Category: Miscellany

This guest post is written by Magdeline Lum – Chemist, Metallurgist & Photographer, Master of Science Communication student and blogger. In this post, in honour of Valentine’s Day, Magdeline tells us about her experience of dating a Thesis. I write this from my experience, and do so hesitantly, but at the same time it needs …continue reading.

Drinking booze – compatible with the PhD life. Or not?

Where I wonder how much ‘excess baggage’ PhD students carry in the form of someone else’s beliefs

Where I nerd out and do a content anaylis of a twitter meme to see if I can find out how PhD students are really feeling

This week we feature a guest post by PhD student and Whisperer reader @cuteangel. Here she reflects on whether or not an academic coach is the answer to PhD woes. Being a PhD student and a mother made realise there can be certain similarities between being a child and a student. My kids are young …continue reading.

Where I talk about sex and writing – but not in a dirty way.

Want to start a blog which sells you academic expertise?

The other day a student came to see me after his mid point presentation. He was upset because the panel chair had questioned the scope of the work and his ability get the rest of it done. The student felt the questioning was out of line. Who was this academic who hadn’t worked in a …continue reading.

PhD students are an interesting cohort. At our university the average age of a PhD student is 36, which means you can safely bet that most students have some family responsibilities – either to a spouse, elderly parents, animals or children. Parenting is challenging for PhD students because, in addition to the caring work that …continue reading.

A friend of mine tells the story of her first day as a PhD student with equal parts amusement and horror. One day she had a busy life as an academic, working with a wide range of students and colleagues, the next she was a PhD student who just had to hand in a thesis …continue reading.