whatever your actual goal in life is. So, if you're in graduate school, you should be able to answer these questions in the affirmative: 1. Is getting this degree going to help me get Job X? 2. Are the skills I'm acquiring as part of my PhD going to be useful for Job X? If you answer "No" or "Not Sure", you should really think hard about what you actually want and what you're doing.
1. I am stuck! 2:23 2. There is more 3:38 3. I have no motivation 5:10 4. I forgot what I did! 8:01 5. Not sure this is relevant! 11:17 6. I feel lonely! 13:08 7. What is the right way? 15:24
1. Think & Read new things 2. Leave things out 3. Small progress is progress as well & accomplish small things on the side (even baking a cake can give a sense of accomplishment) 4. Keep a research diary & previous datasets 5. Be self assured by searching the original & get in touch with other academics 6. Be connected: people (inside and outside of academia) & supervisor 7. Find your own way
When I did my PhD, it was the love and support from my friendsand profs that carried me through really tough times (break up after walking in on my partner with someone else, losing my father to cancer). I feel blessed to have that kind of support in my department. To me, that's certainly something that I would recommend aspiring PhD students to do: make sure you got your friends' backs and they'll make sure to have yours.
As someone whose doing a PhD, I would definitely advice that your research topic is a passionate topic! When you begin to feel a little lost, lonely, forgetful of why you're researching..that passion will keep you going. Also, keep your work balanced and realistic. Remember this is a long journey so enjoy it. Have that *me* time and keep your mental health in check🌹 Keep me in your prayers guys☺
Keep mental health in check ?! You think a healthy individual can live with stress for 3 years or 4 ? With no effect ! I don t know ! As you said passion is a basic thing .. but phd it s not just about learning and love learning there is a reality too , why I do it ? And real life if I can sacrifice my time my life my everything then it s ok .
Currently I am writing my thesis.. sleeping at early morning 4 am.. getting up at 9 am.. sleepless, eat less.. But I am enjoying it.. But what makes you more frustrated is doing phd without fellowship or financial support from govt.. Its a typical situation of most Indian research scholars..
I am currently doing my PHD, on my third year and i can honestly say i am at a point where i want to give up. The challenges are building up, plus i donot feel as though i have the support to keep on pushing. Only God can see me through this one
I am currently studying for a master's degree and thinking of doing a Ph.D. in the future. If I don't change my mind and I can finish my Ph.D. I will write here again. See you at least 5 years later.
Eyvaz, I intend to begin my journey in a few months...once I decide whether to do Public Policy or DPA. When do you intend to begin yours, and in what area of study?
@@dagmass I decided this one year ago.I graduated from my university in marketing and I am doing my master in marketing too.I intend to do Phd in neuromarketing.
I earned my Ph.D. back in May 2018, and I can tell you, as an individual in their mid 50,s the travel is arduous. If you have however a strong backing such as your school, friends, and family, it can certainly be done. The most important thing to keep in mind is that something brought you to this place of study, and you haven't given up!!!!!!! Please Please don't stop if the heart is truly in it, because the madness will pass, it will pass. I can only say for myself that looking back, I wouldn't change a thing!!!!!
Alexander Rae Thank You for sharing your experience. I am thinking about going for my Ph.D, I’m pursuing my masters degree right now and comments like yours motivates me.
I am a first year PhD student. Before I applied PhD I work for couple of years, my ex-boss is really terrible, and even now I still have nightmare about him. So when I applied my PhD program I try my best to meet all the professors who is interested in me, and finally pick my current advisor, he is really responsible and willing to help. A good advisor is a great beginning, but you are the core to make the whole thing work. Right now I am stuck of my current research program, but I got strength in this talk! thank you !!
I did a PhD in 2004-7 and think that all of this advice is sound. What I'd add is that candidates should keep in regular contact with their supervisors even if they've nothing to show for their recent labours. Communication anxiety is a problem that I sense is fairly common in the sector.
@@elik5485 Thanks Eli. I knew a fair amount of PhD students in C--bridge who wouldn't check their e-mail for months on end for fear of what they thought would be recrimination. It never came to good.
Very nice depiction of the PhD journey. I can relate to every point she mentioned. Apart from being stuck in the process of doing PhD, if you are stuck deciding whether to do it or not, then I would recommend you doing Ph.D because else you will repent your whole life for not doing one. This whole journey will teach you great lessons for future. You can solve any problem in a very systematic way. I am thankful to earn this experience at the age of 34. Kudos to all of you who are doing Ph. D orhave already done. It’s a rewarding arduous journey. Good luck 👍🏻 and Thanks Laura for the wonderful speech!
She really gave high quality piece of advice from experience. Now she is an expert in PhD studies. We all learn from each other because we all know different things. I salute you Laura.
And after all this effort, there are people that don't believe in research and prefer reading a blog on internet that says what they want to hear, rather than trust data and science
I spent most of my twenties working on a PhD. If I could add some extra tips they would be: * When taking reading notes, always take direct quotes. You can always paraphrase when the time comes to using the information in your thesis. * For science/statistics oriented research, PLAN your analysis or experiments to the n-th degree, especially what you intend to gain/understand from your analysis. There's nothing worse than writing a computer program and generating results only to find that you haven't answered your original question. * There is life after a PhD. Even if you don't take a research or academic path afterwards.
I’m about to start a PhD, so it’s really great hearing some of the issues she’s addressed, along with some of the comments giving advice and describing their experience!
Commitment, Drive, Determination, Desire, Endurance, Time management, Resilience, Courage, Adaptability, Durability, Motivation, Decisiveness, Exceptional mentors and a healthy Fear of Failure.
Couple of additional points: after about a year of gathering and refining your data, and reading around what many other people did, you discover that somebody else already did your PhD. You get around that by building on theirs, and adding your own innovations. The second point, once you have completed and defended, you realize that your PhD is obsolete, somebody else came up with a better thesis, on a more cogent topic. The real benefit you get from doing a PhD is the confidence that you can build and progress a project in any challenging topic.
I cried watching this! I resonate with her! It's some relief knowing that your experience isn't singular! Gives the strength to keep going! Thank you. 💜
She is not lying about depression and isolation while in school! I'll be finishing my master's at a major university in the northeastern area of the United States in 2022 and the journey takes its toll on the student. It really does.
I’m working on my PhD in South Africa and I have just been encouraged by this Video. I can relate to many challenges mentioned here. Thank you Dr. Laura
My inner voice tells me to get a PhD so I can have a shot doing what I love for a living. My head tells me that the doctorate is the sure path to destruction. Am I crazy for wanting to be a prof?
Absolutely brilliant. People who enter a Phd program are smart, and they must ember why they decided this path. The reason I want to do Phd is for the fact I want to push knowledge ever so slightly. I can't imagine the emotions someone goes through after earning such prestigious degree. Anything worth doing in life requires hard work and sacrifice.
It's my second time watching this video, the first was 4 years ago, when I was finishing my Bachelor's and wanted to know if I was sure of my Master's; I'm now about to finish my Master of Research and figuring if I really want a PhD. I love how Dr. Valadez-Martinez talks about research: simple, humble, direct. This is the video that makes me really take into consideration everyhting that PhDs YTubers are saying. Thank you for sharing!
Importance of leaving things out... Importance of tiny progress.. Importance of self assurance.. 👍 Never compare your journey with some else's.. surround yourself with positive people..take rest but don't quit!!
It is all about being passionate. Things are easy for those who love what they do and things are difficult for those who are forced to love what they don't love to do internally.
You describe so many things I experienced but had not been told. I would share this with all those starting on this journey. I did end up keeping a PhD diary, but I had not been told to do so and didn't call it that, but it is vital. And yes, I laughed in recognition at the folder/file naming sequences! Thank you.
Find the people who know how to do the things you need to learn, seek them out and learn from THEM! Social skills are part of learning to be a researcher.
Eloquent and insightful. I have just completed my Master's and will share this with anyone seeking advice on theirs... I've found it to be the same, albeit on a much, much smaller scale! Thank you for sharing your experience, and all the best to you
hats off sister, you not only told ur journey but u have shown a common path which have to travel a PhD scholar. after seeing this video a scholar could imagine that these sort coming r not only belongs to himself only rather its a usual path which have to travel by all. RELAXING A MIND
Great talk. I am a doctoral student who has spent the last two years wringing hands. My professors left and I am largely on my own. This video has boosted and jolted me into a renewed confidence to pursue the last mile of the writing journey. Thanks a million times over.
