Lecturing to undergraduates presents many challenges to any seasoned academic, industrial presenter or teacher.  Whilst all of the undergraduates in your class will have achieved a particular standard of education to have earned a university place, their individual abilities for particular subjects can be quite varied.  Many subjects at university bring together a number of skills that the students will have learned at secondary school.  However, the art of lecturing is demonstrating successfully how the skills they have learned can be applied. Read more >>

At some point throughout your research you will be either required, or requested (by your supervisor) to attend, or even present your research, at a conference.  But why do organisations arrange conferences?  What are the benefits of attending?  Here I discuss why conference attendance is a very important part to being a successful researcher. Read more >>

If you have gotten this far, and have passed your end of year examination, you will now be embarking upon your research.  The key to this stage of your work is planning and contingency.  Doing your research is about getting the most from the time you have and running several tasks concurrently.  It takes a little practise, but it’s worthwhile. Read more >>

The second half of the first year of your PhD is when the first parts of your research begin to take shape.  By this stage, you should have a good grasp of your field of interest – on a general basis – with an improving knowledge of any specifics.  Usually at the end of your first year (sometimes after 18 months), you will be required to pass a “differentiation” assessment.  Around the world it is called different things, however it basically is an assessment of your work to gauge whether or not you should continue studying toward the PhD award, or MPhil award. Read more >>

Starting out your PhD will more than likely entail meeting your academic (possibly even industrial) supervisors.  It’s a great time to put faces to those names which you have read about on your applications and acceptance letters.  So you’re nervous – but hey, who isn’t, when you are starting out.  More to the point, you are more than likely nervous because you’d rather be getting on with what you’re good at – applying your knowledge and researching a topic. Read more >>

The question, “is a PhD for me?”, is a good question to ask yourself as you either near the end of your degree, or consider taking a break from your career.  I asked the question of myself.  I thought about it, and eventually went for it.  But there still remains questions like, “why a PhD?”. Read more >>

I have had fortune (or misfortune?) of having undertaken a PhD degree following my undergraduate degree.  Whilst I have nearly completed the final draft of my thesis, I think it is worth my while doing a series of articles on surviving your PhD studies.  I will write about all sorts of things that I have learned throughout the years which it has taken me.  Okay so the first article will be online in the next few days when my work load has died down a little. Read more >>