Doing a PhD can be a hard road for everyone, even supervisors. This page contains people and online resources which I have found useful, both as a student and as a supervisor.
If there is a page or service that you think should be included, please email the editor. Please note, I do not charge money for people to advertise here, but this means that I don’t promote just everyone who asks. I carefully curate these resources to make sure I am pointing people to reputable sources and suppliers.
Thesis Whisperer workshops and resources
You can see more of my teaching materials on my workshops and training page.
I have produced a series of videos with various research tips and techniques, which you can access on the Thesis Whisperer YouTube channel.
The Thesis Whisperer blackline masters series are materials I use in my workshops with research students. They are in the form of a blackline master: an A4 sheet with exercises or information designed to be photocopied and used in classrooms. These blackline masters are free to use under creative commons share a-like attribution license. Each blackline master listed below has text, which you can lift for your own purposes, and an attached PDF formatted for easy photocopying.
Support networks
There is some evidence that PhD students can struggle with mental health more than other student groups. Unfortunately it is relatively common to have low periods during your PhD, but it’s important to be able to distinguish between ‘the PhD blues’ and a developing mental health condition that is potentially serious and needs treatment. Here are some resources to help:
- If you are worried about how you feel, here’s a useful self assessment checklist for anxiety and depression. Please see someone if you think you need help.
- Need to talk someone immediately? Unsuicide offers a global directory of helplines you can call or text.
- More mental health resources and a hotline are available from Beyond Blue.
- The academic mental health collective enables PhD students to share stories of their experience of mental health issues.
- If you are feeling low, but not actually depressed, physical activity can help a lot. All the more reason to get up from your desk or away from the bench! Here is some research and suggestions:
- At our thesis bootcamps we have found that mindfulness exercises can help people refocus back on writing with less anxiety. Here’s a mindfulness tip sheet to get you started.
- Chronically academic is a network of scholars affected by disabilities and chronic illnesses.
Academic coaches and editors
There are a number of dodgy companies out there offering to write your thesis in, publish your work or do proof reading – don’t get sucked in. Below are some reputable providers:
- Anuja Cabraal provides excellent Nvivo training
- The Freelance Editors Network (Australia)
- Society for editors and proofreaders (UK)
- Thesis bootcamps in the UK by Dr Peta Freestone
- Janene Carey – thesis editing services (Australia)
- Karin Hosking – editing service based in Canberra, Australia. Email: chezkaz@gmail.com
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RPP (Renee Peterson Presents Pty Ltd) is an Australian media company that specialises in helping individual academics craft their social media profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok). Email the Director, Renee Peterson: renee.peterson@me.com or connect via Renee’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/renee-peterson
Employment specialists and Recruiters
Did you know over 50% of PhD graduates go on to careers outside academia? I have a special interest in employability and helping people find jobs where they can use their research skills. Here is a small list of consultants and specialists you might find useful. I am working on a new app called PostAc to help you find jobs you might be interested in – stay tuned!
APR Interns is a program for Australian PhD students to get paid experience in industry
BlueFin Resources are an Australian based company that specialise in placing PhD graduates in science
Mexec Careers have a special interest in, and experience with PhD graduates in Australia
Amy Bohren – individual career coaching, Australian based (email redcareers@outlook.com)
The resilient researcher offer individual coaching and workshops to Australian based graduates and PhD students
Dr Richard Huysmans provides Australian based workshops
Useful Web Resources
- 23 Things (Oxford university engage program site)
- A List of Fallacious Arguments
- Academic Productivity Hacks
- Advanced research skills course from QUT
- Altmetrics – other ways of measuring research impact
- How to make a cornell note taking template
- How to focus in the age of distraction
- Learning to work (pdf)
- Missed periods and other grammar scares
- Optomising your citations
- Presentation Zen
- Typography with Tex and Latex
- Writing across Boundaries
- Beyond the PhD
- Leaving academia
- Manchester post graduate careers blog
- Manchester Academic Phrase Bank
- Manchester methods database
- Scrivener – a different kind of word processor
- Unsplash – free high quality photos for bloggers
- Viva Survivors Podcast