I needed to listen to this so much at this stage in my doctoral journey. Feeling stuck resonated profoundly. This talk helped to normalize the very difficult life challenge.
Don't afraid of (accidentally) making mistakes, you are a student anyway. The lonely part is relative to the condition. When you have a research group, you won't feel lonely or involving in sharing PhD community. ... so many things... the only thing she missed.... just have fun with PhD !!! as long you know what you are doing, you'll get through at the end of the journey. Good luck to those who are pursuing PhD !
1. العلق في الطريق 2. المزيد ثم المزيد في الأمام 3. الإرهاق وعدم التشجيع 4. نسيان ما قرأنا وكتبنا سابقا 5. هل هذا البحث مهم للعلم والعالم؟ 6. الشعور بالعزلة والتوحد 7. ما هو الطريقة المثلى؟
For those of you who want to join for a PhD research study the challenges presented are very helpful and at least you know what can expect in the process, You are entering a jungle to be discovered on your own with some help or none believing on your strength. So I value all those tips for a new person who wish to engage in the PhD exercise. I did my PhD in 2016 and took me four and half years being a full time worker and a PhD student. So in my case that also makes it more harder. But with perseverance and strong motivation anything is possible. Among the most crucial and critical steps one has to be focused, find the right research methodology, and helpful supervisors, reading extensively in your research area. Supervisors are human beings and have their own limitations and at times can impose on you their frustrations, never give up, be strong try to deal with things nicely & understanding for your own benefit. Always bear in mind your research questions in reviewing the literature, writing your research methodology: research paradigm adopted, the theoretical framework applied, the methods employed, sample size and issue of representativeness, data instruments used, and addressing ethical issues are key. The approach of data presentation and analysis should be given precautions. As a rule of thumb some researchers as they present the data also simultaneously discuss and analyze their data in light of their research questions formulated and try to answer the stated hypotheses formulated if any. The second approach is to first present the data and then discuss the data and analyze them in light of the research questions. Finally interpretation of the data and making sense of the data and recommendations for future study. A very well written references at the end for every cited material is a must for the agreed style of referencing or house style adopted by the university. Most research bodies require the latest APA style of references. Every abbreviation or acronyms should be introduced for the first time and must be given an abbreviation/ acronym table at the beginning. Appendices, figures and maps, titles should be used concisely and appropriately. Never ever give up your work! Challenges and frustrations are common occurrences, keep intact and at the end of the tunnel there is light and be rewarding.
I am really happy that I came across this talk. She didn't through every single process but went through those questions or statements you end up feeling like no one can answer them or help you with.
I wish I’ve known what I am going to share with you. Before or during my grad studies trust me on this, your biggest enemy is STRESS. You’ve got to cope up with your stress when doing a PhD. A good strategy is to work out everyday and particularly jogging in the early morning otherwise you will end up so stressed and confused. Good luck guys.
Mrs. Martinez said everything so simple. Simplicity but with a web of technicalities. I hope this presentation is never taken away, but that it remains here on TH-cam for a very, very long time.
This is all basically right. About "small accomplishments", whenever I move apartments it sucks but it is so nice at the end of the day to realize I actually finished what I set out to do for once.
That was very nice to discover, that I am not the only to face those difficulties. Indeed, sometimes I feel really lonely and lost, even though I have a huge motivation to do science. One of the biggest challenges was that I can not find a common language with my supervisor, which is really annoying, even though a PhD itself is already a huge struggle. But, what I need to do, is to believe in myself more then anybody! That's my advise to every PhD student.
I'm currently doing Bs-IT and i'm watching what is phd. I can't imagine the mental breakdown phd students have to undergo!. i feel empathy towards you and I'm happy for anyone who does a phd more than you think.
I am a doctoral student in biochemistry (the German "Dr. rer. nat." is less structured than a Ph.D., it's more like work and less than college) and my tips are: - Have an outline of your research with milestones every 3 months. But keep it flexible. If something is not feasible, it's not your failure, it might be that it's impossible to do or will take much longer than anticipated or it is too costly. Don't think you're a failure! - Set yourself daily goals and be realistic. I limit my goals to 1-3 per day, e.g. "1. accomplish the first part of the synthesis (5 hours), 2. run a QCM (3 hours), 3. gather latest results in PowerPoint". If you are a chemist or biochemist, use time when an experiment is running to set up something else. Read how long something takes and how often you have to check on it or perform a step. Sometimes you will have 5 hours where the experiment is just running, sometimes you will need to perform a step every 15 min. Assess that and plan accordingly. I plan 1-2 days ahead in detail, but I also try to have an overview of what I might be doing during the next 4-6 weeks to order chemicals in advance or schedule an introduction to a new method. - GET SLEEP. I really plan for my daily 8 hours and I usually get them in. - Schedule in leisure time and time to relax. Super important, otherwise you will burn out! - Keep a research diary and/or a lab journal! This is really helpful. Jot down calculations and also note down what they are for. I am super detailed when I do complex calculations. I write a comment for every step of the calculation "this is the molecular weight of the particle. I need to calculate the amount of X (3 eq) that I have to add". I write down every buffer calculation that I make so I don't have to calculate the amounts again. I note what tools I used and anything special. I write down aims like "I want to test sample 1-4 and assess which of them binds the strongest to further analyze the binding later". I need to know what I did there 2 years later so I write down complete sentences oftentimes. - Work smarter, not harder. Take time to think and to read. Is it useful what you are doing? You will do a lot of stuff that's not useful either way :D but limit it to the learning experience and always know your aim. - THE FIRST DRAFT IS FOR YOU! Don't let perfectionism hold you back. No one will see your drafts. It's easier to organize ideas on paper than in your head. - Don't be afraid to be wrong. I ask my colleagues to check my hypotheses or my calculations. Sometimes they find mistakes and I am grateful for it! - USE TEMPLATES. Do yourself a favor and use templates and macros for reoccurring tasks. I have a lot of data to analyze. Set up an Excel macro once (!), it may take 1 hour, but afterward, you can analyze batches of results with ONE SHORTCUT! Bonus: The results have the same format so that you can compare them. If you write a lot, use the formatting that Word offers for headings etc. as you write. It enables you to create tables of content or figures with one click. It enables you to change the font or the size of every heading in your 300 pages document with one click. USE technology to your advantage. - Gather your results regularly. It gives you an overview and you might get some insights. - ENJOY THE PROCESS!
I’m pursuing a Ph.D. at an Ivy League. I am sleep deprived, forget to eat, live in the library, developed tension headaches, have the sharpest pain in my shoulder, suffer from insomnia, have no social life and wouldn’t change it for the world! Why? It’s my passion and I love my research. To obtain a Ph.D. you must devote your entire existence to it. You must sacrifice and focus. Ambition is also key! I represent my community and women in a dignified manner in academia, this drives me. I never want to stop learning and representing what is close to my heart. I would argue most, if not all Ph.D.’s, would agree.
You will finish as a childless old woman with no friends. Your research probably means nothing and has zero positive contribution to the world. Maybe you would be much happier just working, say, as a teacher and having kids and family. But you will continue to do reading and writing useless "scientific" papers just because "I want to represent women in academia". p.s. The fact that you love your research doesn't make it useful to the society. You're just being paid because some idiots in the government decided that we should spend money on research and open more PhD positions. Please come home today and ask yourself: What impact my research will have on the civilization?
Cassandra Salcedo Hey, I noticed you mentioned you are pursuing your PhD at an Ivy League. I’m at the masters level now but am in the process of applying for my doctorate to different Ivy League’s. Would you have any advice as to how to best strengthen my application? I am extremely passionate about the subject I wish to research and the being accepted to an Ivy League for that passion would be amazing. And this guy clearly has no idea what he’s talking about, I was going to respond but why bother right? Thanks for your time if you happen to reply!
