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40 Must-read academic blogs for researchers and PhD students

Around the web

Andrea Hayward

I am a scicomm junkie! I love scouring the Internet for instances of researchers and other professionals within science and academia engaging in online science communication and outreach. Not to mention picking up and following the buzz around various trending social media conversations initiated by these individuals! Of all the existing forms of online engagement, academic blogs are at the top of my list of sources to learn more about what researchers really feel about the scholarly publishing industry. Blogs offer a great way to pick up chatter about what’s brewing in scholarly publishing and what researchers think about specific aspects of academia.

Today, researchers blog to talk about their research interests, their own publications, advances and innovations within their academic disciplines, and personal views about various aspects of the scholarly publishing industry. They also use blogging platforms to share experiences and anecdotes from across their academic careers as well as some of the challenges they faced along the way and how they scaled them. Several blogs are also dedicated to providing tips and guidance to fellow researchers and PhD students as they embark on their own academic journey.

In this post, I’d like to share 40 popular blogs by academics. Each listing gives you a brief idea of what you will find in the blog. Aside from being avid bloggers, these academics also have a prominent Twitter presence. For this reason, I’ve also included one of their tweets at the end of each listing. I hope you like this list and find an academic blog that you really enjoy reading!

1.  Academics Write ( @academicswrite ):

As the name suggests, Academics Write is a blog about “academic writing in all disciplines.” Blog owner, Kim Mitchell is from a nursing discipline and is an Instructor at Red River College, Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada. Academics Write hosts an interesting mix of blog posts that includes research-based information, experience-based stories and anecdotes, and opinion pieces. Writing for an audience of post-secondary instructors, academic writers, and students, Kim blogs about topics such as the value of writing, self-efficacy, myths about academic writing, and deciding when it is right to grant a student an extension.

NEW BLOG! 6 myths of academic writing that are not helping our students learn to write better. Please comment and add to the list. I know I've probably missed a few. #AcWri https://t.co/wTV6AM50Xd — Academics Write (@academicswrite) January 23, 2018

2.  Athene Donald's Blog ( @AtheneDonald ) :

Athene Donald is a Physics Professor at the University of Cambridge, and has been a professor for over 20 years. Unlike some of the other blogs in this list that have adopted a coaching-oriented approach, Professor Donald’s blog seems to offer researchers’ opinions and perspectives. Her blog posts cover topics such as what to do and avoid doing at academic conferences, gender disparity in academia, etc. She also attempts to maintain a balance by sharing a few blog posts about her personal life and interests. 

Who are the worst offenders in conference time-keeping? My post:Guilty of Rambling on https://t.co/OHIKIDWOyZ — Athene Donald (@AtheneDonald) March 30, 2018

3 . Belcher Writing Advice ( @WendyLBelcher ):

Belcher Writing Advice is a blog that covers two broad topics--writing advice for academics, and research and teaching about Africa. It is managed by Wendy Laura Belcher, Associate Professor of African Literature at Princeton University with a joint appointment in the Department of Comparative Literature and the Department of African American Studies. With respect to academic writing, Belcher Writing Advice covers topics such as writing a journal article, writing a book review, how to read journals, and how to manage a peer-reviewed journal. The blog also offers a rich archive of reading material for readers who share Wendy’s research interests, i.e., African literature.

Reviews of Peer-Reviewed Journals in Humanities & Social Sciences The scuttlebutt on academic journals, aiding you in selecting the right journal for publication, written by Princeton grad students. https://t.co/CchlTDc27h #AcWri #GetYourManuscriptOut #PhDChat #12weekarticle — Wendy Laura Belcher (@WendyLBelcher) February 25, 2018

4 . Beyond the Doctorate ( @ FionaEWhelan ):

Beyond the Doctorate is a blog managed by Dr. Fiona Whelan, Academic Standards and Quality Officer at Queen Mary University of London. Dr. Whelan’s blog goes beyond discussions about her academic career. She started this blog with the intention of sharing her experiences with other doctoral students as she made “a transition away from pure research into a practical, real-world job.” She blogs about topics such as the challenges of post-doctoral research life and advises students about dealing with different stages of academic life, exploring alternative academic careers, etc.

Why I didn't apply for that "perfect" academic job and how I learned to be honest with myself about what it would take for me to come back to academia. Hint: it is about wellbeing. #ecr #ecrchat #altac https://t.co/5fxSJoHp3O — Dr Fiona Whelan ☘ (@FionaEWhelan) April 3, 2018

5 . Dan Cohen ( @dancohen ):

Dr. Dan Cohen is a Vice Provost, Dean, and Professor at Northeastern University. He blogs about topics such as current trends in library and information science, digital libraries, ebooks, the influence of digital technology on various aspects of life today, web cultures, digital humanities, digital public libraries, science communication trends, and science publishing. In an interesting post, Dr. Cohen talks about a concept that he has called “blessay.” According to him, the blessay is “a manifestation of the convergence of journalism and scholarship in mid-length forms online.” He further explains that a blessay avoids academic jargon as it is written for “both specialists and an intelligent general audience.”

Really excited about the launch of my new podcast, What’s New, which will cover new ideas and discoveries: https://t.co/OnwbYeBMFS pic.twitter.com/b50RSkwXd7 — Dan Cohen (@dancohen) September 19, 2017

6 .  Diary of Dr. Logic ( @ SaraLUckelman ):

Diary of Dr. Logic is a blog managed by Sara L. Uckelman, Assistant Professor at Durham University. Diary of Dr. Logic offers blog posts on several topics related to scholarly publishing and life as an academic. More specifically, Professor Uckelman blogs about her approach to teaching logic and philosophy, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, tips on being productive, and more.

"How do you do it?" In this blog post, I awkwardly attempt to answer that question, reflecting on the factors that allow me to be as productive, academically and non-academically, as I am: https://t.co/RoFvDnLwDg — Doctor Logic (@SaraLUckelman) April 10, 2018

7 .  DoctoralWritingSIG ( @DocwritingSIG ):

DoctoralWritingSIG is moderated by Dr. Claire Aitchison , Doctoral Writing Consultant; Dr. Cally Guerin , Research Training Scheme Officer, University of Adelaide; and Dr. Susan Carter , Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland. DoctoralWritingSIG is an informative forum where those interested in doctoral writing can “share information, resources, ideas, and dreams,” irrespective of where they stand in their academic careers. With a view to build a base of knowledge and skills around research writing, the blog covers topics such as grant writing, tips on writing the different sections of a thesis or dissertation, grammar advice, and academic publishing guidance.

How many hours writing for the doctorate? https://t.co/KUBhQgAkwn — Doctoralwriting (@DocwritingSIG) March 18, 2018

8 .  Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD (@raulpacheco ):

Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega is an Assistant Professor in the Public Administration Division of the Centre for Economic Research and Teaching. His blog is populated with insightful articles on various aspects of academic life such as academic writing, reading strategies, and surviving and thriving in academia. He also features posts about his own research and public policy issues that interest him. Offering interesting text interspersed with relevant images and tweets, Dr. Pacheco-Vega’s blog posts make for a very engaging reading experience.

I'm on cup 3 of caffeine this morning and I am still struggling. How about you all? — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) April 18, 2018

9 .  Dr. Catherine Pope ( @ catherinepope ):

Dr. Catherine Pope is a freelance research and writing skills trainer. She blogs about academic writing; focusing on topics like overcoming procrastination, implementing planning techniques before writing, etc. Her blog also offers posts dedicated to helping readers learn about tools for researchers that could enhance their productivity. Dr. Pope maintains separate categories for blog posts that provide tips on using Evernote and Zotero. Both of these are digital tools designed to facilitate various aspects of the conducting research and writing research papers.

A final message from #ThesisBootCamp @UoPBusiness pic.twitter.com/d7GQlFk95N — Catherine Pope (@catherinepope) March 18, 2018

10 .  Dr. Nadine Muller ( @Nadine_Muller ):

Dr. Nadine Muller is a Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Cultural History at Liverpool John Moores University. Her blog is about academia and her experiences within academia. Amongst other things, she says that her blog is about “redefining what it takes to be an academic and how academics are expected to present themselves, their lives, and their work.” Dr. Muller aims to provide support, training, and development resources for postgraduate and early career researchers. She blogs about topics such as preparing for an academic job interview, prioritizing during doctoral studies, and the mental health of professionals within academia.

Resuming my every-fifteen-minutes manual email check in the hope to finally receive the outcome of my AHRC Leadership Fellows application. Torture! #academia #ecrchat #phdchat #acwri pic.twitter.com/ce76FEhKTc — Dr Nadine Muller (@Nadine_Muller) April 9, 2018

11.   Ellie Mackin ( @EllieMackin ):

Dr. Ellie Mackin Roberts is a Teaching Fellow in Ancient History at the University of Leicester and a Research Associate at the Institute of Classical Studies, London. She is also one of the moderators of @ ECRchat — the Twitter feed for early career researchers. Her blog consists of a rich reserve of posts that cover a wide array of topics pertaining to academic life. She blogs about academic writing, post-PhD life, academic conferences, job applications, and many other interesting topics.

Ancient history is an unsolvable puzzle That's what makes it awesome Shout it from the rooftop #odetoancienthistory #lovemydiscipline — Dr Ellie Mackin Roberts (@EllieMackin) November 18, 2016

12.  Explorations of Style ( @explorstyle ):

Explorations of Style is a blog that “offers an ongoing discussion of the challenges of academic writing.”  The blog is managed by Rachael Cayley, Associate Professor in the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication, University of Toronto. Professor Cayley aims to provide her readers with strategies to help them improve their research writing skills. For this purpose, she blogs about topics such as dealing with writing anxiety, creating reverse outlines, and the writing process.

My latest post considers the limitations of classifying writing problems as writer's block: https://t.co/ITQhxiVSVA #acwri #productivity #phdchat — ExplorationsofStyle (@explorstyle) March 5, 2018

13.  Feral Librarian ( @mchris4duke ):

Feral Librarian is a blog managed by Dr. Chris Bourg, Director of Libraries at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Bourg blogs about research libraries, higher education, and scholarly publishing. Occasionally, her blog posts also discuss some of her personal interests – sports, music, and social justice issues. Among the blog's most recent posts is a text version of Dr. Bourg’s interesting keynote talk at the 2018 Creative Commons Global Summit – “Open as in dangerous.”

Text of my #CCSummit talk: Open as in dangerous https://t.co/J47pT1vdPF pic.twitter.com/iRi0VZFTLa — Chris Bourg (@mchris4duke) April 17, 2018

14.   From PhD to Life ( @FromPhDtoLife ):

From PhD to Life is a blog run by Dr. Jennifer Polk , History PhD turned academic, life, and career coach for graduate students and PhDs. Summing it up herself, Dr. Polk says that she helps “PhDs launch meaningful careers” by helping them dive deeper into their own interests, explore their options, and deal with academic pressure. From PhD to Life offers a wide range of resources for PhDs, all of which are aimed at helping them maneuver their academic careers smoothly and live a better life. Dr. Polk recommends her Transition Q&A series as a must-read section! This section showcases inspiring stories of PhDs as they take us through their fulfilling post-PhD journeys.

"When you leave academia, you do not leave your passion behind." - @CJContrada #postac #withaphd #highered https://t.co/EEYDohaZzw pic.twitter.com/wAWjJUgIHc — Jennifer Polk (@FromPhDtoLife) April 15, 2018

15.   From The Lab Bench ( @FromTheLabBench ):

From The Lab Bench is a blog about “all things science.” It is managed by Dr. Paige Brown Jarreau , Science Communication Specialist for the College of Science, Louisiana State University. While pursuing her doctoral degree, Dr. Jarreau realized that although she enjoyed time spent at the lab bench, she loved writing and communicating about her research even more! And that’s how “From The Lab Bench” was born. Dr. Jarreau blogs about topics such as science blogging, social media advice, and science journalism.

