Content uploaded by James Arvanitakis
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by James Arvanitakis on Apr 15, 2017
Content may be subject to copyright.
How$to$survive$a$PhD:$22$tips$from$the$Dean$of$Graduate$
Studies$
Posted'on'March'10,'2017'by'James'Arvanitakis'
'
It'has'been'over'18'months'since'I'was'appointed'the'Dean'of'Western'Sydney'University’s'
Graduate'Research'School.'It'is'a'job'that'I'really'do'love.'
But'is'also'a'job'that'can'be'heartbreaking,'as'I'have'seen'good'students'drop'out'–'both'
within'my'university'and'from'other'institutions.'Many'students'come'and'see'me'for'advice'
and'I'have'been'keeping'a'collection'of'tips'I'have'learnt'based'on'successful'candidates'and'
outstanding'supervisors.'So'here'they'are…'and'in'no'particular'order…'
1. Build'networks:'this'is'not'just'about'networking'that'opens'opportunities,'but'about'
building'supportive'structures'around'you'to'help'you'through'all'those'challenging'
times.'Use'your'networks'to'organise'writing'circles,'boot-camps,'give'each'other'
feedback'and'a'shoulder'to'lean'on'when'things'are'stressful.'
2. Collaborate,'collaborate,'collaborate:'Always'look'for'people'to'work'with'–'it'is'more'
fun,'less'isolating'and'you'learn'new'skills!'It'is'also'part'of'building'networks'and'
support'structures.'
3. Its'more'than'just'research:'You'can'be'the'best'researcher'in'the'world'but'if'what'you'
write'sits'on'a'bookshelf'somewhere,'what'is'the'point?'Practice'your'communication,'
be'a'good'writer,'learn'how'to'translate'your'research.'Increasingly'funders'ask'
questions'about'‘impact’'and'‘engagement’'–'and'as'such,'‘citations’'play'less'of'a'role!'
4. Accept'the'fact'that'you'are'now'an'academic:'When'you'begin'a'higher'degree'by'
research'(HDR)'you'are'part'of'the'faculty'–'no'longer'a'student!'As'such,'you'should'
play'an'active'part'with'your'research'group,'your'School'and'your'University.'Further,'
the'research'culture'and'reputation'of'the'University'will'be'reflective'of'you…'
Consequently,'get'ready'for'both'the'good'and'bad'about'academia!'
5. Take'care'and'enjoy'yourself:'Seriously'folks,'but'make'sure'that'you'eat,'sleep,'shower,'
plan'breaks'and'down'time,'spend'time'with'loved'ones'and'never'forget'to'showers.'
Put'pressure'on'yourself'but'never'obsess'over'the'university.'This'is'important'because'
academia'tends'to'exploit'your'passions:'so'you'get'into'it,'volunteer'for'things'and'
never'take'are'of'yourself.'This'is'the'fastest'route'to'burn'out!'So'be'passionate'–'but'
ensure'that'is'measured'with'a'sense'of'self'care.'
6. Avoid'university'and'interpersonal'politics:'It'is'pointless,'exhausting'and'only'pursued'
by'those'with'small'minds'(no'matter'how'many'publications'they'have)'and'big'egos.'
Enough'said!'
7. Be'polite:'Once'someone'told'me'that'you'can'judge'the'worth'of'a'person'by'the'way'
they'treat'those'around'them'who'are'in'more'junior'positions.'As'a'candidate,'always'
appreciate'the'opportunities'you'have'been'given'–'not'everyone'gets'them'So'no'
matter'what'levels'of'stress'you'are'under,'be'polite'and'always'say'“thank'you.”8'
8. Start'writing…'and'write'everyday:'From'the'very'first'day,'start'writing'your'thesis!'This'
could'be'a'summary'of'ideas,'notes'from'what'you'are'reading,'or'how'one'reading'is'
related'to'another!'Writing'is'thinking'–'without'writing,'you'will'never'get'anywhere'
and'make'sure'you'write'every'day.'Put'aside'30'minutes'and'just'go'for'it!'