Saif B. My advice to strengthen your application is to publish in a peer reviewed journal, present your research to as many academic conferences as possible, obtain the strongest letters of recommendation as possible, and in your statement of intent explain how the program you’re applying to aligns with your research and how that particular university can foster your research into something grand. Ivy Leagues love originality and cutting edge research so I’d suggest your work stands out from the rest. I’d also suggest you emphasize how your work can contribute to society in a positive way. That’s all I got. 🙃 Hope that gave you some insight. Good luck!
Viktor Frolov yeah like you are changing the world with whatever you do. Research always has positive impact in the world. Her research would definitely inspire the idea that changes the world either by exploring ideas that don’t work or by encouraging funding in her field or if she becomes a professor someday and teaches the person who would. Children are not the end goal for everyone. Some people have passions and the balls to follow them. If everyone thought of the world like you we would still be living in caves.
If you are expected to think, then that is a great bonus, a PhD is supposed to teach you to think for yourself, but in many disciplines your activities are too constrained by the expectations of your project supervisor to give you the freedom to think for yourself. Part of what you need to do to learn how to research is to talk to other people in your field, e.g. other members of your research group, and people from the community of research groups in your field to bounce ideas off them and debate things. When you are stuck looking outwards often provides the catalyst to getting unstuck, rather than looking inwards.
I have a friend who is teaching ESL who did a PhD in art. NNoooobbbboooodddyyy calls him doctor...I guess it is easiest when changing jobs. Also, there was another manager at work who graduated from his doctorate program but everyone hated him so everyone found it hard to mention the doctor title for him, too. Company closed down, so I guess he has a better chance of getting called doctor at his next job. Funny how referring to the title becomes political as well... I guess it is all context and subject, too. People like Shaq O'Neal has a PhD in Education but no one calls him 'Dr. Shaq'.
@@JohnSmith-yn7jz In general, only physicians are called 'Doctor' - outside of academia or some professional settings. That's convention and tradition.
No one makes anyone call them Doctor. It's an honorific used by people who respect the accomplishment of the person with the title. If anyone ever told me I HAD to call them doctor, I'd tell them they HAVE to call me Grand Maestro of Space and Time. The reason why people usually only call medical doctors "Doctor" is because they are the only doctors nearly everyone encounters on a regular basis, in the doctor's professional environ. A doctorate of medicine is actually less difficult to obtain than a doctor of philosophy, so the idea of being called "doctor" having much to do with the motivation behind the work is kind of silly. Not that it isn't an incentive for some, but no one is going to get there with only egotistical motivations pushing them to finish.
This just gets me excited though honestly. It's the art of discovery. There's this magnificent confusion and chaos that goes on and you just have to trust where you're going.
You are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! Am a prospective Ph.D and THIS is WHAT I NEEDED. thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I loved every minute! Dr Laura Valadez-Martinez, thank you!
Congratulations... I’m just about to apply for a PhD in Business Administration; feeling a little apprehensive cause I know it’s a lot of work & worry not to drop the ball... All the best.
Am on it already and I can tell you the journey requires a lot of commitment and extensive reading. Am working on my thesis right now. Awil Noor Egal, May I know your area of specialization in management?
Best thing about phd is all these 7 points...(except forgetting things ....I write notes alot because I tend to forget alot because my mind is crazily thinking about research and new ideas and stuff) I remember writing eating times alot alot because I forget to eat I do exercise alot (running) that helps me to ease my hyperactive mind
Thank you Laura! This applies to so many situations beyond completing a PhD. I am just applying for PhD's and this has motivated me and given me strategies just for finishing the paperwork.
I am writing my Bachelor Thesis now about learning chemistry with poetry and this helps me a lot!! I want to get a PhD someday because I want to keep learning and researching. But the best thing about it, I think, is to share what we learn! Muchas gracias Laura :)
Did my Ph.D in year 2020 in wind energy.Truly speaking I never new such details as explained here.Hats off! Really appreciate the candid way it has explained.Congrats to the speaker.
I don't know how far i am from studying a Phd, but the information shared here is relevant not only for a Phd, but for anything and everything that one wants to get done in their life. Beautiful.
Great talk. Applying for PhD programs now. I appreciate all your advices- they are giving me a clearer picture of what to expect in a program, how I should approach it, and even of things to discuss in my letters of intent.
Thank you in those "Tiny progress situations " always Keep in mind " “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr....a paragraph a day or a working code is enough motivation to press on
Thank you Laura Ma'am for your so valuable words, it means a lot for me as I am just starting my PhD and listening you now makes me feel that your words are one of the basic requirements for me in my journey of PhD.
Excellent advice Laura - I especially commend keeping a research journal/diary which is reflective, honest and maintains a daily record of research, findings, ideas and occurrences. While most PhD students are honestly striving along with other departmental colleagues it is prudent to be aware of others - students, contract staff and academics who are primed "gamers" of academic life within the department or further afield whose agendas are geared towards personal advancement rather than towards the advancement of research group programmes, departmental or real scientific advances by consistent methods which maintain scientific integrity - they "game" others within the institution, the conference scene, journal publishing and editing and major funders - "it takes one to know one" - unfortunately many are very successful because of possible mutual financial benefits and so scientific integrity, together with "value for money", go out of the window. In fact, there are very few career academic researchers around who have made any profound discoveries - honest ones are not to be found at the higher pay grades - they are not generally "deal makers". John L. PhD 1976
If you have a passion, you can do anything. I finish my PhD in 2.5 years in manufacturing engineering. The important things is your supervisor role and your passion towords your journey 👏
So what about those who have no passion to do phd but want to desperately complete it so that they can teach as assistant professors in universities ???
I badly want to come back in two years time and say: "I agree with you because I hold PhD and I can relate to everything you are saying". For the time being, I would say only: "I agree with you because I am still PhD student and I can relate"
Oh yeah I passed with flying colours on June 2022. I got minor revisions and my examiners were very pleased. I can only say that PhD hardships will all go eventually, so please do not give up!
Well, she hit the nail on the head with that 'is my research relevant ' problem. It can be the most motivating or demotivating thing in your PhD journey...
Nice, I completed my Ph.D. last year (Feb 2019) and really didn't know many things explained in this video. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with future researchers. Best wishes to all
To be honest.....no one has imagined what a "PhD" has to do until doing it personally. I did my Ph.D almost 5 years, learnt a lot in the process, not only academically, but being a wise and patient person. Those of you who are doing it right now, keep continue and do it with your pace...
Thank you, Laura, for highlighting common challenges. While the UK PhD and American PhD may have different approaches, your presentation points are encouraging and extremely helpful--even one who is a PhD candidate (like myself). You highlight the common struggles a PhD candidate faces. Indeed, your presentation-made-simple has instructive guidance needed to calm common anxieties. Actor Gary Oldman said about sitting in the makeup chair being made up as Sir Winston Churchill for "Darkest Hour" (2017): "What you have to do is surrender to the process. You know what you're getting into. You can't fight it." (p. 75, Makeup Artist, Number 129 - December 2017/January 2018.) Another profound statement on the creative process comes from actor Denzel Washington, who once said, "Goals on the road to achievement requires discipline and consistency." Thank you, for your helpful reminders.
Laura this is great work, thank you! Leaving things out is making progress....YES! I struggle with say your thesis in one sentence or two...got to work on that!
Your PhD is supposed to be baby steps to a life long pursuit of scholarly writings. Just listening to her makes me think like this is just so big when in reality it is not. Most PhD's do not do research, write journal articles, or write books, which is really sad. If you go up to a PhD person and ask them about how many books they have written, most cannot tell you. This woman is very typical In her doctorate thinking that this is just so huge when in reality it is not hard. I know that she is being honest and I appreciate that, but her honesty is exposing very typical thinking that this is just so hard and time consuming. As a doctorate person, you are to contribute to your field and this PhD are baby steps to a lifetime of writings. Most don't write or contribute. After listening to her I get the feeling that in the future she will be very typical of most doctorate people who do not contribute to the field. Her PhD is as far as she will go, its the crowning achievement instead of setting the stage for a lifetime of academic achievements in scholarly writings.