It’s ridiculous to conjecture that most women scientists are putting on lipstick and posing in the lab with the deliberate goal of challenging gender science stereotypes, and then using minutes they'd rather be spending doing research to post pics to IG. https://t.co/1Sb3kom4de — Dr. Paige Jarreau (@FromTheLabBench) March 26, 2018

16.  Get a Life, PhD ( @ tanyaboza ):

Get a Life, PhD is a blog managed by Tanya Golash-Boza, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Merced. The core theme of her blog is succeeding in academia while simultaneously leading a rich life outside of academia as well. In this blog, she shares advice that will help readers “balance life and work and attain a happier life on the tenure track.” Get a Life, PhD offers a host of informative blogposts on academic writing and publishing. Professor Golash-Boza blogs about topics such as writing a literature review, tips for responding to a revise and resubmit decision from a journal and presenting at academic conferences. She also writes about academics’ work-life balance, how academics can find time to exercise, making the most of academic travel, and being an academic parent. 

Looking forward to talking about how academics can do more of what they love, and better tomorrow at the University of Oregon. https://t.co/tMoZYJAXcg — Tanya Golash-Boza (@tanyaboza) April 5, 2018

Check out Professor Golash-Boza’s guest article on Editage Insights - How to respond to a "revise and resubmit" decision from a journal: 10 Steps to a successful revision 17.  Green Tea and Velociraptors ( @Protohedgehog ):

Green Tea and Velociraptors is a blog managed by Dr. Jon Tennant, Founder, Open Science MOOC. The blog’s intriguing name is brought to life by its fascinating theme and imagery—it’s not every day that you see a dinosaur wearing a top hat at a fancy tea party! Green Tea and Velociraptors offers you a wide range of interesting topics to choose from. Dr. Tennant blogs about his learnings as a PhD student, his research interests, and other topics relevant to academic life such as peer review and open science and science communication. The blog also features a section that includes all of this own research publications.

My Research Resolutions for 2018: 1. All papers Open Access (self-archived). 2. All code on GitHub. 3. All data on @OSFramework . 4. Peer review only Open Access articles (see 1). 5. Make sure all papers have non-specialist summaries. 6. Encourage others to do 1-5. — Jon Tennant (@Protohedgehog) January 5, 2018

18.  Helen Kara ( @ DrHelenKara ):

Dr. Helen Kara is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and a Visiting Fellow at the UK’s National Centre for Research Methods. She has been an independent researcher since 1999 and instructs researchers and students on research methods. Dr. Kara blogs about research methods, academic writing and publishing, research ethics, research collaboration, etc.

New blog post: Books on Academic Writing Productivity https://t.co/nzayUKGVN6 #acwri #phdchat #ecrchat #academia — Helen Kara (@DrHelenKara) April 17, 2018

19.  James Hayton, Phd ( @jameshaytonphd ):

Former physicist Dr. James Hayton works with PhD students to help them through the PhD research and writing process. He aims to make the lives of PhD students a little easier as they set out on their journey towards their PhDs. His main focus is helping them develop the skills necessary for doing a PhD. In light of this, his blog offers a rich reserve of blogposts covering topics such as academic writing, PhD survival, choosing a topic for your thesis, and dealing with PhD failures.  

Choose a research methodology that suits your character https://t.co/FCMDOy7Nya #phdchat #phdadvice (from the archives) — James Hayton (@jameshaytonphd) April 21, 2018

20.  Jo Van Every ( @JoVanEvery ):

Dr. Jo Van Every is an academic career guide who loves “helping others love their academic work.” Her blog offers advice on academic writing; more specifically, it aims to help you develop effective writing skills. She also blogs about publishing for scholarly and non-scholarly audiences and decision-making throughout the academic journey, dealing with procrastination, the need to maintain work-life balance, and peer review, amongst many others.  

Not working on weekends also makes you a better teacher and researcher. https://t.co/n817gJEyl6 — Jo VanEvery (@JoVanEvery) April 13, 2018

21.   Learning Scientists ( @ AceThatTest ):

Learning Scientists was co-founded by cognitive psychologists Dr. Megan A. Sumeracki and Dr. Yana Weinstein . They started the blog with a major focus on the science of learning. Learning Scientists publishes blogposts for researchers, teaching professionals, and students to “make scientific research on learning more accessible.” It covers topics such as effective learning and note-taking strategies, creating study plans, and heuristics, amongst others. The blog is an engrossing read for anyone fascinated by human cognition and cognitive psychology, regardless of their own research interests.

NEW DIGEST: Note-Taking Strategies @oxfordlearning @GoConqr @kingthor @TheCrashCourse https://t.co/0w3gJ43joR pic.twitter.com/4Ap4kHsjK8 — Learning Scientists (@AceThatTest) April 9, 2018

22.  Making Physics Fun ( @jesswade ):  

Making Physics Fun is a blog managed by Dr. Jess Wade , a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London. Making Physics Fun offers resources on a wide range of topics such as grants and funding opportunities, science presentations and reporting, as well as links to resources on physics and chemistry. Dr. Wade also loves to doodle and her blog showcases a number of vibrant, fascinating doodles, each of which depicts various aspects of a single topic such as science careers, tips for scientists speaking to journalists, imposter syndrome, etc.

Turns out @Malala wants girls to study physics too. #ICWIP2017 #GirlsInSTEM pic.twitter.com/kqxd3JfRA6 — Dr Jess Wade ‍ (@jesswade) July 20, 2017

23.  Nick Hopwood ( @NHopUTS ):

Nick Hopwood is an Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney. He blogs about a host of topics related to “doctoral research and supervision, early career academic experiences, social science research methodology, academic work and publishing,” and whatever else catches his interest. His blog posts - which include a mix of blogs, videos, and podcasts - are well-organized and archived under categories such as being a doctoral student, academic work and careers, conference presentations, and academic writing. In addition, Nick has an interesting, unconventional take on academic rejection that gained more than 1,000 retweets on Twitter!

My new display of rejections for all visitors to my office to enjoy! #phdchat #ecrchat #academia #peerreview pic.twitter.com/o8rBkaa1jp — Nick Hopwood (@NHopUTS) June 21, 2017

24.  patter ( @ThomsonPat ):

Patter is a blog managed by Pat Thomson, Professor of Education in the School of Education, University of Nottingham. Mainly catering to PhD students and early career researchers, Professor Thomson blogs about topics such as academic writing, research education, conferences, and funding. She delves into the tiniest of details when it comes to academic writing, sharing her insights on writing a research question, citations and references, using images in your research paper, finding relevant publications within your field for a good literature review, etc. Although her blog covers of a variety of subjects pertaining to academic life fairly comprehensively, she also welcomes guest contributions.  

How “the contribution” can help to organise the thesis. #phdchat #phdadvice #phdforum #thesis #research https://t.co/XFYt6o4j1u — pat thomson (@ThomsonPat) April 2, 2018

25.   PhD Talk ( @ evalantsoght ):

PhD Talk is a blog managed by Dr Eva Lantsoght, Researcher at Delft University of Technology. PhD Talk publishes blog posts on the “process of doing a PhD, the non-scientific skills you need during your PhD,” and Dr. Lantsoght’s experiences living abroad and travelling. She also blogs about her current research interest, structural concrete. Her blog posts cover research and academic writing tips, as well as other topics such as presenting at academic conferences, life as a PhD, being productive, and managing time effectively. Dr. Lantsoght also encourages submissions from guest contributors, with a special invitation to those wanting to take a whack at academic blogging before starting a website of their own.

Do you use first person in your academic writing? — Dr Eva Lantsoght (@evalantsoght) April 20, 2018

26.   PLOS ECR Community ( @PLOSECR ):

As described on the PLOS website, PLOS ECR Community is a forum for the next generation of scientists and science writers. The blog aims to provide an “outlet for promising writers who are currently studying a science discipline at the undergrad, graduate or post-doctoral levels.” Managed by PLOS Social Media Associate, Sara Kassabian , all blog posts are contributed by a community of undergrads, graduate students, and post-docs hailing from various academic disciplines. So in addition to providing insightful tips, each post also entails an interesting real-life experience of the contributing ECR. PLOS ECR Community covers topics such as surviving academic conferences as a PhD student, organizing papers references, and the pros and cons of blogging as an ECR.

If you're preparing your first conference talk and feeling nervous, check out today's post for reassurance that you can do it! #ECR #PhDChat https://t.co/3rl5gREPVC — PLOS ECR Community (@PLOSECR) April 10, 2018

27.  Reciprocal Space ( @Stephen_Curry ):

Reciprocal Space is a blog managed by Stephen Curry, Professor of Structural Biology at Imperial College, London. Through this blog, he aims to share “what it’s like to work in science in the UK in the 21st Century, to explore the larger social and political responsibilities of being a scientist” as well as his own musings on other topics that may not be directly related to science. Professor Curry’s blog posts cover topics ranging from academic publishing and peer review to open access, life in science, and his own experiences and learnings from attending academic conferences.

My piece in Nature on the next steps for a reinvigorated DORA: time to change how we judge research https://t.co/lXRyybwAtx — Stephen Curry (@Stephen_Curry) February 7, 2018

28.   Scientist Sees Squirrel ( @ StephenBHeard ):

Scientist Sees Squirrel is a blog managed by Dr. Stephen Heard, an evolutionary ecologist and entomologist at the University of New Brunswick and the author of the book “ The Scientists’ Guide to Writing .” Dr. Heard and his associates seek to understand “how ecological interactions and environmental contexts have influenced the assembly and evolution of ecological communities.” He blogs about aspects of academic writing and publishing such as writing an effective methods section, handling peer review, journal rejection, etc.    

More on "Can a thesis chapter be coauthored", from readers - really interesting comment thread, and examples! Yes, the same paper *can* appear in two different theses. https://t.co/t9IEu3V5As — Stephen Heard (@StephenBHeard) April 13, 2018

29.  Shut Up & Write Tuesdays ( @SUWTues ):

Shut Up & Write Tuesdays is a “virtual writing workshop for academic folk.” Regardless of the kind of academic literature you are writing – thesis chapter, journal article, conference abstract, or something else – their basic aim is to “help you set aside dedicated writing time and make progress.” Dr. Siobhan O’Dwyer , Senior Lecturer in Ageing and Family Care, University of Exeter, is the founder and coordinator of Shut Up & Write Tuesdays. She is joined by multiple hosts who organize three virtual Shut Up & Write sessions on Twitter on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The blog maintains a list of writing tips that offers writing advice from around the web. It also offers a list of “non-academic reads” with a view to inspiring readers to learn and apply the techniques and strategies of other writers to their own academic writing.  

READY, STEADY, GO!!! And we're off & writing... For the next 25 minutes. See you when we get to the break! #SUWTues pic.twitter.com/m869trjgj5 — ShutUp&WriteTuesdays (@SUWTues) April 17, 2018

30.  Surviving Science ( @NatashaTracey ):

Surviving Science is a blog managed by Natasha Tracey, a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, studying cancer research. The inception of her blog was fueled by her strong passion for science communication. Through “Surviving Science” she aims to share her experiences as a PhD student, both highs and lows. Natasha’s blog posts cover topics such as how to write different sections of a research paper, how to critically analyze a paper, and dealing with peer reviewer comments. She also blogs about her own research dealing with breast cancer.

New post now live on the blog...some science #realtalk #phdchat https://t.co/hgzmAD4cnk — Natasha Tracey (@NatashaTracey) February 13, 2018

31.  The Comfort Pursuit ( @ silgtavares ):

The Comfort Pursuit is a blog managed by Dr. Silvia Tavares, Lecturer in Urban Design at James Cook University. At the surface, it may seem that “The Comfort Pursuit” only showcases Dr. Tavares’ interest in the interfaces between architecture, urbanism, and landscape. However, a closer look at the various categories the blog has to offer revealed that Dr. Tavares also shares insights on academic writing, postgraduate life, and relevant tools and websites for researchers.