9. Do'some'teaching…'and'do'it'well:'One'of'the'best'things'about'being'a'researcher'is'the'
opportunity'to'be'an'educator.'Ensure'that'you'get'the'opportunity'to'teach'by'enrolling'
in'teaching'registers'as'well'as'undertake'any'courses'available'to'you.'Watch'great'
teachers'–'audit'their'classes'–'become'a'great'educator!'
10. Learn'the'difference'between'criticism'and'critique…'and'be'generous'in'your'praise:'
Your'work'is'always'a'work'in'progress!'Learn'to'accept'critique'and'learn'from'it!'You'
should'also'be'willing'to'critique'the'work'of'other'–'but'always'do'so'gently'and'
respectfully.'Always'praise'those'you'work'with'as'well'as'those'you'meet'along'the'
way.'
11. Back'up'everything:'Everyday'–'both'in'the'cloud'and'locally.'Seriously,'despite'billions'
of'cheap'terabytes'people'still'fail'to'back'up!'
12. Go'to'conferences'and'talk'to'everybody:'From'other'PhD'students'to'the'keynote'
speakers.'Be'prepared'to'explain'how'your'research'is'relevant'to'people’s'area'of'
interest,'be'clear'and'if'someone'snobs'you'off,'its'ok,'they'are'not'worth'wasting'your'
time'with!'
13. There'is'more'to'your'future'than'an'academic'job:'Academic'jobs'can'be'hard'to'find'so'
be'prepared'for'various'career'options'–'as'well'as'be'prepared'for'the'long'way'round'
to'academia'(if'that'is'your'goal).'
14. Learn'how'to'apply'for'funding:'Today’s'academic'world'requires'you'to'loom'for'
funding.'Learning'to'put'together'funding'submissions'is'an'important'skill'to'develop'
but'be'careful'not'to'get'caught'on'the'treadmill'of'writing'submission'after'submission.'
15. Avoid'cynics:'There'are'lots'of'challenges'in'academia'–'but'it'is'still'a'privilege'to'be'an'
educator'and'offers'many'benefits'that'most'others'can'only'dream'of'(conference'in'
Europe'anyone?)'
16. Be'social'media'smart:'learn'how'to'use'it'to'promote'your'work.'Avoid'getting'into'
social'media'fights'and'always'be'polite.'Remember,'it'is'another'form'of'
communication.'
17. Be'creative'and'bold:'Feel'free'to'create'your'own'opportunities'and'never'be'afraid'of'
taking'risks.'
18. Be'adaptable'and'resilient:'Things'change.'Opportunities'change.'You'will'face'small'
minds'and'those'who'want'to'‘keep'you'in'your'place’.'Adopt'to'changing'situations'and'
be'prepared'to'bounce'back'
19. Publish:'Always'turn'your'research'into'papers'or'chapters'for'publication.'Some'of'
these'you'can'have'multiple'versions:'strictly'academic,'popular'press'or'even'blogs.'So'
publish'where'you'want'but'never'compromise'on'quality!'
20. Research'is'about'changing'the'world:'Research'has'a'social'mission'–'and'it'is'about'
making'the'world'a'better'place!'Your'research'should'aim'to'change'the'world'–'in'its'
own'way'–'and'that'how'you'should'think'about'your'work.'
21. Keep'your'sense'of'humour'and'value'the'weirdness'of'those'your'work'with:'things'
never'go'according'to'plan!'Always'look'at'the'best'way'possible'forward.'Enjoy'the'
strange'people'around'you'–'academia'seems'to'attract'them.'
22. And'finally,'read'the'Thesis'Whisperer'–'you'will'never'feel'alone'and'lost…'Dr'Inger'
Mewburn'is'one'inspiring'soul!'
'
Feel'free'to'send'more'through…'I'would'love'to'hear'from'you…'
James'
'