If you’re reading this it is possible that you are seriously considering pursuing a PhD.

Completing my PhD in an entirely new field (moving from psychology/neuroscience to biomedical engineering) with covid by my side for the first 2 years means my journey is probably a little less comparable than most. Still, there are some fundamental considerations that I would have benefited from knowing, which led me to make this post.

Remember: ALOT can change in 3.5 years. Planning a 3.5 year journey is something most people don’t do or do so very loosely. So read the below tips with a grain of salt and I hope you find at least 1 useful tip to help you in your journey.

Picking a supervisor

Not the best person to be giving advice here as I did get lucky with many fantastic supervisors (after a few false starts!). Every individual has their own criteria for what makes a good supervisor but here are some suggestions to bear in mind:

• A good supervisor will assess your skills and abilities, and give you manageable tasks while guiding you towards successful completion of your project. However, they will also give you space to be creative and go above and beyond their set tasks if you wish.

• When it comes to turning your project into a potential publication, some supervisors may say that the the work is likely to be published only if the outcome is “significant”. In my experience, this is only partly true. A project with poor or unexpected results can still be published with the right framing and story focus. Thus, it's important to have a plan B or C in case your initial hypothesis does not yield the expected results. A good supervisor will apply their expertise to help you craft the narrative no matter the results (especially in your early PhD years), especially if they want you to publish your work.

• You will find many tips on social media about “what to ask a potential supervisor”. My experience is that most of these questions are a waste of time, because you are asking them something that is likely to change over 3.5+ years. Your relationship with your supervisor will be dependent on factors both within and out of your control so just choose the person that you think will be most supportive (and this is really something you will only be able to know once you work with them for a while).

• You can find much more in depth advice on this topic on the well known “Thesis Whisperer” site.

Choosing a specialty/area of expertise

This is probably the second most important question (or at least it seems) to students considering a PhD. After all, you are going to dedicate more than 3.5 years of your life to this “area” - surely it should be something you absolutely love and want to do forever right?

Not quite. While it's important to keep your options open, it can also be helpful to have a sense of where you want to position yourself after completing your PhD. Depending on factors such as your age, financial commitments, previous achievements, and general attitude towards life, the opportunities available to you will vary and only you will know what these are.

For example, something I didn’t expect was that I would be considered (surprisingly) too “old” for some awards/scholarships. A mostly irrelevant point except it highlighted to me that age might be a limiting factor in some fields. You will always need to work hard to achieve tenure or pursue other goals beyond academia so think about what skills/content knowledge you actually want/need to get there and that might help you choose your specialty.

If you are doing a PhD simply because you want that title (and I advise against this) then choose the topic and supervisor that will be most manageable for you and that will enable you to get publications out. In my experience, this means picking a “niche” field rather than a very crowded one (like I did) as you will find it easier to create “novel” work and get it published or recognised in the necessary ways to obtain your PhD.

Always keep in mind that your career path may change over time. ChatGPT surprised many programmers who find it useful but who also know that now the average person with no coding skills can easily whip up a website etc.

You will always think the grass is greener on the other side and in some cases it might be. But you won’t know until you stick it out for a while on one side. Therefore, having a clear idea of your approximate future direction can save you time and help you prioritize your efforts.

Setting up your workspace (on your computer/laptop)

I cannot stress this enough: organise your notes and ideas from the beginning. Consider setting up a digital notebook using a program like OneNote or Notion, where you can easily store and categorise your thoughts, research, and other important information. If you can afford it, Notion is an especially great option as it allows for even more customisation and organisation.

Additionally, consider creating a system for organising your files and documents on your computer, such as a clear folder structure or naming convention. Keeping track of everything in a way that can be expanded on as projects and commitments grow/change will help avoid the frustration and wasted time down the track.

Finally, the obvious - get into the habit of backing up your files regularly to avoid losing important work. Cloud storage options like Google Drive or Dropbox can be helpful for this, but I also suggest having your own separate, non cloud based drive where you store your work because what can go wrong will very likely go wrong.

Reading the literature

An essential part of any research or learning process is consuming those articles in depth and breadth.

However, it can feel overwhelming diving into a vast sea of new information, thinking that you have to learn it all. The truth is, you get to decide how deep you go. So it's essential to have a clear purpose or objective in mind when reading literature. For example, you might be looking to confirm study design, explore alternative techniques, or find potential solutions to a specific problem.

