I like “how to study” guides. I don’t mean syllabus synopses, useful for cramming though these might be, but general counsel for academic survival success.
Imperial produces its own materials for students. There is Learning to Learn, a booklet distributed to new undergraduate students during their first year. Written in an informal and friendly style, its advice encompasses reassuring quotes from previous undergraduate students. I remember
Even with good A level results I felt I was at the bottom of the pile compared to those around me.
ringing particularly true for me.
Such snippets are combined with practicalities. The tips for how to get the most out of lectures gave me some food for thought.
My undergraduate degree was a return to study after a two-year break. During the first term, having been disappointed by the feedback on my first essay, I was determined to make a better job of the second. However, I was perplexed as to how one was supposed to hand in 1500 words on a topic that had only briefly been touched upon in lectures. I sought some support, and found it in the form of the reassuringly titled “Write Great Essays!” (note the jubilant exclamation mark!) and its cheery series partner “Sail Through Exams!”.
From the promotional sticker on the cover, I surmise that Waterstones Gower Street was attempting to entice anxious students such as myself.
I turned to the plain English, common sense and practical advice in these texts time and time again throughout my degree. A friend of mine commented that she never found these books helpful – “Don’t they just tell you what you already know?” – but I find the step-by-step suggestions stopped me floundering, and the tips that didn’t seem relevant, I discarded.
Moving on from undergraduate study, Learning to Master was produced by a group of Masters students who were frustrated that there was nothing similar to Learning to Learn available to them. The booklet itself points out that it does not repeat the material in Learning to Learn. It is much shorter, and the central tenet seems to be “Work hard. From the beginning. Hit the ground running, and be organised.”
Another book I have referred to in recent months has been How to get a PhD by Phillips and Pugh. I read the advice on applying for postgraduate study over a year ago, and as my course is a four-year program, I now turn to the section on choosing a supervisor. The book is replete with worrying case studies detailing the many and varied reasons for students’ failure to complete the PhD or to pass the viva, some of them due to problems with supervision.
It seems to me that good communication between the student and the supervisor is a crucial aspect of a successful supervision.
Do Nature Networkers, many of whom have completed PhDs or worked in research, have any advice for me and others in my position?
Those guides seems really good, and I’ll probably just repeat the advice it has already given you. But anyway: I agree finding a “good” supervisor is crucial. I think it’s more important to choose project based on the supervisor rather than choosing the project you find the most interesting – once you start working on a project you’ll get into it and it will become the most interesting ever to you anyway. But how tow choose supervisor? You want to work with someone that you can talk to and who will have the time to help you. And of course someone who is really good at what he/she does and will be able to guide you to do good research. I think the best option, if possible, is to do shorter projects in different labs, summer internships and so on, to try to find a place you like. And talk to the other students in the lab you are thinking about. Everyone has been in the same position that you are in now, so I’m sure they will be sympathetic.
Good luck!
Looking back on my experience in grad school (two different institutions), I think the most important point is to see if your personality “meshes” with that of your prospective supervisor. Most of us examine the lab’s research interests, but neglect the human factor that invariably comes into play. Some institutions allow you to do a rotation through a few labs that interest you; that’s a great way to test the waters before making a long-term commitment.
I’ll echo Anna’s advice about talking to grad students, especially those who have already graduated, and may be able to express their opinions more freely 🙂
@Anna, yes, I found Learning to Learn and Learning to Master helpful. There also exists Learning to Research to which I will graduate, so to speak, in a few months time!
It wasn’t clear from my post, but the four-year programme I am studying as part of comprises this first year MSc and then three years of PhD study. As such I am currently in my third of three rotations in different groups.
It would be a step into the unknown to move to a group with whom I have never worked I have some ideas about where I would like to study next year, and I have gotten in touch with a few students.
@Ken, good idea to speak to students who have already graduated, I will get in touch with them. Also it will be informative to hear what they are doing now, whether they have moved fields, and so on.
Thanks for your tips! 🙂
Erika> The supervisor for a graduate student is usually the most important one… although, looking and feeling the lab can be quite helpful too.
I know that many state that “looking for a cool supervisor and a hot topic” will give you a head start when looking for a post doc and ultimately the academic career ladder (if you want to go that way). I would agree to the assumption that this is good for you BUT this is only true if you pass and get your PhD. That likelyhood is much higher if you find someone who you feel comfortable with and you two “mesh”.
I would look for a possiblitly of doing a rotation through the lab maybe? [I see now that you have rotated through a few labs] A few weeks will give you more knowledge, talking to the former grad students is also a good thing, as is if you have had a course with the person in question.
Other things to contemplate would be questions [to the supervisor when asking about the lab] like “Are you in lab yourself?”, “Do we have weekly meetings?”, “are there a specific time a week I can talk to you?, “Are there annual/semesteral talks I should give about my research?” and “how many conferences do people in the lab go to?” (alternative “Do grad students get to go on conferences [even if they don’t have anything to present?]”.
Erika – your post is approximately 20 years too late to be of help to me, but thanks anyway 😉
I agree with Ken – I had the opportunity to work for a few really good people where I knew I would be in a really productive environment, but would not be happy. I’ve pretty much always taken the route (PhD and postdoc, for sure) of choosing to work with supervisors I get along with well. I honestly think life is too short to choose a lab where you’ll be miserable or overly stressed, no matter how “good for the career” it’s likely to be.
I also echo Ã…sa’s comments – it is very important to be in a lab where you will be expected to present your data regularly (minimally, at lab meetings; preferably also at departmental seminars and/or international conferences).
All that being said, it will do you little good to go to a friendly and collegial lab that hardly ever publishes, so PubMed should be your friend. The most important measure of your success in postgraduate work in science is your publication record, so make sure you’re not going to one of those “one
CellNature paper every five years” places (or worse, “one BBRC every five years”).I won’t give you any direct advice, but I’ve had this page open in tabs since forever, as I think it is relevant at almost any stage in a scientific career. Happy reading.
Although I have to agree with Richard’s advice above, as I rather feel like one of those labs in question for the more “important” papers (and you will see I have not published in Cell, Nature or BBRC). Not good at an early stage in one’s career, before tenure.
Asa, thanks for the suggestions of more "practical" questions to ask the supervisor, andRichard, for the voice of experience.@Heather, Uri Alon is a good writer! I have read several books on scientific careers of late – it seems a tough path to tackle. Thank you for the like to a sensible piece written with humour.
Get a good supervisor. End of. I wish I had.
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