I get exactly what you are saying. There is way more purpose to a PHD than an extra title or extra knowledge. I have met people who didn't really think this through before doing their PHD. And they ended up with a title and extra knowledge that they are not using regularly at all. And guess what, they are the ones telling us that doing your PHD is not worth it. It was strenious for no reason. After all as you stated, most are not going to do research or write journals or do wrige books. On a side note, Us Africans have to rethink these titles anyway, before we decide to acquire them. They are costly to obtain and we are not even guaranteed to earn what our counterparts earn on other continents. Moreover, The environment is not suitable yet for PHDs to foster their academic endeavours. So if in the end, we engage in obtaining a PHD degree, then we know there is no money in it, but we are doing it for the love of advancing one's field.
greetings sir , i have completed my masters and on the way to enroll to my phd but i'm little scared although i'm determined to do it. i wanted to do it in specific field of computer science like machine learning, or data science. can you help ?
I'm well into my PhD in my 70s, and loving every minute of it because I am doing it purely for love of knowledge and research. It is incredibly liberating.
Congratulations 🙏🏼🙏🏼
I feel the same about doing a joint PhD in psychology and quantum physics! I've always been fascinated about these 2 subjects and I actually found scientists who bridged them both, to come up with the "quantum model of bending reality"
Enjoy! I just got my PhD at 64. I really enjoyed the learning, however the process... not so much. Part of that was because I had no guidance whatsoever, an absentee advisor and as an elder, no real peer group. Additionally, it was an "interdisciplinary" program so there was no "department" either. But what drove me was the goal. And I did it. Glad you're having a good experience.
I think we should have an online peer group of doctoral students over 65!
@@karenk2409 amazing idea
More importantly, make sure you have a good supervisor.
Probably that is one in a billion..cause people in that power position tend to be cruel,egotistic and unhelpful..all the contrary your supervisor is often the source of your stress and not really the system..that at the only only cares about the fees being paid...
how can you search for the best supervisor?
Totally agreed. Like Laura mentioned, i thought my supervisor was the second person that knew the best and interested in the topic besides me. I was totally wrong. All he said was 'You need to figure it out.' 'This is your problem.' when I approached him for some support. And during the thesis reviewing process, most of his comments were wrong...gosh...
I couldn't agree more. I sadly don't have one. :( Now I am like what to do!)
@@朱晓晶 so they r too wrong and seriously the phd is soo dat much difficult i mean how u overcome that stress publishing paper researching on topics and many more pllzzzz reply
I have recently finished my PhD. I was able to feel the stress in Laura’s voice. And it all reminds me of my own journey. If you are doing a PhD or you are planning to do one, you might appreciate these free information. Above all, doing a PhD means being focused, it mean being alone, but being alone is different from being lonely! You should sacrifice. If you are an extrovert, never make your home your office. I did most of my PhD at apartment cafè and starbucks. No need to say it is not easy, according to my grandpa if it was easy everyone was able to do it.Remember, people care about, you just need to find them which signfies the imortance of quality social resources. Ask for help when you needed it. And never ever give up, you came all this way, it is too late to give it up! All the best..
Alhamdulillah..
Mohammad Mohammadipour
All my life, i dreamt about having a PhD, now when i came to the critical point of applying and preparing the entry exam (in Algeria we have an exam to do to be selected), I'm frustrated and I lost all my motivation to revise. But your comment gave me some confidence and courage, thank you very much.
Mohammad Mohammadipour thanks. I’m doing my Ed.D
I am near tears right now in my program! Thanks for the encouragement because quitting did cross my mind but it isn’t an option at this point!
I want to do p.hd plz guide me Mohammad Mahanmmadipour
I have few things to say-
1. Planning is everything
2. Thinking 10 steps ahead
3. Think how you'll execute the journey
4. Be ready for failure
5. Have a good company
6. Try motivating yourself and others
7. Develop affection towards your topic
8. Understand it's a battle which is to be fought alone
9. Don't expect too much from Dear Supervisor
10. Have a hobby (aquarium, gardening)
11. Chisel the mountain, bit by bit
12. Develop network, talk to others about the topic
13. Join some sports or jog a little
Getting late stipend will trigger your insecurities, stress, anger, everything.... But stay calm and keep going
On this Journey, learning all of this now especially #9
It sounds like she has a PhD in PhD.
Jacob Bond 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Yeah Really!
Floored🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
lmao
You killed me
Having a good supervisor make your PhD journey much easier.
Good ones are not many. We invite many people to aspire to these offices.......... what happens, I have seen PHD holders completely confused after graduation......... it is like those challenges stick to their system...... strange
So... Should one offer bribes to the good supervisors to accept one's research topic ?
How about the students? Shouldn't they be good as well?
Well said
🌷
Now I’m in my sixth year of PhD . My ex- advisor was horrible and she left me in my fourth year since she had to move out of the university. Everyone left the lab and I was the single student who tolerated her to the max. Then my current advisor adopted me and I’m happy in my current lab and hoping to graduate next year. A good advisor is more important than a good project.
In which subject ?
ALL the Best! 🔥👍
God bless you !
6th year ?!?!
Here we have maximum 3 years
Subject: Microbiology and Immunology. I’m now a postdoc in a medical school. Thanks everyone
This comment section might have the most brilliant people!
Indeed
And the comments also will be meaningful. 🙂
Agreed!
thts a myth
You mean God's favorite creations !!!!
Genius people are all inconspicuous incarnations of the Almighty !!!!!
Timestamps
1. I am stuck - 2:22
It takes time to learn and understand 2:53
2. There is more out there 3:40
It is important to leave things out - 4:12
3. Motivation - 5:08
Importance of Small Achievements - 6:22
Progress need not be only on your thesis - 7:13
4. I forgot what I did - 7:57
Make a research diary - 8:20
Keep Track of Variables - 9:57
Never save changes on original data set - 10:30
5, Is what you're doing relevant? - 11:17
Read the primary source - 12:09
Read Recent journals - 12:45
6. Loneliness - 13:03
Connect with colleagues - 13:36
Talk to supervisor - 13:55
Find a new hobby - 14:23
Connect to family and friends 14:36
7. What is the right way of doing PhD - 15:24
A great & helpful effort - thank you sir.
@@Lucentlens I'm a woman
@@Lucentlens but you're welcome
Thank you!
A smart and generous woman, at that.
The single most important piece of advice, for me, would be the importance of choosing the right PhD supervisor. It matters more than even your choice of topic. The PhD is an apprenticeship in research and you are going to be this person’s apprentice for a number of years. You need to admire and trust this person for their academic competence but it must also be someone with whom you get along well, and who can bring out your best talents. I always tell my students that finding the right supervisor is one of the most important decisions for the success of their PhD and for their happiness while doing it. In Japanese martial arts we say you should invest at least 3 years to find your sensei and there are some parallels between the two...
but some student dont have option to select advisor, as my school alotted me an advisor who is from other school, may GOD help me
the question is, how to decide that? most of the times, you only will know them once they become your sv 😂
My faculty allotted me good supervisor.
The Stress is real, lack of motivation is real, feeling of stucked in is real. First you feel synopsis is most difficult, then the research is difficult and then the writing is hard. Every level is hardest. But once you are out of it you are a whole different personality. After being through the process of PhD, you are more calm, have more endurance, you no longer stress over minor things in your daily life.
I hope I can withstsnd this heat!
Mam, I am really stuck whether to go for a PhD or not. I am 24 yrs JRF holder. Evn there's no surity regarding the job. What after PhD. I'll be 29-30 till I graduate. Investing 5 yrs on a single thing is a hard decision to make.
Agreed
@@prarthanasingh7781 just do it
So true 💝
A Ph. D. is a truly, painful, and confusing journey. In this journey, it is easy to get lost, become frustrated, and never reach your destination (you either quit or the university expels you). In my opinion, many things contribute to this horrible situation.
First, a Ph. D. is not something that you routinely do. Everyday matters are easy-a Ph. D., however, is something that you do once in your life. It's like traveling to a remote and uncharted area where everything terrible can happen to you.
Second, neither universities are 'professional' environments, nor most professors are 'professional' individuals, and I mean 'professional' in the business sense. You would notice this if you spent several years working and then went back to a university. This lack of professionalism is probably a legacy of the times when universities were regarded as 'Temples of Knowledge,' and professors were thought of as the priests of these temples. Practically speaking,however, you would suffer from practices that you would never see in a professional organization: ambiguity, lack of direction, unclear instruction, …etc. With this lack of professionalism, I think that if universities were privet companies, I expect that most of them would bankrupt in a few years. What fuels this unprofessional environment is that most universities are funded by their respective governments.