"It takes courage to find your voice in the noise of other people’s thoughts - which is what research writing is...” from How to be an Academic by Inger Melbourne #acwri https://t.co/umFEoOpdKH pic.twitter.com/mt9KUhf6Cd — Dr Silvia Tavares (@silgtavares) March 28, 2018

32. The Mad Scientist Confectioner's Club ( @ BioDataGanache ):

The Mad Scientist Confectioner’s Club is a blog run by Dr. Jason McDermott, Senior Research Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He is also the man behind the unique academic and research-based comic series on Twitter known as RedPen/BlackPen . According to Dr. McDermott, this blog covers the various elements of his own life and a few that go beyond. He blogs about various topics that fall within the realm of academic publishing such as academic writing, peer review, the scientific method, research funding, and science communication. Coupling each blog post with one of this fascinating doodles, Jason’s blog makes for an exciting reading experience!

You might also remember him from our list of 27 Hilarious academics on Twitter . Here’s a glimpse of one of his comics to jolt your memory! 

Not even when you're stranded on a desert island... #phdproblems pic.twitter.com/yFYxKiYYs8 — RedPen/BlackPen (@redpenblackpen) April 20, 2018

33.  The PhD Blog ( @Rob_MacIntosh ):

The PhD Blog is suitable for anyone who is considering or is already doing doctoral level research. It is managed by managed by Robert MacIntosh, Honorary Professor, University of St. Andrews and Head of School of Management and Languages, Heriot-Watt University. While most of the PhD Blog’s posts are intended for an audience studying management, many of the topics covered are transferrable to other disciplines and settings. Professor MacIntosh blogs about topics such as research methodology, epsitemology and ontology, research questions , and finding gaps in the literature.

Get some help with #methodology #epistemology and #ontology for #phd students and others. #phdchat #phdlife ... https://t.co/eXS86IwKer pic.twitter.com/ov2wz3Qk0N — Robert MacIntosh (@Rob_MacIntosh) October 4, 2017

34.  The Research Whisperer ( @researchwhisper )

The Research Whisperer is jointly managed by Dr Tseen Khoo , Lecturer, Research Education and Development, La Trobe University and Jonathan O'Donnell , Senior Advisor, Research Development at RMIT University. Similar to another academic blog, The Thesis Whisperer, it consists of blog posts by a number of contributors, all of which broadly focus on “doing research in academia.” More specifically, the posts cover topics such as finding funding, research culture, and building academic track-records. A special feature of The Research Whisperer is that it encourages readers to share their questions, interests, and feedback, which in turn function as a pool of potential ideas for new blogposts.

How to Write an Abstract for a Conference. Useful advice from @exordo . https://t.co/8D6jBY6nT3 — Research Whisperer (@researchwhisper) April 13, 2018

35.  The Serial Mentor ( @ClausWilke ):

The Serial Mentor is a blog managed by Claus Wilke, Professor of Integrative Biology, University of Texas. The Serial Mentor offers a series of blog posts on scientific writing. Each of the posts is well organized and, according to Professor Wilke, can be considered as sections of books he may have written. He covers tips and advice on writing effectively, drafting grant proposals, writing and submitting research papers, etc. He also talks about career development-related topics such as how to be successful in graduate school, making effective presentations, and applying for academic jobs.   

New preview chapter: Telling a story with data https://t.co/XhkD2HnxX8 pic.twitter.com/jG6pN4SAIy — Claus Wilke (@ClausWilke) March 18, 2018

36.  The Skeptical Scientist ( @ Research_Tim  ):

The Skeptical Scientist is a blog managed by Tim van der Zee, PhD student at Leiden University. Explaining the name of his blog, Tim says that skeptical scientists are those who are skeptical about their own research, about what they read, and that they aim to maximize evidential value. Through this blog, he shares his thoughts about research methodology, study design, evidence, (statistical) inference, and on how we can improve science. The Skeptical Scientist covers topics such as how to apply for an academic job and how to interpret confidence intervals.

I just got accepted as a visiting fellow at the University of Michigan, meaning I'm going to Ann Arbor this summer for three months! pic.twitter.com/PZi1uUgWFm — Tim van der Zee (@Research_Tim) April 19, 2018

Check out Tim van der Zee's guest article on Editage Insights -  Why you should be a skeptical scientist

37.  The Thesis Whisperer ( @thesiswhisperer )

As the name indicates, The Thesis Whisperer aims to help research and PhD students through their journey towards completing a thesis or a dissertation. The blog publishes articles written by multiple contributors across the globe, all of which are edited by Dr Inger Mewburn , Director of Research Training at the Australian National University. The Thesis Whisperer’s archives include interesting PhD stories and experiences combined with useful tips to help PhD students conquer different challenges they face. Some of these tips cover writing and submitting a thesis, coping with stress, staying on track to achieve PhD goals, attending conferences, etc. Given that the blog’s contributors share tips that helped them scale their own PhD challenges, there is a personal touch and charm to each blogpost. 

When I needed to make an index I tried to google a how to, but I couldn’t find one. Not as easy as I thought! Here’s my walk through - an extract from our forthcoming book “Writing Trouble” https://t.co/s8ptxDESoq #phdchat #acwri #writing #phdadvice — Dr Inger Mewburn (@thesiswhisperer) April 10, 2018

38.  WebMz ( @webmz_ ):

WebMz is a blog managed by Dr. Maryam Zaringhalam, biologist, science writer, and 2017 AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow. Dr. Zaringhalam writes for a variety of interesting scholarly and academic blogs, and each of her blog posts is archived on WebMz. Her blog covers a host of topics including women in science, the importance of speaking about failure in science, and exploring alternative academic career options.  

Highlighting the ways science fails to be inclusive and equitable is important. But we can’t do that at the expense of highlighting the amazing work women and minorities have put in to make it better. Anyway, it’s me for @Slate ! https://t.co/07LDgRBnpE — Maryam Zaringhalam, PhD (@webmz_) April 6, 2018

39.  Write, Publish, Thrive ( @WriteNThrive ):

Write, Publish, Thrive is a blog about writing, publishing, and scholarly life. It is managed by Dr. Rich Furman , Professor at the University of Washington. Dr. Furman aims to help academics “maximize their strengths and transcend their psychosocial barriers so they can build powerful careers and thrive.” In light of this, Write, Publish, Thrive offers practical tips for publishing scholarly articles, and strengths-based coaching for academics, amongst other resources.

Write, Publish, Thrive! A Blog about Writing, Publishing and the Scholarly Life: Finessing Responses to Editors https://t.co/EtmcJGvQEn — Rich Furman (@WriteNThrive) March 17, 2018

40.  Writing for Research ( @Write4Research ):

As one of the prominent London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Blogs, Writing for Research provides insightful, practical advice and commentary for an audience ranging from PhD students and early career researchers to full-time teaching professionals and researchers working outside academia. As the sole contributor to all posts on this blog, Patrick Dunleavy , Professor of Political Science and Public Policy in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics, aims to share the best approach to “write and communicate at an advanced research level.” With distinct, well-defined sections covering topics such as research writing, doing PhD work, and writing blogs, Writing for Research offers you “a menu of suggestions,” which you can choose to apply based on its relevance and suitability to your own academic career. 

Top Ten style checks for PhDs or creative non-fiction writers https://t.co/ZqCJk2VEgr via @Write4Research — Writing For Research (@Write4Research) April 13, 2018

That brings us to the end of our list of blogs by academics. What did you think of the blogs? How many of these were you already following? Do you know of other such blogs offering useful tips on academic writing and related topics? Write to us in the comments section. We’d love to hear you views!

Note: The blogs mentioned above have been listed alphabetically. However, this is not an exhaustive list and will be updated as and when we come across similar blogs.

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10 Essential Dissertation Blogs for Ph.D. Students

If you are anything like me, then having a few blogs and podcasts to follow is essential to every project – and dissertation blogs are no exception.

In this post, I’ll share ten of my favorite research blogs for dissertation students, including academic, writing, and humorous options. (Don’t worry – we’ll get to podcasts another day!)

Dissertation blogs are great, because you can get everything from instructional tips on research and writing to motivational daydreaming and validation for your frustrations. I think these ten blogs offer a good range of what you need to survive the dissertation research and writing process – but let me know what you think!

(And yes – the ReadWritePerfect Dissertation Advice blog also offers these things – but it’s nice to have options, right?)

The Thesis Whisperer

This blog offers ten years of humorous and supportive content from professor inger mewburn..

Director of Researcher Development at The Australian National University, Professor Mewburn writes The Thesis Whisperer with candor, humor, and more than a little bit of inside knowledge. her tips on writing, surviving the dissertation process, and staying motivated are user-friendly and filled with empathy.

Nick Hopwood

Associate professor at the university of technology, sydney, hopwood shares insight on research, academic work, writing, and more..

More formal and authoritative than the Thesis Whisperer, Nick Hopwood is a site for readers who prefer an all-business approach to academia. As well as the blogs, readers can find podcasts and instructional videos on the site.

Get a life, PhD

Although the last post was in 2021, this dissertation blog offers years of blogs on everything from how to find a life-work balance to general tips on academic writing..

Get A Life, PhD is all about finding the balance between letting your PhD fall to the wayside and letting your PhD consume you, mind, body, and soul. I especially love the practical, realistic tips on time management.

Research to Action

This collaborative site offers a synthesis of instructive blogging, online community, and academic debate, all focused on improving research strategies..

The Research to Action site is a pretty comprehensive one-stop-shop for researchers at all levels, from PhD candidate to seasoned researcher. The site itself is well-designed, as as well as instruction, readers can find reading lists, calls for submissions, and even job opportunities.

The Professor Is In

This dissertation blog offers guidance and resources for graduate students and academics from a range of contributors..

Slightly more commercial than some of the other blogs listed here, the key strength of The Professor is In lies in the range of contributors lending their voices and expertise to the content, from a productivity coach to a graduate director to an editor to several professors and assistant professors. Between them, they know everything there is to know about thriving in academia.

The Research Whisperer

This research blog is similar to the thesis whisperer, but more recent and more funding-focused..

The bloggers at The Research Whisperer address topics related to all aspects of academic research. While they “don’t just talk about funding,” there is a real emphasis in the content on the business side of research (such as getting grants and being a union member), as their tag line suggests: “Just like the Thesis Whisperer – but with more money.”

From PhD to Life

This dissertation blog covers topics that help phd students prepare for and transition into life after academia..

Even if you’re not quite ph(inishe)d yet, From PhD to Life will definitely give you something to look forward to – and tips to help you plan practically for it. I particularly like the light, conversational style – it’s a nice break from academia-speak.

Writing for Research

In this research blog, professor patrick dunleavy writes about academia, offering some higher-level insight into the processes and culture of higher education institutions..

Writing for Research  does offer some basic writing and research advice, but what really helps it stand out from other sites is the focus on how academia ticks. There are posts on everything from university organization (why exactly is an academic discipline called a “discipline”?) to open-access and fair reviewing practices – really interesting stuff, in other words.

Tress Academic

Aimed at beginners and dedicated to simplifying things and getting you through the job, this site provides various resources for researchers and phd students..

Not every dissertation student is interested in a lifetime devotes to academia – some just want to get on and get done. Tress Academic offers easy-to-digest advice posts broken down into manageable steps, as well as useful worksheets, checklists, and free training videos. Again, this one has a commercial feel, but it’s still got a wealth of useful material if you need to get the job done quickly.

Supervising PhDs

This is a community research blog from various professors and academics. topics cover doctoral supervision relationships and pedagogies..

Admittedly, a lot of the really useful stuff on Supervising PhDs is aimed at professors and supervisors. However, there’s nothing to say you can’t gift some of the useful checklists, guides, and articles to your supervisor the next time they’re being particularly frustrating…

Need More Help?

Dissertation blogs and forums not your thing? Instead of relying on online communities, get personable and personalized help with dissertation coaching services .