It's also important to keep in mind that different fields/individuals may use different approaches to reading literature. For instance, when looking at neuroimaging and AI research, a scientist might examine whether a paper meets their study design or whether their results are confirmed by others. Additionally, they might explore opposing views and consider how to factor them into their study design. However, a scientist with the illness they are investigating or non scientists might approach the literature differently. They may be looking for something to help them understand more about the condition and may already have a bias towards believing that what they find might be useful. This is something to keep in mind when you are choosing the journals to read from, and also when writing your papers!

It's important to be aware of bias, both in oneself and in the literature. Strive to approach the information objectively, and avoid jumping to conclusions. Always consider alternative viewpoints, the limitations of the information, and approach the literature with a clear intention and an open mind.

On that note, here are some other tips to consider when reading the literature:

• On the “methods” section

  There are key reasons why we want to know the specific techniques and tools, who used them, how long for, and why they were chosen:

  • Firstly, we want to assess whether the methods used were appropriate for the research question being investigated. Researchers with expertise in the field can quickly evaluate the methods used and determine their appropriateness but it may be more difficult for newbies so do not be afraid to ask for help/advice when starting out.

  • Secondly, we want to know if the methods are reproducible so that we can perform the same experiment in our own lab if needed. Knowing what tools and techniques were used can help us determine what resources we need to conduct the same experiment.

  • Thirdly, we want to understand how we can be different from the previous research. Novelty is highly valued in scientific research, and publishing new ways of looking at the same thing or finding the same results with different methods can help us get published. Furthermore, finding the same results with different tools or techniques in different data sets reinforces the validity of our findings and may lead to new treatments or tools for researchers investigating a particular condition.

  • Despite common misconceptions, scientific research is a highly creative field. Researchers are constantly under time pressure, with limited resources and funding, and must compete with other creative minds to produce novel work. A well-written methods section provides as much detail as possible so that other researchers can assess the work, and it's essential for producing reliable and reproducible research. However, some poorly written papers leave out important details, particularly in the clinical characteristics or dataset used, so be aware and wary of this when you see it.

• On the results / discussion section

  When it comes to writing up results, the approach can vary based on the specific field. However, there are some general tips that can be helpful:

  • Firstly, it's important to have a clear sense of whether your study is focused on a technique or a clinical outcome, or perhaps both. This decision should be made early on in the planning process to avoid confusion later on. If you are unsure, seek guidance from your advisors or mentors.

  • Additionally, it's crucial to understand the controversies within your field. This can take time, and it may not become apparent until later in your research journey. However, having a clear understanding of these controversies can help you position your work and decide where you stand on certain issues. This can also help you anticipate potential criticisms and address them in your write-up.

  • It's worth noting that sometimes, for the sake of completing your PhD, it may be wise to choose the path of least resistance. While it's important to strive for innovation and impactful results, it's also important to keep in mind the practicalities of completing your degree within the constraints. As such, it's important to choose your battles wisely and focus on the most important aspects of your research.

Lastly, I do not recommend using ChatGPT to read any scientific article (at this stage). I’ve tested it on many, and it never quite grasps the key ideas and results like a human would. If you must, try Genei.io (there is a free version), or R Discovery for help with summarising and merging information.

Should you even do a PhD?

A PhD is not always “prestigious” but it is, usually, advantageous in many ways especially if you come from a low socioeconomic background. It not only provides you with specialised knowledge and skills that you would not otherwise have access to, but you will gain important networks and connections that may be helpful down the line in your journey.

It's also important to think about the long-term benefits of pursuing a PhD versus short-term gains. While social media platforms like TikTok may offer the potential for instant fame and recognition, consider whether that type of success is sustainable or has longevity. Realistically, most individuals pursue several careers in a lifetime as we are living longer. So although pursuing a PhD may require more time and effort upfront, it can lead to a more stable and fulfilling career, even if it is only one of many. Even if you don’t remain in your initial field, the skills, confidence and connections you gain will very likely continue to be valuable for years to come. So with that in mind:

• Network and collaborate with other researchers in your field. Attend conferences, seminars, and workshops to meet others who share your interests and can offer valuable insights and advice. Collaborating with others can also help you to tackle more complex research questions and gain new perspectives on your work.

• Be open to change and adjust your plans as needed. Research can be unpredictable, and sometimes you may need to shift your focus or modify your methods to accommodate unexpected findings or new data. It's important to stay flexible and adapt to changing circumstances in order to make progress.