Third, most universities wouldn't train their professors on how to become mentors and supervisors. Exactly as they don't train them on how to teach. It seems to me that most universities assume that if someone has a Ph. D., he/she would be capable of teaching and supervising. This lack of training results in bad teaching in undergraduate classes and poor supervision in postgraduate programs.
The fourth issue is that postgraduate students are enrolled in Ph.D. programs before giving them any information on what to expect ahead, i.e., they are not trained on how to be doctoral students. This is like asking someone to fish without teaching him how to fish. It is the issue of the lack of training that results from the problem of lack of professionalism.
I could go on, but this is not the place for it. Dr. Laura Valadez-Martinez has made an excellent presentation about her subject. We need more on it.
Facts
It's true. Sad but true
I've worked in academia for a while, and I've noticed that graduate students working on their PhDs see writing and defending their dissertation as the end goal. A lot is said about how to survive this process, until finally you graduate with your PhD (like this talk). However, much less is said about what these new PhDs are going to do with their degrees. Usually students start thinking about this a year or two before graduating, but that is often too late.
A PhD isn't some kind of prize to earn or a test to overcome. It's a process by which you gain the skills and knowledge that will allow you to pursue whatever your actual goal in life is. So, if you're in graduate school, you should be able to answer these questions in the affirmative:
1. Is getting this degree going to help me get Job X?
2. Are the skills I'm acquiring as part of my PhD going to be useful for Job X?
If you answer "No" or "Not Sure", you should really think hard about what you actually want and what you're doing.
1. I am stuck! 2:23
2. There is more 3:38
3. I have no motivation 5:10
4. I forgot what I did! 8:01
5. Not sure this is relevant! 11:17
6. I feel lonely! 13:08
7. What is the right way? 15:24
Very nice explanation 👌
Thank you..
I wanted to read exactly this!!
Your comment is just better than those of the PhD up there. You understand what people want watching this LoL
1. Think & Read new things
2. Leave things out
3. Small progress is progress as well & accomplish small things on the side (even baking a cake can give a sense of accomplishment)
4. Keep a research diary & previous datasets
5. Be self assured by searching the original & get in touch with other academics
6. Be connected: people (inside and outside of academia) & supervisor
7. Find your own way
When I did my PhD, it was the love and support from my friendsand profs that carried me through really tough times (break up after walking in on my partner with someone else, losing my father to cancer). I feel blessed to have that kind of support in my department. To me, that's certainly something that I would recommend aspiring PhD students to do: make sure you got your friends' backs and they'll make sure to have yours.
Congrats brother. I am sorry to hear your father passed.
As someone whose doing a PhD, I would definitely advice that your research topic is a passionate topic! When you begin to feel a little lost, lonely, forgetful of why you're researching..that passion will keep you going. Also, keep your work balanced and realistic. Remember this is a long journey so enjoy it. Have that *me* time and keep your mental health in check🌹 Keep me in your prayers guys☺
Keep mental health in check ?!
You think a healthy individual can live with stress for 3 years or 4 ? With no effect ! I don t know ! As you said passion is a basic thing .. but phd it s not just about learning and love learning there is a reality too , why I do it ? And real life if I can sacrifice my time my life my everything then it s ok .
May Allah bless you. Don't forget prayer
Timely advice. Believe you're way done now.
Thank u so much
Sending u bunch of prayers from Indonesia
Jesus bless u
Passion for your topic and field is absolutely vital. It is very hard to commit so much for so long to something you are indifferent to.
Currently I am writing my thesis.. sleeping at early morning 4 am.. getting up at 9 am.. sleepless, eat less.. But I am enjoying it.. But what makes you more frustrated is doing phd without fellowship or financial support from govt.. Its a typical situation of most Indian research scholars..
N no job thenafter..
MHRD gives 31,000/- for first two years and 35,000/- for next three years. Right?
@@vishnu6398 Yes, only those who crack CSIR-NET. Not for non-NET fellows.
you are doing PhD in which field?
@@ishaverma2484 Physics - Nonlinear optics.....
As someone who recently finished, these are all good points. Be humble, but confident.
I am currently doing my PHD, on my third year and i can honestly say i am at a point where i want to give up. The challenges are building up, plus i donot feel as though i have the support to keep on pushing. Only God can see me through this one
Keep pushing!! Gods gotcha!!!
Keeping going mam ,always remember why you started or choosed phd before giving up.
Same same! Just trying to hold on!
How's it going ,Jonela?
Keep going dear. Just know you're just few steps away from your glorious crown✨️ Love💖
I am currently studying for a master's degree and thinking of doing a Ph.D. in the future. If I don't change my mind and I can finish my Ph.D. I will write here again. See you at least 5 years later.
Eyvaz, I intend to begin my journey in a few months...once I decide whether to do Public Policy or DPA. When do you intend to begin yours, and in what area of study?
@@dagmass I decided this one year ago.I graduated from my university in marketing and I am doing my master in marketing too.I intend to do Phd in neuromarketing.
@@fergiyyecebiyeva2349 congratulations and best wishes on your research.
Am actually about to start masters program in public policy and considering a PhD as well... It seems scary though what she was talking about
Same here 😊
I earned my Ph.D. back in May 2018, and I can tell you, as an individual in their mid 50,s the travel is arduous. If you have however a strong backing such as your school, friends, and family, it can certainly be done. The most important thing to keep in mind is that something brought you to this place of study, and you haven't given up!!!!!!! Please Please don't stop if the heart is truly in it, because the madness will pass, it will pass. I can only say for myself that looking back, I wouldn't change a thing!!!!!
Alexander Rae Thank You for sharing your experience. I am thinking about going for my Ph.D, I’m pursuing my masters degree right now and comments like yours motivates me.
Dr. Rae, how long did the journey take you? Did you have assistantship/scholarship help, or did you have to go it alone?
Congratulations on your PhD.
I had my PhD entrance today
I too above 50above
I am a first year PhD student. Before I applied PhD I work for couple of years, my ex-boss is really terrible, and even now I still have nightmare about him. So when I applied my PhD program I try my best to meet all the professors who is interested in me, and finally pick my current advisor, he is really responsible and willing to help. A good advisor is a great beginning, but you are the core to make the whole thing work. Right now I am stuck of my current research program, but I got strength in this talk! thank you !!
Congrats!
I did a PhD in 2004-7 and think that all of this advice is sound. What I'd add is that candidates should keep in regular contact with their supervisors even if they've nothing to show for their recent labours. Communication anxiety is a problem that I sense is fairly common in the sector.
@@elik5485 Thanks Eli. I knew a fair amount of PhD students in C--bridge who wouldn't check their e-mail for months on end for fear of what they thought would be recrimination. It never came to good.
How many years of college and medical school did you have in total?
Very nice depiction of the PhD journey. I can relate to every point she mentioned. Apart from being stuck in the process of doing PhD, if you are stuck deciding whether to do it or not, then I would recommend you doing Ph.D because else you will repent your whole life for not doing one. This whole journey will teach you great lessons for future. You can solve any problem in a very systematic way. I am thankful to earn this experience at the age of 34. Kudos to all of you who are doing Ph. D orhave already done. It’s a rewarding arduous journey. Good luck 👍🏻 and Thanks Laura for the wonderful speech!
She really gave high quality piece of advice from experience. Now she is an expert in PhD studies. We all learn from each other because we all know different things. I salute you Laura.
And after all this effort, there are people that don't believe in research and prefer reading a blog on internet that says what they want to hear, rather than trust data and science
Probably from buzzfeed😂
Because data and science often lie as well, due to politicization and inherent biases. No substitute for good ole gut feelings and instinct.
@@fuadkhan2571 quite a lot of things that are true can't be felt via instincts or feelings. Objective data is important
I spent most of my twenties working on a PhD. If I could add some extra tips they would be:
* When taking reading notes, always take direct quotes. You can always paraphrase when the time comes to using the information in your thesis.