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From help to humour – the PhD blogs you should be reading

Working towards a PhD can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do, but at times it can also be one of the most alienating things. While everyone’s PhD experience is different, you can be sure the general trials and tribulations of postgrad life have been well-documented online, offering everything from help to humour in a digestible blog format.

Here’s our pick of the best PhD blogs which will inspire you, make you laugh and keep you motivated.

Need a helping hand?

The Thesis Whisperer

General life hacks for the PhD student.

The latest blogs cover issues around completing a PHD in a pandemic, academic networks and book recommendations for writing your thesis.

Join the The Thesis Whisperer, aka Professor Inger Mewburn, and other special guests on 17 June at the Postgraduate Researcher’s Conference .

The Dutch PhD Coach

Now handily coming in an English version, this popular blog muses on the process of researching and writing your thesis.

Research Hive

A blog run by Postgraduate students in the faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, highlighting the amazing research conducted here at the University of Manchester and present it in an engaging and jargon-free way.

Have a laugh

Ph.D Comics

If you’ve never visited this site before, start with the  200 most popular comics ; you’ll relate to at least 180.

Get some motivation

Patter is just really useful. Patter is Pat Thomson, Professor of Education in the School of Education, The University of Nottingham and her blog provides grammar and writing tips as well as useful general advice.  

Empathise with me

The questions you think you should definitely know the answer to, the random things that prove the most difficult; you can bet other people have thought them. And then blogged about them.

Work/life balance

Get a Life PhD

After constantly hearing that “academia eats at your soul, breaks you down, and does not let you have a life outside of work”, Tanya Golash-Boza worked at finding a work life balance and now shares her thoughts and tips for making the of your time and learning how to be an academic and have a life.

Relate to a fellow ‘UoM-er’ and hear from our own PhD blogger s

For something a little closer to home, check out what our past PhD student news bloggers  Unéné , Frances and Rhodes  have to say. At different stages of their journey, there’s lots of sharing of experiences  – from starting a PhD to finishing one and everything in between.

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My Research Essentials

The Library also have their own researcher development programme, designed to support the development of researchers at all career stages. Topics covered include resources to use during the research process, dissemination of research and raising your research profile.

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Ten great blogs for PhD students

• June 28, 2012
• evalantsoght_uw8lmy
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• 36 Comments

Since I started reading blogs at 6 months into my PhD program, I’ve gained some valuable insights from my favorite blogs. An exhaustive list would only lure you into getting more clutter into your information stream – so here are my 10 favorites (in no particular order)

1. Happy Science Cheek-in-tongue blog on science, social media, and pharma-research. If the thought of seeing your make-up under a microscope makes you giggle, don’t hesitate and head to Happy Science.

2. Peoplegogy This blog reads like a magazine, with a wide range of topics that I enjoy reading very much. You particularly might like the “Doctoral Confessions” series.

3. The Dutch PhD Coach I was planning to drop the link to Arjenne’s “Louter Promoveren” blog in Dutch when I discovered there is now an English offspring too. Great content – these articles might as well come from a book with advice on the PhD process.

4. Only a model A website and blog by a fellow PhD student in Structural Engineering. Interesting posts on finite element modeling, workflow processes and academic teaching.

5. Dr Sustainable Only about a month old, this blog has managed to provide some great content and a lively forum with comments. I have high expectations of seeing more interesting content coming up here.

6. Get a life, PhD Combining a career in academia with a family, and still finding time for yourself? I enjoy reading this blog while wondering how my future self will relate to these issues.

7. Gradhacker Life- and studyhacking for graduate students – with contributions from a large authorship.

8. Matt Might’s blog While the computer science in there is all Greek to me, the articles on graduate school and productivity are very much worth reading.

9. PhD2Published With a wealth of wisdom on academic writing in its archives, this blog also provides a Weekly Wisdom sections on Everything You Wanted to Know in Academia.

10. Thesis Whisperer We don’t need to introduce this one, right?

Writers’ Lab: How to put a landscape table on a portrait page

One of the major moments of intense frustration I went…

Q&A: Binaural Beats

For a reason I am not aware of, this post…

Introducing Universidad San Francisco de Quito

I'm taking a break from the regular posting in the…

Thanks Eva!

Hi, nice list! some good additions to my reader. I'm fairly new to blogging as I'm a first year PhD student in child development/genetics and thought I would post on some of the things I learn along the way. It's probably not classed as one of the great blogs but feel free to check it out at: http://squirreledthoughts.wordpress.com/

Thanks for pointing me to your blog, Joanna!

Eva,Thanks for including my blog. I am humbled. I am always surprised that people actually read my blog, especially since my blog features such a \”buffet\” of content. Thanks again,Will

ooh thanks for the inclusion Eva!!

Apart from my own blog Next Scientist , which I think is awesome, I have compiled a list with great science blogs , some of which we share.

Thanks for sharing your links, Julio!

Thanks for these useful links:)

Also checkout sachristopher.wordpress.com

I love reading PhD blogs especially the first blog site hosted by a certain Happysci, Happy Science. And it's good to know that she just finished her PhD. Me? I'm just starting so it will still be a long way but I'll enjoy my time. http://www.collegepaper.org

Here is one on how to save money while doing a PhD: http://www.onefrugalscholar.blogspot.com

New, and I mean NEW to blogging–still figuring out blogger.com–that new. I'm also a new doctoral student–just started this month. I'd like so share my blog with others in the Education arena–I'm in education and don't want to bore anybody with the inside scoop on an education doctoral journey. If possible, post the reply, and I'll follow directions. Thanks.

Would you be interested in writing a guest post for PhD Talk on your doctoral journey?

Hope My Blog http://guruofmovie.blogspot.in Will Also Achieve This Milestone

Great post!!

Im intresting eve lansoght

Great post… I am fairly new to blogging as well, I began last month http://adamchehouri.blogspot.ca/ and find it amazing the impact a simple blog can have and the experience you gain from it.

I have developed a simulator in ns-2 for heterogeneous mobile and wireless networks that makes vertical handovers between wlan, wimax, umts according vertical handover decision algorithms. If some PhD student in the beginning phase is interested to research in this area this simulator is excellent for getting results and simulate different scenarios. Write me on [email protected] for any help.

Enjoyed this, thanks. Shameless plug – I have just started a blog on my recent transition from research to industry. Maybe I'll make your next top ten! http://drtipper.blogspot.co.uk/

This comment has been removed by the author.

I would like to introduce to you a new place where you can have full access to ways to increase the quality of your scientific artwork. keepcalmandpublishpapers.com keepcalmandpublishpapers.com is a new site that contains tutorials, guidelines and more. Whether you are a researcher, a student or just a science enthusiast, you may find resources for yourself. Please have a look and leave us any feedback on the new site at keepcalmandpublishpapers.com – and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for the list of blogs, Im half way through them so far so ive bookmarked this page A+

Good luck with the second half of your PhD!

I found your post when looking for Ph.D blogs similar to mine – I find it's really helpful to see what other Ph.D candidates are up to, to keep me motivated and inspire me to write more. Writing about my research, and life in general, actually pushes me to get more done. I'm just coming to the end of my first year, and hoping to continue blogging throughout my Ph.D journey.

Thanks for sharing this PhD. blog list. Some of them look really interesting.

Great List Eva, Thanks for sharing. I have also started blogging about career options after PhD on http://www.gradcompass.com . would be great to hear your views.

The documents are highly efficient and convenient to read. Reviews are one types of experience in custom essay writing . It describes and highlights the writer's piece of writing. In this reviews are expressing the value of something from the writer.

Great gift for PhD students! https://www.etsy.com/listing/491992296/seize-the-data-academic-mug-phd-gift-11?ref=shop_home_active_4

Hi everybody, I'm also a new doctoral student in technical field-just started this month. and I need some advices to start my research

Hi Azamat, welcome to reading my blog! Hope you find interesting information here.

Thanks for providing this helpful article.

Great list! This site might be helpful too for PhD students. Expontum ( https://www.expontum.com ) – Helps researchers quickly find knowledge gaps and identify what research projects have been completed before. Thanks!

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 06 November 2018

Twenty things I wish I’d known when I started my PhD

• Lucy A. Taylor 0

Lucy A. Taylor earned her zoology PhD from the University of Oxford, UK. She is now a postdoctoral researcher at Save the Elephants in Nairobi, Kenya, and a visiting researcher in the Department of Zoology at Oxford.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Starting a PhD can be tough. Looking back, there are many things I wish I’d known at the beginning. Here, I have curated a list of advice from current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from the Department of Zoology at my institution, the University of Oxford, UK, to aid new graduate students.

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This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged. You can get in touch with the editor at [email protected].

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Friday, November 12, 2021

Three things your academic book must have: an argument, a theoretical contribution, and a structure, you need an argument .

Disinvestment and coercive investment in Black communities in DC have displaced and dispossessed Black residents, making gentrification through racialized reinvestment possible.

I explain all those big words in the book. But, after reading through the thread, I realized I liked the arguments that use simple language better. So I tried again: 

The choice to use prisons and policing to solve the problems faced by Black communities in DC in the 20th century, instead of investing in schools, community centers, social services, health care, drug treatment, and violence prevention, is what made gentrification possible in the 21st century. 

As you can see, you can disagree with this statement. And, per Helen Sword’s guidance, my argument answers my guiding question of what factors led to gentrification. 

You need a theoretical framework 

In addition to an argument, you need a compelling theoretical framework. The theoretical framework is where you explain how your argument is novel and how it relates to what we already know about your topic. You could have a great argument like: “Mass incarceration is the New Jim Crow,” but, Michelle Alexander already made that argument so it’s unlikely anyone would want to publish that. 

An academic book does not need a literature review in the same way a dissertation does. If you don’t believe, me, pick up your favorite academic book and see how much lit review there is in the introduction. Often, it’s just a few paragraphs. It is almost never a full chapter. 

The manuscript I am working on engages with three fields: housing inequality, the War on Drugs, and gentrification. Thus, I explain in the Introduction what we already know about these three areas and how my intervention is new. 

The Introduction explains how Black communities, even those dominated by Black homeowners have been dispossessed ; how poor, working, and middle-class Black communities across the city experienced disinvestment and then coercive investment , and how reinvestment is racialized today. As you can see, it all has to stay on the same theme – with a tight focus on the core argument. 

You need a structure 

Once you know what your core argument and interventions are, you need to figure out how you are building your argument throughout the book. Each chapter should contribute to your core argument.  

I am doing this in my book manuscript by focusing first on disinvestment , then on coercive investment, and then on reinvestment . This is in line with my argument that disinvestment and coercive investment in Black communities in DC have displaced and dispossessed Black residents, making gentrification through racialized reinvestment possible. 

I am not making the whole argument in each chapter, but instead focusing on one piece of the argument in each section, which includes two chapters. 

Part I: Disinvestment  Ch 1: Disinvestment in Black DC  Ch 2: The Violence of Disinvestment  Part II: Coercive Investment  Ch 3: Crack in the Neighborhood  Ch 4: Bringing in the Feds  Part III: Reinvestment  Ch 5: Chocolate City No More  Ch 6: Racialized Reinvestment 

There are other ways to build an argument. In my book Deported , I set the book up to follow a deportee’s journey, from growing up in the country of origin, to crossing the border, to growing up in the US, to getting into trouble in the US, to getting caught, to detention, and then to life after deportation. This structure allowed me to explain how global capitalism shaped each aspect of their migrant journey. 

If you are having trouble envisioning how to build your argument, try using a mind map. This is where you pull out a pen and paper, write down your argument, draw a circle around it, and start drawing more lines and circles to visualize the connections you are making. This can help you see the elements of your argument and to make decisions about what chapters you need to write to build your argument. 

Finally: Writing a book is an iterative process. 

Don’t expect to sit down, write a book, and publish it as is. Instead, sit down, write a draft, stop, figure out what your argument is, rewrite the manuscript to fit your argument, and then revise your argument to fit your manuscript. Repeat this process until the manuscript is doing what you want it to.

