How to Survive your PhDJennifer Moffatt

PhD student, Department of Microbiology

Plan, plan, plan

Plan, plan, plan

• Try to treat you PhD as a job

• Have a weekly task list

– Stick to it!

• Keep in mind the big picture

• What is the next chapter/paper?

• Have regular project direction meetings

Keep up to date in your lab book!

Keep up to date in your lab book

• Write in it as you go (limit note book use)

• Make sure it is up to date once a week

• Analyse data as you go

• Label all figures as if ready for publication

Get to know the postdocs in your lab

Get to know the post-docs in your lab

• They are a brilliant resource

• They have all survived a PhD

– Source of great advice and support

• Often come from different universities

– Have different perspectives

• Potential mentors

Get to know your supervisor

Get to know your supervisor

• Most important relationship during your PhD• Need to be able to communicate with them• All supervisors are different– Discuss expectations (yours and theirs)

• Don’t be afraid to ask for their help• But remember, they are not there to do your

PhD for you!

Keep things in perspective

Keep Things in Perspective

• PhD can be really tough (when stuff doesn’t work!)

• Failed experiments are not the end of the world

• Rely on your support network• Seek help!– Councilors, student reps, HDR coordinators,

supervisors, etc…

Maintain your social life!

Don’t listen to bitter PhD students(you can do a PhD in 3.5 years)