* For science/statistics oriented research, PLAN your analysis or experiments to the n-th degree, especially what you intend to gain/understand from your analysis. There's nothing worse than writing a computer program and generating results only to find that you haven't answered your original question.
* There is life after a PhD. Even if you don't take a research or academic path afterwards.
I’m about to start a PhD, so it’s really great hearing some of the issues she’s addressed, along with some of the comments giving advice and describing their experience!
Excellent talk and exactly what I have experienced during my Ph.D done in my 50s. But an enjoyable and worthwhile process!
Commitment, Drive, Determination, Desire, Endurance, Time management, Resilience, Courage, Adaptability, Durability, Motivation, Decisiveness, Exceptional mentors and a healthy Fear of Failure.
Couple of additional points: after about a year of gathering and refining your data, and reading around what many other people did, you discover that somebody else already did your PhD. You get around that by building on theirs, and adding your own innovations. The second point, once you have completed and defended, you realize that your PhD is obsolete, somebody else came up with a better thesis, on a more cogent topic.
The real benefit you get from doing a PhD is the confidence that you can build and progress a project in any challenging topic.
Passed Highschool with Difficulties (PH.D)
PhD
That's so true for me..
I think i am going to fail on my highschool 😑
Doesn't really matter dude! After all, it's a marathon, you may not start well but you can finish well!
Lmao
I cried watching this! I resonate with her! It's some relief knowing that your experience isn't singular! Gives the strength to keep going! Thank you. 💜
She is not lying about depression and isolation while in school! I'll be finishing my master's at a major university in the northeastern area of the United States in 2022 and the journey takes its toll on the student. It really does.
It really does but do not give up. It might get tougher as you approach the end of the line. Keep going!
@@stephaniec.4905 Good day, Miss Stephanie, I have no intentions of giving up at all.
I just started my PhD and honestly this is so helpful. Thank you! I've been feeling lost and I appreciate all of this!
me too! All the best!
I’m working on my PhD in South Africa and I have just been encouraged by this Video. I can relate to many challenges mentioned here. Thank you Dr. Laura
Brilliant advice! But I would add: find alone time so you can connect with the inner voice that put you on the PhD path to start with.
just like the movie "A beautiful mind."
Best advice ever
My inner voice tells me to get a PhD so I can have a shot doing what I love for a living. My head tells me that the doctorate is the sure path to destruction. Am I crazy for wanting to be a prof?
I agree yep... 👍👍👍
Absolutely brilliant. People who enter a Phd program are smart, and they must ember why they decided this path. The reason I want to do Phd is for the fact I want to push knowledge ever so slightly. I can't imagine the emotions someone goes through after earning such prestigious degree. Anything worth doing in life requires hard work and sacrifice.
I have just registered for a doctoral degree and I find this presentation extremely informative.
It's my second time watching this video, the first was 4 years ago, when I was finishing my Bachelor's and wanted to know if I was sure of my Master's; I'm now about to finish my Master of Research and figuring if I really want a PhD. I love how Dr. Valadez-Martinez talks about research: simple, humble, direct. This is the video that makes me really take into consideration everyhting that PhDs YTubers are saying. Thank you for sharing!
So are you completing your PhD ?
Importance of leaving things out...
Importance of tiny progress..
Importance of self assurance.. 👍
Never compare your journey with some else's.. surround yourself with positive people..take rest but don't quit!!
It is all about being passionate. Things are easy for those who love what they do and things are difficult for those who are forced to love what they don't love to do internally.
You describe so many things I experienced but had not been told. I would share this with all those starting on this journey. I did end up keeping a PhD diary, but I had not been told to do so and didn't call it that, but it is vital. And yes, I laughed in recognition at the folder/file naming sequences! Thank you.
Find the people who know how to do the things you need to learn, seek them out and learn from THEM! Social skills are part of learning to be a researcher.
I start day 1 of a PhD program on Monday. Thanks so much for the advice! I have a feeling I will be watching this many, many times!
How exciting! How's your journey going?
How is it going ? :-)
Congratulations! In the end, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you'll get there.
Eloquent and insightful. I have just completed my Master's and will share this with anyone seeking advice on theirs... I've found it to be the same, albeit on a much, much smaller scale! Thank you for sharing your experience, and all the best to you
Natasia Symonds d
What did you get your master's in, if you dont mind me asking, and are you applying it in the workforce. Am considering same, tyia
I just saw half the video and read a few comments. I'm already feeling jaded.
PhD is a battle of a lifetime.
hats off sister, you not only told ur journey but u have shown a common path which have to travel a PhD scholar. after seeing this video a scholar could imagine that these sort coming r not only belongs to himself only rather its a usual path which have to travel by all. RELAXING A MIND
Vivek Gupta 👌
She was a bit nervous.
Vivek Gupta ì
If she was a fit hot chick, would you call her sister still?
Great talk. I am a doctoral student who has spent the last two years wringing hands. My professors left and I am largely on my own. This video has boosted and jolted me into a renewed confidence to pursue the last mile of the writing journey. Thanks a million times over.
THIS WOMAN IS AMAZING! SHE COVERS EVERYTHING! I love you, Dr Valadez-Martinez!
I needed to listen to this so much at this stage in my doctoral journey. Feeling stuck resonated profoundly. This talk helped to normalize the very difficult life challenge.
Don't afraid of (accidentally) making mistakes, you are a student anyway. The lonely part is relative to the condition. When you have a research group, you won't feel lonely or involving in sharing PhD community. ... so many things... the only thing she missed.... just have fun with PhD !!! as long you know what you are doing, you'll get through at the end of the journey. Good luck to those who are pursuing PhD !
1. العلق في الطريق
2. المزيد ثم المزيد في الأمام
3. الإرهاق وعدم التشجيع
4. نسيان ما قرأنا وكتبنا سابقا
5. هل هذا البحث مهم للعلم والعالم؟
6. الشعور بالعزلة والتوحد
7. ما هو الطريقة المثلى؟
For those of you who want to join for a PhD research study the challenges presented are very helpful and at least you know what can expect in the process, You are entering a jungle to be discovered on your own with some help or none believing on your strength. So I value all those tips for a new person who wish to engage in the PhD exercise. I did my PhD in 2016 and took me four and half years being a full time worker and a PhD student. So in my case that also makes it more harder. But with perseverance and strong motivation anything is possible. Among the most crucial and critical steps one has to be focused, find the right research methodology, and helpful supervisors, reading extensively in your research area. Supervisors are human beings and have their own limitations and at times can impose on you their frustrations, never give up, be strong try to deal with things nicely & understanding for your own benefit. Always bear in mind your research questions in reviewing the literature, writing your research methodology: research paradigm adopted, the theoretical framework applied, the methods employed, sample size and issue of representativeness, data instruments used, and addressing ethical issues are key. The approach of data presentation and analysis should be given precautions. As a rule of thumb some researchers as they present the data also simultaneously discuss and analyze their data in light of their research questions formulated and try to answer the stated hypotheses formulated if any. The second approach is to first present the data and then discuss the data and analyze them in light of the research questions. Finally interpretation of the data and making sense of the data and recommendations for future study. A very well written references at the end for every cited material is a must for the agreed style of referencing or house style adopted by the university. Most research bodies require the latest APA style of references. Every abbreviation or acronyms should be introduced for the first time and must be given an abbreviation/ acronym table at the beginning. Appendices, figures and maps, titles should be used concisely and appropriately. Never ever give up your work! Challenges and frustrations are common occurrences, keep intact and at the end of the tunnel there is light and be rewarding.
I am really happy that I came across this talk. She didn't through every single process but went through those questions or statements you end up feeling like no one can answer them or help you with.
I wish I’ve known what I am going to share with you. Before or during my grad studies trust me on this, your biggest enemy is STRESS. You’ve got to cope up with your stress when doing a PhD. A good strategy is to work out everyday and particularly jogging in the early morning otherwise you will end up so stressed and confused. Good luck guys.
thnk u!!
Mrs. Martinez said everything so simple. Simplicity but with a web of technicalities. I hope this presentation is never taken away, but that it remains here on TH-cam for a very, very long time.
This is all basically right. About "small accomplishments", whenever I move apartments it sucks but it is so nice at the end of the day to realize I actually finished what I set out to do for once.