Since it takes years to write a book, make sure you have a community to support you through this long process. If you don't know anyone working on a book, the Twitter thread has lots of people you could reach out to and ask if they are also looking for support.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

How to teach engaging discussion sections as a teaching assistant, tuesday, january 26, 2021, how to write a compelling tedx script: revise, get feedback, repeat.

"If you read The Color of Law , then you know that federal policies created racial segregation. If you read The New Jim Crow , then you know that Black communities were devastated by mass incarceration. And, if you read How to Kill a City, then you know that gentrification has led to the displacement of working class and Black people from cities. Now, what you might not know is that segregration, incarceration, and gentrification are connected. My research into the neighborhood where I grew up has taught me that policies that created segregation laid the groundwork for mass incarceration, which in turn made gentrification possible."

Sunday, January 17, 2021

If you want to do a tedx talk, start preparing now.

Workshop: Get a Life, PhD — led by Tanya Golash-Boza

Jane Grant Conference Room Hendricks Hall 330 1408 University St. By invitation only RSVP: [email protected]

A CSWS Work Life Balance event

In this workshop, Tanya Golash-Boza will explain how it is possible to both have a life and be a productive academic. Drawing from her own experience as well as research on creativity and productivity, Professor Golash-Boza will discuss how to balance research, teaching, and service as well as how to balance work and family obligations. Finally, she will explain several ways academics can become more creative writers.

Tanya Golash-Boza

Tanya Golash-Boza is a professor of sociology at the University of California, Merced. Over the last decade, she has published five books and 40 articles and book chapters. Her latest book Deported: Immigrant Policing, Disposable Labor and Global Capitalism (NYU 2016) was awarded the Distinguished Contribution to Research Book Award from the Latino/a Studies Section of the American Sociological Association. She is also the creator of the blog, Get a Life, PhD, a blog focused on faculty success and wellbeing, which has over 3 million pageviews.

Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Women in Society, Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs, and the Division of Equity and Inclusion.

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Tanya Golash-Boza

Professor of sociology.

Merced, California Contact

Tanya Golash-Boza is the Founder of the Racism, Capitalism, and the Law Lab and a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced. Prior to arriving at UC Merced, she was an Assistant Professor of Sociology and American Studies at the University of Kansas.

Tanya Golash-Boza is a prolific author. She has published five sole-authored books, two edited books, and over 60 articles and book chapters. In addition, she has published dozens of OpEds and essays in popular venues.

Many of her publications have received awards, including her latest book Deported: Immigrant Policing, Disposable Labor and Global Capitalism , which was awarded the Distinguished Contribution to Research Book Award from the Latino/a Studies Section of the American Sociological Association. She also won an article award from that same section for “Dropping the Hyphen: Becoming Latino(a)-American through Racialized Assimilation.” Additionally, she won the Distinguished Early Career Award from the Racial and Ethnic Minorities Studies Section of the American Sociological Association in 2010. In 2017, she won an Honorable Mention for the Best Article Award from the Race, Class, Gender Section of the American Sociological Association.

Tanya Golash-Boza’s scholarship ranges from issues of race and identity in Peru to human rights to immigration policy and deportation. Her latest book Deported (New York University Press 2015) explains mass deportation in the context of the global economic crisis. Due Process Denied (Routledge 2012) describes how and why non-citizens in the United States have been detained and deported for minor crimes, without regard for constitutional limits on disproportionate punishment. Immigration Nation (Paradigm 2012), provides a critical analysis of the impact that U.S. immigration policy has on human rights. Yo Soy Negro: Blackness in Peru (University Press of Florida 2011) explores discourses of blackness and racial identity in Peru. Her textbook, Race and Racisms: A Critical Approach (Oxford University Press 2015; 2018) provides a critical overview of contemporary race scholarship. Her most recent research includes a project on how formerly incarcerated people experience gentrification, and is funded by the National Science Foundation.

She’s shared her research with public audiences at influential venues such as the 92nd Street Y, Politics and Prose, and KramerBooks. The Economic Policy Institute hosted a panel discussion on Deported . In addition, she has published essays and OpEds in Newsweek, Al Jazeera, The Boston Review, The Nation, Boom, Univision, San Francisco Chronicle, Counterpunch, The Houston Chronicle, Salon, Le Monde Diplomatique, Inside Higher Ed, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Alternet , and other venues. Her column, “Five charts show why mandatory minimum sentences don’t work” was featured in PBS NewsHour.

She has appeared on CNN en Español and Press TV (Iran) as well as multiple public radio segments including the “The Kathleen Dunn Show” on Wisconsin Public Radio; “Top of Mind” on BYU radio; and “A Public Affair” on WORT 89.9 FM. For this and other outreach work, Professor Golash-Boza was awarded the UC Merced Senate Faculty Award for Distinguished Scholarly Public Service in 2013.

Professor Golash-Boza enjoys sharing her insights into faculty productivity and well-being and has given workshops at several university campuses. She regularly delivers workshops on publishing, work-life balance, creativity, and productivity. Her mentoring blog, Get a Life, PhD, has over 4 million pageviews. She is currently the Principal Investigator on a Mellon grant that provides mentoring resources for junior faculty at UC Merced. In 2019, she was awarded the UC Merced Senate Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentorship for her extensive mentoring work at UC Merced and beyond.

Tanya Golash-Boza is an innovative teacher and teaches classes on race, immigration, globalization, and human rights. She also created a graduate class on Writing and Publishing that helps graduate students complete their M.A. thesis in a timely fashion in addition to learning the ropes of the publishing industry.

Tanya Golash-Boza is a dynamic and engaging speaker. She has given several keynote addresses and dozens of plenaries and invited lectures. She is also multilingual and has given academic presentations in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Professor Golash-Boza is a leader on campus and beyond. She was the Inaugural Chair of the Senate Committee on Diversity and Equity at UC Merced. In that role, she created the Faculty Equity Advisor Program at UC Merced, which was launched in the Fall of 2016. She is the former Chair of the UC Systemwide Committee on Affirmative Action, Diversity, & Equity. She has served an elected Member-at-Large of the Council of the American Sociological Association and as the Chair of two Sections of that Association: the Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities (SREM) and the Section on Political Economy of World-Systems (PEWS). In 2019-20, she served as Chair of Public Health at UC Merced. She is currently a member of the Editorial Committee of the University of California Press.

Tanya Golash-Boza earned her B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1995, a Certificate of Anthropology from L’Ecole d’Anthropologie in Paris in 1996, and her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005. She speaks fluent French, Spanish, and Portuguese and lives in Merced, California with her husband and three children.

Brief bio for speaking engagements:

Tanya Golash-Boza is the founder of the Racism, Capitalism, and the Law Lab and a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced. She is a prolific scholar, with several published books and dozens of academic articles and book chapters. She has received several awards, including the Distinguished Contribution to Research Book Award from the Latino/a Studies Section of the American Sociological Association for her book, Deported: Immigrant Policing, Disposable Labor and Global Capitalism – published by New York University Press in 2015. Her textbook, Race and Racisms: A Critical Approach, published by Oxford University Press, is now in its third edition and is the leading textbook in this field. Dr. Golash-Boza is currently working on a project funded by the National Science Foundation that explores how gentrification affects formerly incarcerated Black men in Washington, DC. That work is featured on her website: MappingGentrification.com. Professor Golash-Boza is also the creator of the blog, Get a Life, PhD, which focuses on faculty success and wellbeing and has over 4 million pageviews. For this and other mentoring work, she received the UC Merced Senate Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentorship in 2019.

Link to high-resolution headshot: https://www.dropbox.com/s/efu2cjk7i3arkl6/2021.headshot.jpg?dl=0

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The best academic blogs

Struggling to make sense of academia? These bloggers get it. Our pick of the 14 best academic blogs out there for 2019.

Academic cultural critique is best served in blog form. Thankfully, there is a slew of academic blogs on the interwebs, waiting to dish. Blogs commenting on funding and higher education policy. Blogs mulling over early-career research struggles or musing about the ever-elusive path to tenure. Blogs with tips to help you get to grips with conference etiquette, and with toolkits for surviving academic life.

Whether you want to discover what’s brewing in the world of scholarly publishing or learn what researchers think about particular areas of academia, academic blogs are a great form of online engagement. You could read all day and your journey would be only part-way begun. So we’ve picked the 14 best academic blogs for you to investigate. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. The Thesis Whisperer

“Just like the horse whisperer – but with more pages.” The Thesis Whisperer is the blog of Inger Mewburn, Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Inger and her contributing academics contribute thoughtful posts on topics ranging from writing and presenting your work to getting stuff done. The blog also has a helpful review section for PhD-themed books. It’s a newspaper-style blog, that accepts posts from people who have built up extensive experiences as research students or doing their PhD.

In the midst of thesis haze? This academic blog will cheer you on.

Sample blog post: Bold requests

2. The Research Whisperer

“Just like the Thesis Whisperer – but with more money.” (Yep, there’s a theme.) The Research Whisperer helps early-career researchers build professional profiles and navigate the sometimes-treacherous channels of academic funding. It’s edited by Tseen Khoo, Lecturer in Research Education and Development at Melbourne’s La Trobe University, and Jonathan O’Donnell a PhD and grant application advisor at RMIT University in Melbourne.

If you’re tackling a funding bid , hit subscribe.

Sample blog post: The care and feeding of critical friends

3. Blog on Math Blogs

Blog on Math Blogs is Anna Haensch, assistant professor at Duquesne University, freelance math writer Evelyn Lamb and Brie Finegold, co-organizer of Women Advancing Arizona Mathematics . Whether it’s misunderstood political polling, AIs that name paint colors ( Burf Pink or Hurky White , anyone?), mathematically inspired GIFs, or upping your presentation game, they’ve got it covered.

Visit this blog and ready yourself for a trip down the rabbit hole.

Sample blog post: We Need To Talk

4. Writing for Research

Writing For Research is Patrick Dunleavy, Professor of Political Science & Public Policy at London School of Economics. This academic blog aims to help you master writing “creative non-fiction at a research level”, something easier said than done. Thankfully, it’s packed to the gills with advice on everything from structuring research papers to what to consider when choosing which journal to submit your paper to.

Subscribe and boost your academic writing skills.

Sample blog post: Using social media and open access can radically improve the academic visibility of chapters in edited books

5. Piled Higher and Deeper (aka PHD Comics)

“The comic strip about life (or the lack thereof) in Academia.” PHD Comics is the brain-child of Jorge Cham. Whether you’re battling imposter syndrome or dealing with harsh reviewer comments, Jorge’s been there. And his wry sense of humor makes the chewy bits of academic life a bit more digestible.

Dealing with a nightmare supervisor? This comic will help.

Sample blog post: Average time spent composing one e-mail

6. Get a Life, PhD

“All around me I heard that academia eats at your soul, breaks you down, and does not let you have a life outside of work.” So cheerily writes Tanya Maria Golash-Boza, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, and author of Get a Life, PhD . This academic blogs about finding balance as a researcher and a parent in a world where overwork and stress are endemic.

Searching for work-life balance? Subscribe.

Sample blog post: Why Daily Writing Leads to Productivity

7. GradHacker

GradHacker i s an academic blog for graduates looking for “stories, tips, and challenges of others who are experiencing the same things.” Written by a community of bloggers, the topics range from software reviews to disabilities, to how to communicate your research to a general audience. Pretty handy during family holidays.

Like life hacks? GradHacker’s for you.    

Sample blog post: Working, Learning and Life Experiences

Patter is Pat Thomson, Professor of Education at The University of Nottingham. Pat’s research is primarily focused on schools changing to be more engaging and meaningful for young learners. This varied blog is chock-full of posts about everything from refining your research topic, to academic bad behavior, to taking inspiration from improv.

Subscribe for sound advice with a dash of whimsy.

Sample blog post: deep into writing the thesis? don’t forget to yodelayeehoo

9. Nick Hopwood

Nick Hopwood is the academic blog of an Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney. Though Nick largely writes about his work in educational research, his candid posts publicising his rejection in academia have been widely shared. “Success in academia is not about never failing, never being rejected,” he writes. “It is about not allowing rejections to take hold of you. If I preach this but don’t have the gall to match generalisations with concrete detail, I should just shut up.”

Got a stinking rejection recently? This blog will strike a chord.

Sample blog post: My wall of rejection and why it matters

10. Catherine Cronin

If you’re interested in open educational practices and research, the blog of   Catherine Cronin is for you. Catherine is an open education advocate and advisory member of the Open Education Working Group. She’s been heavily involved in research, teaching and advocacy in higher education for over 25 years. And blogs about progress across the communities of open education and digital identity. 

If you’re interested in how higher ed can better support students, staff and communities, this blog is for you.

Sample blog po st: Open education in higher education: policy recommendations

11. Research to Action

How useful is research on development issues if it lives and dies within the halls of academia? This research has the potential to save lives and lift people from poverty in developing countries but – crucially – only if it’s actually used by policy-makers and those that lobby them. Research to Action is a global guide to increasing the impact of research. Whether you want to brush up on practical or strategic approaches to increasing the uptake of development research, it’s got something for you. Early-career researchers who want to be more effective and strategic in their communications will also find its many free resources on everything from engaging the public to seeing evidence turned into policy helpful.

Need to get your research into the hands of decision-makers? This blog is for you.

Sample blog p ost: Partnering for more effective and impactful development research   

12. Prof Hacker

ProfHacker provides tutorials, tips and commentary on pedagogy, productivity and tech in academia and higher education. Whether it’s detailing the latest Google App for academics or highlighting the importance of including voices from the periphery in academic “international” spaces, this is site typified by creativity, generosity and kindness.

Searching for a snark-free space online where it’s ok to show your inexperience? Hit subscribe.

Sample blog post : Making international academic spaces international

13. Nadine Muller

Nadine Muller is challenging ideas about what academics look like. This senior lecturer in English Literature & Cultural History at the Liverpool John Moores University uses her blog to share skills that are often taken for granted in academia. But it’s her refreshingly honest documenting of experiences with anxiety and depression, and her questioning of how academics are expected to present themselves, their lives, and their work that make this blog a must-read for academics who don’t quite feel they fit the mould.

Interested in the conversations that are redefining what it means to be an academic? Head to Nadine’s blog.  

Sample blog post : The Twilight Zone: After the PhD, Before the Academic Job

14. Faculty focus

Most academics eventually experience the shift to the other side of learning – standing to face a seminar room full of students ready to be taught. Faculty Focus is a blog on effective teaching strategies for the college classroom. The blog is a useful tool for write-ups on the implementation of teaching improvements. And you can use it as both the basis for workshops activities and for transformative readings in the background.

Stuck on how to foster critical thinking in politically polarised times, or just need to developing content for an online course? This site is for you.

Sample blog post:   The “Big Bang” of Motivation: Questions That Evoke Wonder in Our Students

You’re not alone with your research: these people get it.

Brian Campbell

Brian is a data-driven marketeer, and responsible for helping people find Ex Ordo. He works part-time as a lecturer at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and loves quizzing his students on the latest business trends and insights. Brian enjoys hanging out with his little nephews, and playing and watching sports. He also likes to keep a keen eye on the scholarly research space, and has co-organised an academic conference to boot.

Conference software, powered by people who care.

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Graduate Student’s Life

• A guide and advice for economists on the U.S. junior academic job market
• Advice for researchers and students Compiled by Michael Ernst
• Get a life, PhD – Blog
• OpenAcademics – academic writing
• Hello PhD: podcast
• ​Computer Science: Ronald T. Azuma – UNC -CH
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PhDLife Blog

Sharing PhD experiences across the University of Warwick and beyond

Why You Can’t Miss This Year’s Festival of Postgraduate Research

Hey there, fellow PhD researchers! Are you ready to dive into a day filled with interdisciplinary inspiration, networking, and maybe lots of fun and joy as well? I'm Yvette, a third-year PhD student in Applied Linguistics. I was one of the organisers of last year’s festival and I’m excited to see the festival launched again.... Continue Reading →

Working as a teaching assistant

To gain some valuable teaching experience in higher education institutions in the UK, most doctoral students will choose to be teaching assistants (GTA). I am one of them. This blog is about my personal experience of being a teaching assistant and some tips on this role. By Ivy Zhuo Overall, I have contributed to the... Continue Reading →

Writing-Up Diaries: The Final Push

Since her last instalment in November, Ellie is on her final push to the end of the thesis road. Read about what she’s been getting up to below. By Ellie King Since I last published a blog, it feels like my thesis has come on leaps and bounds and that I am, dare I say... Continue Reading →

It’s not about the thesis, it’s about you

The process of achieving a PhD can represent different things for different people. In this week’s blog, Riss shares their thoughts on what connects these different meanings and what achieving a PhD means to her. By Riss Muller. Having hit the midway point of my PhD, I’ve found myself reflecting on how my PhD experience... Continue Reading →

Writing a book review

Many doctoral students, like me, start their publications with a book review. However, this is not to say that a book review is easy or requires no skills at all. Instead, it plays a vital role in training our skills in academic writing and boosting our confidence in academic publications. In this blog, Ivy shares... Continue Reading →

Planning 101: How to Make Your Plans Work

Have you ever started a new planner, but then abandoned it for good? Maybe you’ve never planned anything, but suddenly want to try? In any case, Daria has some tips and tricks about finding the best ways to organise your daily life without pressure. By Daria Akhapkina Goal First and foremost, you need to know... Continue Reading →

Tough Grass: Grounding through Nature

Grounding has become a buzzword in wellbeing talks, but what exactly does it mean and how can it help you personally? In this week’s blog, Daria talks about finding peace and power in nature. By Daria Akhapkina The end of the term is approaching, the days get darker, the deadlines get tighter, and the stress... Continue Reading →

Writing-Up Diaries: November

Following on from her previous posts, blog editor Ellie documents her writing up journey for November. By Ellie King. I can’t believe I’m already writing about November. I know we say it every year, but this year has really gone quickly. It feels only yesterday that I was starting to write my thesis back in... Continue Reading →

Handling Rejection as a PhD Student

The PhD experience can often be full of rejection. Rejection for funding, rejection from conferences, rejection from academic journals. Today Iona explores how rejection can be understood from a developmental perspective by looking at attachment theory and how this can then be applied to dealing with rejection throughout our PhDs. By Iona Craig. Rejection is... Continue Reading →

So here comes the annual review

The annual review happens usually at the end of 2nd year of our PhD study or in some cases, at the end of the 3rd year. This review serves for two purposes: to ensure you are progressing as planned, and as an opportunity to gather feedback and guidance on your work. In this week’s blog,... Continue Reading →

Writing-up Diaries: October

In the latest instalment of her writing-up diaries, blog editor Ellie shares what she got up to in October. By Ellie King Last month, I was working on my discussion chapter and tidying up some of my work after supervisor comments. This month I turned to the chapter I’d been dreading the most: the Literature... Continue Reading →

Organising a Conference

As part of your PhD, you may attend a number of conferences to meet with researchers, network, and hear about new research. But have you ever organised one? PhD Life blogger Ivy has, and she shares her experiences in this week’s blog. By Ivy Zhuo. This was a one-day conference event- a conference on language,... Continue Reading →

A workspace guide for easily distracted people

In this week’s post Daria shares her thoughts on the workspaces around the campus and how easy it is to keep focus while trying to study there. By Daria Akhapkina. As an easily distracted person myself, once I get too used to a study space, I can’t work there anymore as it doesn’t stimulate my... Continue Reading →

Being a mature student at Warwick

In this week's blog, Greta and Arokia share their practical insights for navigating academia as a mature student. It is the result of many conversations of what it means to return to academia as (international) full-time students who had been working (and still work!). By Greta and Arokia. Mature students are an integral part of... Continue Reading →

Writing Up Diaries: September

As summer comes to a close and we settle back in to another academic year, blog editor Ellie is documenting her road to thesis submission in March 2024 with a series of writing-up diaries. By Ellie King Summer was a busy period for me, with my head down over July and August to get going... Continue Reading →

Applying for Grants

This week, blogger Ivy shares her experiences of applying for and receiving a funding grant for organising a conference. By Ivy Zhuo. As well as having core funding for our PhD research activities, we may come across other funding opportunities as part of our time at Warwick. These grants come in carious shapes and sizes... Continue Reading →

The MRC in 50 Objects

Warwick’s Modern Records Centre is turning 50 this year, and to celebrate it’s put on an exhibition celebrating fifty of its best items from the collection, chosen by staff, friends, researchers, and supporters. Blog editor Ellie explores. By Ellie King ‘The MRC in 50 Objects’ was launched on Tuesday 12th September and is currently on... Continue Reading →

Transitioning from an MA to a PhD

Often PhD students complete their master’s degree before moving into doctoral studies. This might be an exciting but anxiety-inducing period. Greta shares how she’s readying herself for the start of the PhD by providing three actionable tips.  By Greta Timaite. This academic year I am officially starting my PhD. As part of my ESRC funding,... Continue Reading →

Ten things to do with a Ten Week term

As we say Welcome to Warwick to another group of students for another year, blog editor Ellie introduces you to the PhD Life blog and the Community Engagement team in the Library. By Ellie King. Week One: Take the Library tour You can pick up a self-guided library tour by the Library entrance. Image: University... Continue Reading →

My experiences at a summer school

PhD life is more than just sitting still reading and writing research. It could involve much more than that.  In this week’s blog, Ivy shares her summer school experiences. By Ivy Zhuo. What summer schools did I attend? Summer schools for research students are usually offered by some higher education institutions, particularly universities. However, it... Continue Reading →

Writing-Up Diaries: August

Blog editor Ellie is currently in the process of writing up her thesis, after four years of research. Read how she got on in August below. By Ellie King. August was a time for some holiday for me, which means theatre trips! Image: Ellie King Since my first instalment of the writing-up diaries in July... Continue Reading →

Showing families around the UK

As an international PhD student in the UK, one of the common experiences we may encounter is to have families visiting us in this foreign land where we are living and studying. In this week’s blog, Ivy shares her experience of showing her families around the UK. By Ivy Zhuo. Since living and studying in... Continue Reading →

More than food: what are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are a mental health illness that can impact anyone and have been on the rise since lockdown. In this article Iona discusses what eating disorders actually are, how they stem much deeper than being about food, and some pointers of where help can be accessed if you feel you or someone around you... Continue Reading →

Managing your personal expectations

Setting out for a PhD can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. In this post, Daria identifies some common ideas on your research journey that may be hard to accept before you start but make perfect sense as soon as you get to it. By Daria Akhapkina. Looking back, I had many expectations... Continue Reading →

Writing-up diaries: July

In the first of a series, blog editor Ellie takes us on her journey of writing up her thesis in preparation for hand-in in March 2024. By Ellie King I began my PhD in October 2019. Since then, I’ve been through a pandemic, a year off in industry, an internship, various conferences and seminars, and... Continue Reading →

Dealing with homesickness

As we head into the summer vacation period, you may feel yourself yearning for the usual family comforts that you'd normally get at university. But being a researcher means you spend less time at home. This week, blogger Gunisha recounts her experiences of feeling homesick as an international student at university and shares some advice... Continue Reading →

Guardian of the past: Working as an archivist

Warwick is home to the Modern Records Centre archive, and in this week's blog archivist Melissa discusses life as an archivist and what a career in archives may look like for you. By Melissa Prior. Traditionally Archivists have been seen or have seen themselves as guardians of the past, protecting valuable historical material from the... Continue Reading →

Four books to read to change your mindset this summer

Small mindset changes can have a big impact on overall day-day living. Iona has brought together the four books she has come across that have the most useful, researched based tips to improve mindset and experience success during your time at university. Over summer is a great time to give one or two of them... Continue Reading →