That was very nice to discover, that I am not the only to face those difficulties. Indeed, sometimes I feel really lonely and lost, even though I have a huge motivation to do science. One of the biggest challenges was that I can not find a common language with my supervisor, which is really annoying, even though a PhD itself is already a huge struggle. But, what I need to do, is to believe in myself more then anybody! That's my advise to every PhD student.
I'm currently doing Bs-IT and i'm watching what is phd. I can't imagine the mental breakdown phd students have to undergo!. i feel empathy towards you and I'm happy for anyone who does a phd more than you think.
I am a doctoral student in biochemistry (the German "Dr. rer. nat." is less structured than a Ph.D., it's more like work and less than college) and my tips are:
- Have an outline of your research with milestones every 3 months. But keep it flexible. If something is not feasible, it's not your failure, it might be that it's impossible to do or will take much longer than anticipated or it is too costly. Don't think you're a failure!
- Set yourself daily goals and be realistic. I limit my goals to 1-3 per day, e.g. "1. accomplish the first part of the synthesis (5 hours), 2. run a QCM (3 hours), 3. gather latest results in PowerPoint". If you are a chemist or biochemist, use time when an experiment is running to set up something else. Read how long something takes and how often you have to check on it or perform a step. Sometimes you will have 5 hours where the experiment is just running, sometimes you will need to perform a step every 15 min. Assess that and plan accordingly. I plan 1-2 days ahead in detail, but I also try to have an overview of what I might be doing during the next 4-6 weeks to order chemicals in advance or schedule an introduction to a new method.
- GET SLEEP. I really plan for my daily 8 hours and I usually get them in.
- Schedule in leisure time and time to relax. Super important, otherwise you will burn out!
- Keep a research diary and/or a lab journal! This is really helpful. Jot down calculations and also note down what they are for. I am super detailed when I do complex calculations. I write a comment for every step of the calculation "this is the molecular weight of the particle. I need to calculate the amount of X (3 eq) that I have to add". I write down every buffer calculation that I make so I don't have to calculate the amounts again. I note what tools I used and anything special. I write down aims like "I want to test sample 1-4 and assess which of them binds the strongest to further analyze the binding later". I need to know what I did there 2 years later so I write down complete sentences oftentimes.
- Work smarter, not harder. Take time to think and to read. Is it useful what you are doing? You will do a lot of stuff that's not useful either way :D but limit it to the learning experience and always know your aim.
- THE FIRST DRAFT IS FOR YOU! Don't let perfectionism hold you back. No one will see your drafts. It's easier to organize ideas on paper than in your head.
- Don't be afraid to be wrong. I ask my colleagues to check my hypotheses or my calculations. Sometimes they find mistakes and I am grateful for it!
- USE TEMPLATES. Do yourself a favor and use templates and macros for reoccurring tasks. I have a lot of data to analyze. Set up an Excel macro once (!), it may take 1 hour, but afterward, you can analyze batches of results with ONE SHORTCUT! Bonus: The results have the same format so that you can compare them. If you write a lot, use the formatting that Word offers for headings etc. as you write. It enables you to create tables of content or figures with one click. It enables you to change the font or the size of every heading in your 300 pages document with one click. USE technology to your advantage.
- Gather your results regularly. It gives you an overview and you might get some insights.
- ENJOY THE PROCESS!
I’m pursuing a Ph.D. at an Ivy League. I am sleep deprived, forget to eat, live in the library, developed tension headaches, have the sharpest pain in my shoulder, suffer from insomnia, have no social life and wouldn’t change it for the world! Why? It’s my passion and I love my research.
To obtain a Ph.D. you must devote your entire existence to it. You must sacrifice and focus. Ambition is also key!
I represent my community and women in a dignified manner in academia, this drives me. I never want to stop learning and representing what is close to my heart. I would argue most, if not all Ph.D.’s, would agree.
You will finish as a childless old woman with no friends. Your research probably means nothing and has zero positive contribution to the world. Maybe you would be much happier just working, say, as a teacher and having kids and family. But you will continue to do reading and writing useless "scientific" papers just because "I want to represent women in academia".
p.s. The fact that you love your research doesn't make it useful to the society. You're just being paid because some idiots in the government decided that we should spend money on research and open more PhD positions. Please come home today and ask yourself: What impact my research will have on the civilization?
Viktor Frolov exactly!!!
Cassandra Salcedo Hey, I noticed you mentioned you are pursuing your PhD at an Ivy League. I’m at the masters level now but am in the process of applying for my doctorate to different Ivy League’s. Would you have any advice as to how to best strengthen my application? I am extremely passionate about the subject I wish to research and the being accepted to an Ivy League for that passion would be amazing. And this guy clearly has no idea what he’s talking about, I was going to respond but why bother right? Thanks for your time if you happen to reply!
Saif B. My advice to strengthen your application is to publish in a peer reviewed journal, present your research to as many academic conferences as possible, obtain the strongest letters of recommendation as possible, and in your statement of intent explain how the program you’re applying to aligns with your research and how that particular university can foster your research into something grand.
Ivy Leagues love originality and cutting edge research so I’d suggest your work stands out from the rest. I’d also suggest you emphasize how your work can contribute to society in a positive way.
That’s all I got. 🙃 Hope that gave you some insight.
Good luck!
Viktor Frolov yeah like you are changing the world with whatever you do. Research always has positive impact in the world. Her research would definitely inspire the idea that changes the world either by exploring ideas that don’t work or by encouraging funding in her field or if she becomes a professor someday and teaches the person who would. Children are not the end goal for everyone. Some people have passions and the balls to follow them. If everyone thought of the world like you we would still be living in caves.
If you are expected to think, then that is a great bonus, a PhD is supposed to teach you to think for yourself, but in many disciplines your activities are too constrained by the expectations of your project supervisor to give you the freedom to think for yourself. Part of what you need to do to learn how to research is to talk to other people in your field, e.g. other members of your research group, and people from the community of research groups in your field to bounce ideas off them and debate things. When you are stuck looking outwards often provides the catalyst to getting unstuck, rather than looking inwards.
Making someone call you Dr isn't easy
Nor should it be.
I have a friend who is teaching ESL who did a PhD in art. NNoooobbbboooodddyyy calls him doctor...I guess it is easiest when changing jobs. Also, there was another manager at work who graduated from his doctorate program but everyone hated him so everyone found it hard to mention the doctor title for him, too. Company closed down, so I guess he has a better chance of getting called doctor at his next job. Funny how referring to the title becomes political as well... I guess it is all context and subject, too. People like Shaq O'Neal has a PhD in Education but no one calls him 'Dr. Shaq'.
@@JohnSmith-yn7jz In general, only physicians are called 'Doctor' - outside of academia or some professional settings. That's convention and tradition.
No one makes anyone call them Doctor. It's an honorific used by people who respect the accomplishment of the person with the title. If anyone ever told me I HAD to call them doctor, I'd tell them they HAVE to call me Grand Maestro of Space and Time.
The reason why people usually only call medical doctors "Doctor" is because they are the only doctors nearly everyone encounters on a regular basis, in the doctor's professional environ. A doctorate of medicine is actually less difficult to obtain than a doctor of philosophy, so the idea of being called "doctor" having much to do with the motivation behind the work is kind of silly. Not that it isn't an incentive for some, but no one is going to get there with only egotistical motivations pushing them to finish.
@@adalindamorales4123 it should be the other way around
If you're considering quitting your PhD because of the writing work involved, please don't. I am helping students with that for free.
This just gets me excited though honestly. It's the art of discovery. There's this magnificent confusion and chaos that goes on and you just have to trust where you're going.
You are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! Am a prospective Ph.D and THIS is WHAT I NEEDED. thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I loved every minute! Dr Laura Valadez-Martinez, thank you!
Happy to say that I am about to defend my PhD thesis in Management next week!
Yayyy congratulations. I'm just now writing my proposal for a PhD in Counseling Psych
GOOD stuff!!
Congratulations
Congratulations... I’m just about to apply for a PhD in Business Administration; feeling a little apprehensive cause I know it’s a lot of work & worry not to drop the ball... All the best.
Am on it already and I can tell you the journey requires a lot of commitment and extensive reading.
Am working on my thesis right now.