Warwick’s Human Library

A few weeks ago, Iona attended one of Warwick's Human Library events. In today’s blog she writes about her experiences at the event, what she learned, and why this is really an event worth going to. By Iona Craig. Prejudice refers to a positive or negative attitude towards a certain group that is applied to... Continue Reading →

Summer is for balance, not overwork

Summer break needs to be super productive, right? No. In this week’s blog post Greta talks about the importance to find balance in the face of feeling pressured to do as much as possible.  By Greta Timaite. Summer can be a strange period for students: no lectures to attend, essay deadlines to meet, or exams... Continue Reading →

You’re allowed to take holidays

As we come to the end of term and the undergraduate students vacate for the summer, blog editor Ellie talks about the importance of taking holidays and adding breaks into your day. By Ellie King. We’re slowly coming to the end of the academic year, and you may have noticed other students finishing their exams,... Continue Reading →

Recruiting your Participants

One of the biggest concerns at the very early stage of our PhD journey is to complete participant recruitment. How are we going to reach out to our potential participants when we already have a clear target demographic group of people in mind? It seems easy to identify but so hard to approach them and... Continue Reading →

How Work Experience shaped my PhD

Students are often faced with a dilemma: should I pursue another degree or take a break to gain work experience? There is no simple answer, but in this week’s blog post Greta reflects on how work experience shaped her approach to PhD.   By Greta Timaite. Are you about to graduate and wondering if you should... Continue Reading →

Achieving work-life balance when you have a mental health condition

Everyone knows how important a work-life balance is, but it can be especially hard to achieve for neurodivergent students. In this week’s post, Daria shares some advice on how to balance your life when your mental state sets extra requirements. By Daria Akhapkina. One of the hardest things I’ve experienced as someone struggling with their... Continue Reading →

Finding your community: the importance of networking

Where do you begin with new connections, and, most importantly, why do you need them in the first place? In her new blog post Daria tells you about the possibilities of networking and the opportunities to get started. By Daria Akhapkina. Sometimes doing a PhD sure seems like a lone journey. It’s so easy to... Continue Reading →

Home from home: Postgraduate Community Engagement Artwork Competition Winners

Recently, the Community Engagement Team at the Library, who look after the postgraduate study spaces of the PG Hub and the Wolfson Research Exchange, ran an art competition to brighten up those spaces and encourage students to reflect on Warwick as their home from home. In today's blog post, blog editor Ellie looks at some... Continue Reading →

Software for qualitative study

PhD study usually involves huge sets of data, and the command of some software makes it less painful to deal with this matter. In this blog, Ivy introduces three types of software to improve your academic output. By Ivy Zhuo. Transcription generating tools Transcribing is indeed a challenging task for a lot of qualitative researchers... Continue Reading →

Working as a Research Assistant

Being a research assistant (RA) is not an unusual experience for research students. It is a great opportunity to learn how a research project is operated, allowing us to gain experience relevant to our CV and potential future funding applications.  It is also one of the best ways to support ourselves financially or to earn... Continue Reading →

Benefiting from Open Science as a research student

Open science help researchers make their work more accessible to the public. This also means that students can use research to support their own learning! In this blog post Greta discusses how open science can benefit data science learners and how to take advantage of the best data and code sharing practices.  By Greta Timaite.... Continue Reading →

Life as a Warwick Research Student

Warwick is home to around 12,000 postgraduate students, and many of these are researchers. Studying for a doctorate of some kind, Warwick’s research students contribute to the vibrant research culture at the university, whilst having a strong community of their own. Balancing commitments of supervisions, writing conference papers, and teaching, research life can be busy,... Continue Reading →

Finding your place as an international PhD Student

Doing your PhD as an international student can sometimes feel a bit scary and overwhelming. In this post, Daria discusses several ways of fighting the common fears of not fitting in or being left out.  By Daria Akhapkina Settling in a new environment is hard, especially coming from a completely different academic and cultural background.... Continue Reading →

Resolutions stick better in Spring

Did you find yourself, January 1st, setting a load of New Years’ Resolutions? Going to the gym 5 times a week, no alcohol, 10,000 steps a day, 2 litres of water, going vegan, calling your mum every week. Do you find yourself, as we head into April, feeling like you’ve failed miserably at all of... Continue Reading →

Getting out of your own head

As a PhD researcher, GTA and lover of ‘cute sayings’ one of Cherisse’s favourite quotes is ‘In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I’m blessed’. At last, these She has taken some time to reflect on the confusing, complicated and difficult journey called a PhD figuring out how to stop and... Continue Reading →

The best places for academic reading

Intensive academic reading is what every PhD student would experience during their study. Reasons to read varies, ranging from identifying a research gap, to justifying our study, to writing for publications or to preparing for an academic talk. Or sometimes, simply to answering a question that our colleagues raise to us. This experience is usually... Continue Reading →

The benefits of internships

As PhD students, we are often focused on research and very little else. But taking a step outside of your PhD to look into the world of work may be worth the time. Having just finished an internship, blogger Ellie talks us through her experiences, and why an internship could benefit you too. By Ellie... Continue Reading →

How to Present at Conferences

Presenting at conferences to share our research is part of our life as a PhD student. It is natural to have butterflies in our stomach if it is our first time doing a public presentation. However, even for some experienced speakers, presenting at conferences could bring huge pressure, since anyone could be among our audience,... Continue Reading →

How to make your phone an asset

Spend countless hours doom-scrolling when you should be working? Tired of the incessant pinging of inane notifications? This week, blogger Clarissa shares some tips on how to optimise your phone for focus without downloading a single app! By Riss Muller. If you’re anything like me, your phone is somewhat of a time drain. It pings,... Continue Reading →

You can learn programming: Three more practical tips

In this blog post Greta continues sharing her experience on what helped her to break into data science. Previously, she discussed the psychological side of learning programming, today she gives three practical tips that have helped her to get a job in data science and hone her programming skills.   By Greta Timaite. A few months... Continue Reading →

Study Happy at Warwick Library

This week Library staff member Emil gives an overview of the social, wellbeing and skills activities currently happening in the Library, and invites you to develop a positive work-life balance. By Emil Rybczak When the Christmas break is just a memory and you’ve committed to multiple deadlines before Easter, how do you keep on top... Continue Reading →

Life after your PhD and when to start thinking about it

The PhD is the pinnacle. The highest educational qualification you can receive. Beyond then, it’s just professorships, and who wants one of those? But does the PhD being the pinnacle of education mean it’s the pinnacle of your education. Should it even be a pinnacle at all? Not necessarily. In this week’s blog, Ellie discusses... Continue Reading →

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Life After My Ph.D.

welcome to my blog !

I got my Ph.D. in neuroscience in Fall 2021, stayed on for a 4-month postdoc, and then left academia for a remote medical writing job. This blog is a collection of my thoughts on and advice from my transition to industry.

if you’re new, start here!

non-ac jobs ultimate resource list

This post contains all of the job search resources I’ve shared in my blog posts.

Recent posts

A Day in My Life as a Remote Medical Writer (2024)

Ultimate Guide to Non-Ac Career Informational Interviews

5 Major Misconceptions I Had About Non-Ac Jobs During Grad School

How I Got a 23% Raise With 1 Conversation

My Vaccinated COVID Experience (2022)

My Honest Takes on Alt-Ac Twitter

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Tress Academic

#71: How to get a private life and a PhD

November 17, 2020 by Tress Academic

Do you struggle to maintain a private life while studying for a PhD degree? Is your PhD expanding indefinitely at the expense of everything else? We know how it feels to be overworked and out of balance. In this post we show you 6 ways to regain a personal life. 

Many PhD candidates experience the exciting work they are doing spilling over and eating away at their private life! Are you among them? Working too many hours, taking work home, working on weekends and during holidays? These are common phenomenons. Some feel they can never rest because mentally they are always thinking about their research, and can’t switch-off their brain even during leisure time. Being stuck in your home-office during the Covid-19 crisis, or having fewer options to see others or take holidays might have exacerbated the problem in recent months. 

This blog post deals with the issue of not having a private life while studying for a PhD degree and working in science. I’ll also share my personal experience with working excessively, and how I managed to get my life back. 

If you feel you are overworked and exhausted, get our free worksheet ‘6-steps to regain your personal life’ so you can start making improvements immediately. 

Feeling overworked and lacking a private life

Let me illustrate my point with a few quotes from PhD candidates who recently joined my new programme, the ‘ PhD Success Lab’ . There, participants work intensely on the issues that lead them to a happier and healthier lifestyle, and a successful PhD completion and scientific career. If you want to hear more, sign up to our next free webinar for PhD candidates.

Amanda (4th year PhD candidate)

“I work on too many projects at the same time and I am incredibly tired no matter how much I rest. I don’t manage to balance the amount of work I have with a healthy lifestyle. I work on my PhD all the time and as a result of this, I have had no balance between personal life (which is virtually none), and PhD life. Besides, lately I am physically and mentally exhausted.”

Hannah (3rd year PhD candidate)

“My entire work-life-balance is basically non-existent – I’d consider it a work-work-balance. I feel I need to make changes to my work-style to become more efficient in managing all my different tasks and to eventually get back some of my private life. My PhD progress was ‘gained’ on the expenses of my private life for the past three years and I do not want to keep this.”

Sven (3rd year PhD candidate)

“I can’t detach from my PhD also in my spare time and weekends. I can’t relax when I am not working on the important stuff for my PhD – I always think – I can’t relax until this is done.” 

Li (2nd year PhD student)

“Academia has no fixed times. Hence, you bring work home for Saturdays and Sundays. If I do not work on weekends, I feel I am a fraud. Because of this vicious circle, some weekdays I do not work well either and hence I also feel guilty.”

Do you recognise the patterns here? Are these situations you also find yourself in? Get our free worksheet ‘6-steps to regain your personal life’ to start working out how to improve your work-life balance! 

What’s the problem

High workload

The workload of PhD students or researchers often is simply too high. That means even with superhuman-powers, one could not complete it all in the work hours available. It’s not possible to accomplish everything work-related and have a more fulfilling lifestyle. The most common response to a high workload is to expand the working hours, and thus to cut down on the fun stuff outside work. We’re all brought up to think that work must be done before we ‘deserve’ to play! 

Feeling guilty

I’ve come across this time and time again when discussing with PhD candidates. Some feel constantly guilty when not working, taking time off, or sticking to normal working hours. They don’t dare take a weekend entirely off, or go on holidays. And if they do, they feel it was ‘wrong’ and that they should’ve been working. The underlying issue here is an inherent belief or work-ethic that makes you think that you can only get a PhD degree by working around the clock, and that you have to sacrifice everything else. 

Can’t detach

This happens when your brain is so used to focusing on your research that there’s no room for anything else anymore. You can’t stop thinking (and often worrying) about aspects of your work, PhD project, latest paper, next meeting with your supervisor, etc. Your thoughts constantly circle around the same issues, and have become so entrenched that you can’t break the cycle, even when you are outside work, at home, and actually want to enjoy yourself. 

Most PhD candidates really wish to have more of a private life, and they would like to make changes. But they feel trapped in the PhD rat race and don’t know how to get out. If you want to hear more about how to establish efficient work-patterns and enjoy a good life, sign up to our nexy free webinar for PhD candidates .  

Why do PhD candidates have trouble maintaining a private life?

Research is exciting

Your work is thrilling! It’s fun and rewarding! It is the exact opposite of a menial job running from 7am-4pm where you can’t wait until the day is over. You love to do the exciting tasks in your PhD project, and you can’t wait until you have analysed your data and you can see the first results. Besides that, you are engaged in exciting collaborations with like-minded scientists – why should you stop at 4pm?

Academic work is never ending

You could continue 24/7 with your research. There’s never an end. By the time you have found the solution to one problem, a number of others have manifested themselves. While you move one project to the finish line, you are already preparing multiple others. When you have submitted one research paper, you’re already working on the next. There are no closing hours either. It’s not like the entire work group leaves the institute at a certain time since there’s always one who starts earlier than you and another one who stays later – implying feelings of ‘I should do the same . . .’