Awil Noor Egal, May I know your area of specialization in management?
Best thing about phd is all these 7 points...(except forgetting things ....I write notes alot because I tend to forget alot because my mind is crazily thinking about research and new ideas and stuff)
I remember writing eating times alot alot because I forget to eat
I do exercise alot (running) that helps me to ease my hyperactive mind
Thank you Laura! This applies to so many situations beyond completing a PhD. I am just applying for PhD's and this has motivated me and given me strategies just for finishing the paperwork.
I REALLY APPRICIATE ,,,,,,THE SENSE OF CLEARTY YOU HAVE Laura Valadez
I am writing my Bachelor Thesis now about learning chemistry with poetry and this helps me a lot!! I want to get a PhD someday because I want to keep learning and researching. But the best thing about it, I think, is to share what we learn! Muchas gracias Laura :)
learning Chemistry with poetry? how do you connect poetry with chemistry? i would be grateful could share with me more information on this topic.
I haven't even gotten my BS yet but I'm watching this
Same. Determined!
I haven't even started my BS
im still in highschool :)
Same🤗
Seeing this after 5 years of it’s publishing it does enlighten me TODAY. Thank You!
Did my Ph.D in year 2020 in wind energy.Truly speaking I never new such details as explained here.Hats off! Really appreciate the candid way it has explained.Congrats to the speaker.
Wow this is so me...
You've told 60% of what I'm going through...
Your speech really elevated my thoughts on my research work
Thanks much
I'm doing PhD , Govt. Provide me 40K monthly ....fellowship .
My Supervisor is Amazing person . He is like Father and a friend . I love PhD . ❤️
"Work. Work really hard and keep working" I hear you 😭❤️
I don't know how far i am from studying a Phd, but the information shared here is relevant not only for a Phd, but for anything and everything that one wants to get done in their life. Beautiful.
Great talk. Applying for PhD programs now. I appreciate all your advices- they are giving me a clearer picture of what to expect in a program, how I should approach it, and even of things to discuss in my letters of intent.
Good luck 😊
Thank you in those "Tiny progress situations " always Keep in mind " “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr....a paragraph a day or a working code is enough motivation to press on
Thank you Laura Ma'am for your so valuable words, it means a lot for me as I am just starting my PhD and listening you now makes me feel that your words are one of the basic requirements for me in my journey of PhD.
Just finished my first year.....tough tough tough...and back breaking....but the best thing ever.
So she didn't talk about the mental health problems that many PhD students are struggling with...
She didn't talk about everything on PhDs. She left space for others like you to talk about it. Maybe you would like to do a tedtalk on it?
Lol Eunice
Welllll she actually did briefly talk about depression though. She did acknowledge it.
I am worried for those who are not doing phd but suffering from severe mental health problems and actually these are majority
Everything she talk was about mental health and well-being
Excellent advice Laura - I especially commend keeping a research journal/diary which is reflective, honest and maintains a daily record of research, findings, ideas and occurrences. While most PhD students are honestly striving along with other departmental colleagues it is prudent to be aware of others - students, contract staff and academics who are primed "gamers" of academic life within the department or further afield whose agendas are geared towards personal advancement rather than towards the advancement of research group programmes, departmental or real scientific advances by consistent methods which maintain scientific integrity - they "game" others within the institution, the conference scene, journal publishing and editing and major funders - "it takes one to know one" - unfortunately many are very successful because of possible mutual financial benefits and so scientific integrity, together with "value for money", go out of the window. In fact, there are very few career academic researchers around who have made any profound discoveries - honest ones are not to be found at the higher pay grades - they are not generally "deal makers".
John L. PhD 1976
Dr laura . U rock . U r the best. U changed my life in just 15mins. U should be so proud of urself. Thanks.
16 min*
I'm thankful for the way the vulnerability is shared
If you have a passion, you can do anything. I finish my PhD in 2.5 years in manufacturing engineering. The important things is your supervisor role and your passion towords your journey 👏
I need your help
So what about those who have no passion to do phd but want to desperately complete it so that they can teach as assistant professors in universities ???
What a marvellous speech, she has given. I learned many things, thanks to TEDx for introducing her.
I badly want to come back in two years time and say: "I agree with you because I hold PhD and I can relate to everything you are saying". For the time being, I would say only: "I agree with you because I am still PhD student and I can relate"
Hey ! How are you going on with your PhD? Hopefully done by now?
Oh yeah I passed with flying colours on June 2022. I got minor revisions and my examiners were very pleased. I can only say that PhD hardships will all go eventually, so please do not give up!
@@sihambenzai3620 That's great ! All the best!
Well, she hit the nail on the head with that 'is my research relevant ' problem. It can be the most motivating or demotivating thing in your PhD journey...
Nice, I completed my Ph.D. last year (Feb 2019) and really didn't know many things explained in this video.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with future researchers.
Best wishes to all
To be honest.....no one has imagined what a "PhD" has to do until doing it personally. I did my Ph.D almost 5 years, learnt a lot in the process, not only academically, but being a wise and patient person. Those of you who are doing it right now, keep continue and do it with your pace...
With genuine gratitude. What a helpful speech for doctoral candidates!
Laurita que gusto verte por aquí! Que orgullo que hayas logrado tanto en tu campo de conocimiento!
Really useful and interesting. It really reflects the challenges of being a PhD student. Congratulations!!!
Thank you. I concur with everything she just said. It’s a long, lonely, arduous process.
Thank you, Laura, for highlighting common challenges. While the UK PhD and American PhD may have different approaches, your presentation points are encouraging and extremely helpful--even one who is a PhD candidate (like myself). You highlight the common struggles a PhD candidate faces. Indeed, your presentation-made-simple has instructive guidance needed to calm common anxieties. Actor Gary Oldman said about sitting in the makeup chair being made up as Sir Winston Churchill for "Darkest Hour" (2017): "What you have to do is surrender to the process. You know what you're getting into. You can't fight it." (p. 75, Makeup Artist, Number 129 - December 2017/January 2018.) Another profound statement on the creative process comes from actor Denzel Washington, who once said, "Goals on the road to achievement requires discipline and consistency." Thank you, for your helpful reminders.
Now YOU i believe are a doctoral candidate, citing your references like a pro lol
PhD is not only about you, it is about everybody that always around you. That's how I survived
Laura this is great work, thank you! Leaving things out is making progress....YES! I struggle with say your thesis in one sentence or two...got to work on that!
Your PhD is supposed to be baby steps to a life long pursuit of scholarly writings. Just listening to her makes me think like this is just so big when in reality it is not. Most PhD's do not do research, write journal articles, or write books, which is really sad. If you go up to a PhD person and ask them about how many books they have written, most cannot tell you. This woman is very typical In her doctorate thinking that this is just so huge when in reality it is not hard. I know that she is being honest and I appreciate that, but her honesty is exposing very typical thinking that this is just so hard and time consuming. As a doctorate person, you are to contribute to your field and this PhD are baby steps to a lifetime of writings. Most don't write or contribute. After listening to her I get the feeling that in the future she will be very typical of most doctorate people who do not contribute to the field. Her PhD is as far as she will go, its the crowning achievement instead of setting the stage for a lifetime of academic achievements in scholarly writings.
I believe her talk focuses on doing and completing a PhD sir, past PhD what happens is a different story altogether (=
I get exactly what you are saying. There is way more purpose to a PHD than an extra title or extra knowledge. I have met people who didn't really think this through before doing their PHD. And they ended up with a title and extra knowledge that they are not using regularly at all. And guess what, they are the ones telling us that doing your PHD is not worth it. It was strenious for no reason. After all as you stated, most are not going to do research or write journals or do wrige books. On a side note, Us Africans have to rethink these titles anyway, before we decide to acquire them. They are costly to obtain and we are not even guaranteed to earn what our counterparts earn on other continents. Moreover, The environment is not suitable yet for PHDs to foster their academic endeavours. So if in the end, we engage in obtaining a PHD degree, then we know there is no money in it, but we are doing it for the love of advancing one's field.
greetings sir , i have completed my masters and on the way to enroll to my phd but i'm little scared although i'm determined to do it. i wanted to do it in specific field of computer science like machine learning, or data science. can you help ?