You can always improve

Surely you are an ambitious scientist who always strives for the best possible result. You know that doing a PhD is not easy, so you are fastidious about the level of quality you want to achieve. Delivering a perfect result takes time – and many extra hours. Maybe your striving for excellence has turned into perfectionism? Perfectionists apply the same high standards to each and every task – even those where high quality is not required and a ‘quick-and-dirty’ job would do the trick. See our blog post #69 about perfectionism . 

Science is highly competitive, and pressure is all around in an academic environment. Apart from that, PhD candidates often have excessively high expectations for themselves regarding the workload they are able to take on. Thus, they put themselves under pressure regarding the hours they should work. There is a common belief among PhD candidates that you have to work long hours to be successful. 

Apart from this self-imposed pressure, there’s also peer-pressure, and pressure from some supervisors and bosses who might have built their own career on hard work and personal sacrifice. And there’s the occasional supervisor who does make it very clear that work during weekends is part of the job (Boyle 2015) . 

My personal experience

My personal brush with overworking came when I worked as a lecturer for the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. After working hard for my PhD and during my postdoc at Roskilde University in Denmark, and having held research positions at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, my career was on an upward trend, and I had gained some international recognition as a promising researcher in my field. To hear more about my experiences during my PhD years, listen to my story “Why I teach PhD candidates how to succeed” . In short: I loved my work at the university, the exciting international collaborations I participated in, and my students. All the efforts I had made over the years finally seemed to pay off. 

I enjoyed every bit of life as an academic. I said yes to every offer to speak at a conference or new project to join. And I always made sure to deliver good quality. I painstakingly prepared every presentation I gave, I rigorously edited every paper I wrote, and extensively prepared every seminar I taught. I worked every day from dawn to dusk, and my holidays were the conferences I attended. Everything was fun and exciting, until the day I realised that I could not keep up that workload any longer, and that my life outside work was basically non-existent. 

From that point on, I decided to make a few significant changes in my life. I stopped working on the weekends entirely, and instead planned long hiking trips to the Scottish highlands or along the coast. Walking for hours along a Glen was a great way to calm my mind, and to stop myself from thinking about work. This is something I continue doing to this day. I also treated myself to shopping sprees on Sunday mornings (bliss) instead of editing papers, and I joined the university sports club for weekly Yoga classes. Soon I looked forward to my spare-time activities so much that I longed for the workday or workweek to end. I had realised that there was something else that was more fun! I would speed up my work so it was done by the time I wanted to leave, and I became super selective about any new project or initiative I took on. 

How to regain a personal life

Below I outline a few steps you can take to achieve a better work-life balance. If you want all the details, get our free worksheet ‘6 steps to regain your personal life’ .  

• Keep a time log so you know how many hours you spend working.
• Decide how many hours you want to work per week and how you distribute these hours over the workdays. 
• Establish non-negotiable ground rules. These should include your weekly working hours, keeping weekends work free, and that you take holidays. 
• Find activities you truly enjoy so you have something to look forward to outside work. Plan for 1-2 during the week and for the weekend.
• Find out what helps you to detach right after work. A short deliberate time-span to unwind is all you need. 
• Re-think your work habits. Are you as efficient as you can be during working hours? Are you focused on your goals? If necessary, improve the way you work. 

Sign up for our free webinar for PhD candidates , in which I will also share more information about my new programme, the PhD Success Lab where you receive detailed mentoring to help you to get both a good life and a PhD degree! 

Overworking and losing your personal life is an incremental process that creeps up behind you. If you already feel that you are unhappy with your work-life balance, that you have an issue with working too much, or you can’t think about anything but work anymore, take action now! 

You can have both! Getting a PhD degree and having a private life is possible. The old notion of ‘you’ve got to give up everything if you want a scientific career’ is not true. It’s actually the opposite: If you have sufficient spare-time and holidays so you are well-rested when you arrive for work, you’ll be more focused, and you’ll do better work. The happier you are, the better your PhD will be! 

• Free worksheet “6 steps to regain your personal life”
• Free webinar for PhD candidates
• Digital course: “PhD Success Lab”
• Blog post no #69: What a cucumber taught me about perfectionism .
• Boyle, B. (2015) The possibility of work-life balance in science. Life Sciences Journal of Boston College.  
• Lim, Sun Sun (2020) How to get away from work mode during the coronavirus lockdown. Nature Career Column, 30 June 2020.  
• Powell, Kendall (2017) Work-life balance: Break or burn out. Nature Career Column. 18 May 2017, Vol 545, p. 375-376. 

More information

Do you want to successfully complete your PhD? If so, please sign up to receive our free guides.  

© 2020 Tress Academic

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Gsas students shine in 2024 three minute thesis competition.

April 30, 2024

Ayla Cordell | Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

The 2024 Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) at Brandeis Graduate School of Arts & Sciences was not Will Dahl’s first rodeo. “It took me two tries,” the Molecular and Cell Biology PhD student said. “On my first attempt last year, I missed a line and stood silent for what felt like ages. To be honest, I was terrified!” This year, Will took home the first place prize for the Sciences of $1,000 and the overall win. He credits his success to careful planning, refinement, and lots of practice. He focused on formatting his talk as a story that would resonate with a wide audience: “Every sentence must be calibrated to communicate, and there is no room for asides. The talk converges from broader impacts to the actual thesis.”

Explaining your research in just three minutes is a tall order, but on April 5, the third annual 3MT Competition, founded by the University of Queensland , saw ten GSAS students meet that very task. Marika McCann, Associate Director of Professional Development at GSAS and member of the 3MT team, alongside Associate Professor of Anthropology and Faculty Director of Professional Development Jon Anjaria; Anahita Zare of MRSEC ; and Becky Prigge, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at GSAS, said this about the 2024 competitors: “Our team was very impressed with how hard our students worked and the overall enthusiasm they brought to their talks. The audience learned so much from our students in this short time, including the possibility of early detection of Parkinson’s Disease, the importance of examining circadian rhythms, patterns in Honduran ceramics, and Tamil transfeminine performance in post-war Sri Lanka.”

Under the bright white stage lights and looking out upon an audience of friends, family, members of the Brandeis community, and a panel of five judges, finalists took to the Spingold Theatre stage. While it was certainly nerve-wracking, contestants noted the benefits of presenting in this format.

Manning Zhang, who won first place in the Humanities/Creative Arts/Social Sciences category, said the best moment of the competition was standing on the stage for the final round with rushing adrenaline. Acknowledging that few friends and family know about what she researches in Sociology and Health Policy, she began sharing more with them to understand how different people would react to her research. While this helped her prepare for the competition, it ended up holding deeper meaning for Zhang: “It took me a really long time to pursue my research and say, ‘This is meaningful.’ Getting feedback from people and hearing that they understand what I’m doing is really important to me.”

Victoria Khaghani, a Master’s student in Anthropology who was Runner Up in the Humanities/Creative Arts/Social Sciences category, echoed this sentiment. “You have to push yourself pretty hard to be able to condense your research down. But being able to then present my research to my family and have them say, ‘We finally understand what you’re doing,’ where they can understand the importance of it…that was huge.”

While contestants hoped to teach their audience something about their research, some finished the competition having learned new things about themselves. “I really like speaking in front of people,” Pranav Ojha, a Molecular and Cell Biology PhD student, discovered. “Figuring out what words to say, how to communicate them to inspire care - I enjoyed that process, and I’m coming out of it with different career ideas.” His passion for public speaking was evident - Ojha finished the competition with a total $1,250, after winning both Runner Up in the Sciences and the People’s Choice Award, which is determined through audience vote.

The final round may have showcased three minutes of individual presentation, but 3MT thrives as a collective and collaborative effort. “This is one of the only opportunities GSAS students at Brandeis have to share their research with the overall Brandeis community, outside of their departments,” McCann noted. Zhang (Sociology and Health Policy) even reached out to 2022 winner Emiliano Gutierrez-Popoca (PhD English ‘23), whose talk on Master-Servant Relations in Early Modern Drama led him to the National 3MT competition. Though they come from different disciplines, 3MT provided a platform for shared experience, and Popoca helped Zhang revise her draft for the final round. “I’ve gained a lot of rapport with people I didn’t think I could have rapport with…networking is very precious,” Zhang said. The 3MT community at Brandeis continues to strengthen and grow, and we cannot wait for next year!

Special thanks to 3MT sponsors: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Mandel Center for the Humanities, Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and the Division of Sciences

This year’s winners include:

First Place - William Dahl (overall winner), Molecular and Cell Biology, Stressed Cells' Secret Weapon for Survival

Runner Up - Pranav Ojha, Molecular and Cell Biology, What Makes our Clock Tick: A Look at Where It All Starts

Humanities/Social Sciences/Creative Arts

First Place - Manning Zhang, Sociology and Health Policy, Move It or Lose It

Runner Up - Victoria Khaghani, Anthropology, The Devil’s in the Details: Neglected Patterns of Honduras

People’s Choice

Pranav Ojha

Shanghai Disney Resort

Wishes ‘Roar’ to Life at Shanghai Disney Resort 

by Alice Good , External Communications Manager for Disney Experiences

From all of us at Zootopia Police Department, welcome to our newest recruit – wish child Siyi! 

In honor of World Wish Day, the anniversary of the wish that inspired the creation of Make-A-Wish, we are celebrating the life-changing power of a wish all month long, and today turning the spotlight on Shanghai Disney Resort . Working closely with Make-A-Wish Shanghai, the resort recently made the wish of Siyi come true with a “wildly” unique experience. 

Siyi had always dreamed of one day becoming a police officer. Little did she know that she would become the newest member of the Zootopia Police Department!

Welcomed by officer Judy Hopps, from Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Zootopia,” the new police team made the rounds, presenting appreciation cards to all guests that parked strollers in designated areas. Some detective work was even in store as Siyi helped capture the escaped Bellwether by sleuthing and rounding up clues! 

Disney VoluntEAR Tony said that he “was very glad to participate in this meaningful activity…and I felt so lucky to be the partner of the little policewoman, Siyi.” Tony noted that he was “deeply inspired in witnessing the wish coming true, and excited to help even more children have their wishes fulfilled in the future.” 

Granting wishes is some of the most important work we do at Disney — in fact, Shanghai Disney Resort recently crossed a milestone moment when they granted their 200 th wish in March!  

Eight-year-old Zuozuo and his family experienced an unforgettable visit to Shanghai Disney Resort where they immersed themselves into the magic of Shanghai Disneyland. And he even met a special someone at Toy Story Hotel — his favorite character, Buzz Lightyear, from the Pixar Animation Studios film “Toy Story”!  

As a big admirer of Buzz’s bravery and love of exploration, Zuozuo was tasked with a special mission — to become a pirate for the day and look for treasure! To aid in his grand adventure, Zuozuo was given a treasure map and “gold coins” after meeting two pirates. 

If that wasn’t incredible enough, the adventurous wish child and his family were invited to be the Grand Marshal of Mickey’s Storybook Express for the day, waving and saying hello to cast and fellow guests along the parade route! 

Shanghai Disney Resort has made magic for Make-A-Wish children since its opening, when seven-year-old Yuanbao from China’s Anhui province got to meet the loveable snowman Olaf from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film “Frozen.” Just last year, we helped to grant the 100 th wish at the resort, and we continue to work to grant the wish of every eligible wish child whose wish involves Disney!    

As Shanghai Disney Resort continues to grant the wishes of children like Siyi, Zuozuo and Yuanbao, their collaboration with local wish-granting partners will help them deliver joy when it’s needed most. Wishes uplift spirits and unite families, friends and communities around the world.  

Be sure to check out the Disney Make-A-Wish topics page on the Disney Parks Blog as we celebrate wish granting all month long! To learn more about how Disney and Make-A-Wish grant magical wishes together, visit worldwish.org/disney . 

Destinations: Shanghai Disney Resort

Topics: Disney Make A Wish

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