Phd (in Progress) Podcast | Education, Career, Life

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher This week, the hosts recount their final days as graduate students and their first days as doctors. How are the last steps of the PhD process? Finalizing thesis, defense talk, and job search simultaneously Stressful days leading up to the defense “No one cares about your thesis!”* – A PhD advisor Hosting family and friends for your defense Beware: You MAY get emotional during the final moments of your talk Kelly doesn’t let professionalism get in the way of her sailor’s mouth Reviewing the job searches for Kelly and Nikhil Hear about Kelly’s “Lifelong Dream” in Episode 6 Get the background on the Co-Founder of Nikhil’s Zipline company, Doug, in Episode 8 Don’t be afraid to use your network! It’s tough out there. For interviews: Practice, Practice, Practice! Prepare for your negotiations Why can't Jason hit Natalie Imbruglia's notes anymore? [Image card created using Flickr user jayneandd’s image under Creative Commo

http://traffic.libsyn.com/phdinprogress/PhD_021.mp3 Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher This week we talk to Aleksandra Badura, a neuroscience post-doctoral researcher at Princeton University about the post-doc life and differences between the US and European PhD programs. (This episode was recorded a LONG time ago. We have all since defended and will catch up on the Coming to the US from Europe to be a post-doctoral researcher The “importance” of brand when accepting positions Choosing a post-doc laboratory Parallels between business world and academia Job security Applying for fellowships is vital for success in research fields Differences between European counties and US in PhD training Fewer courses in PhD program in Europe Masters degree (~2 years) is mandatory before pursuing a PhD Fewer European programs have a rotation system Work/life balance Considering starting a family There is no magic end point to your career Do you have more questions

PhD_020.mp3 Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher Dr. Benjamin McNeil is a Senior Lecturer at University of New South Wales and creator of Thinkable.org. He wrote this piece for Ars Technica titled "Is there a creativity deficit in science?" What are the hurdles to professors getting funding? How can we pursue projects that might not have an immediately apparent payoff? How did the coupling of scientific “failure” and personal “failure” develop? To what extent do corporations have a role in scientific research and endeavors? How science can connect with society? Organizations as platforms to raise money for your research We revisit “secret learning” and “new knowledge” (i.e. negative results and/or failures) Thanks to Ben McNeil again for a great show and interview. You can reach him at ben@thinkable.org. Definitely check out Thinkable.org to see some current projects and give your own projects a shot. If you have any comments or questions, stop by phdinprogre

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher A very special thank you to Mark Esposito who also runs the Breaking Bio blog found at breakingbio.org.  Mark wrote a guide about creating the career symposium you heard in this show at http://www.breakingbio.org/resources/ Discussion points: Understanding your career path and constantly questioning your goals Problems with tenure track positions as the default How do we approach learning about "alternative careers" Steps in initiating a career symposium: 1) Raise money via internal and external grants or donations 2) Connect with potential speakers/guests Ask faculty Use LinkedIn or call companies Ask departmental office Location can be important 3) Logistics for travel arrangement, room availability Career areas addressed at the symposium held at Princeton's Department of Molecular Biology: Policy Education Industry R&D Law Science Communication Related Episodes: Using your career services office Bey

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher Discussion points: What are informational interviews? Understanding what you're interested in Keeping a casual conversation Learning about prospects of the company, the culture, how promotions work Overcoming being hesitant How did you jump into informational interviewing Strategies: Leveraging Alumni Network Being earnest What roles with companies do PhDs tend to have? It is a challenge for PhDs to get involed in industry Roles outside of the research   If you have any comments or suggestions about the show, definitely send us an e-mail at Feedback@phdinprogress.com We're also on Twitter @phdpodcast. I love interacting with all of you there, so please say hi. Our fund sourcing to cover costs associated with the show is up and running. If you'd like more information about supporting us, please stop by Patreon.com/phdpodcast or click the PayPal donation button on our site. Even a couple of dollars goes a long way to

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher [Episode card image adapted from a Flickr photo by Derek Mindler, used under the Creative Commons] If you would like to donate to help cover costs, please click here.This week we have a friendly dialogue about facing Impostor Syndrome and how it has appeared in our lives. Resources: "Banishing Impostor Syndrome" by Andrea Zellner at GradHacker The Impostor Syndrome by Caltech Counseling Center "9 Tips for Dealing With Impostor Syndrome" - a blog post containing numerous links and writings "How I Cured My Impostor Syndrome" by Jacquelyn Gill We’ve started something new! So far, all of the funding for this show has come out of my own pocket. To help cover the costs, I’ve started a Patreon campaign where you can pledge to help out the show. I’ve also placed a PayPal Donation button on the site.  The show will ALWAYS be free but if you would like to help us cover costs and improve the quality of our show, please consider contribut

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher   [Episode card image adapted from a Flickr photo by Bhernandez, used under the Creative Commons] Questions asked: What is a "lifeguard"? How did you decide to seek help? What does help look like? How is mental illness perceived in graduate school? Am I alone if I seek out help? Mental Illness Awareness Week Oct. 5-11, 2014 Resources "Mental Health Issues Among Graduate Students" by Nash Turley The Illustrated Guide to a PhD  (the image Halley described) Your school's health service office (Example: Princeton University's Counseling and Psychological Services) "Normal is a distribution" "Paying Graduate School's Mental Toll" by Carrie Arnold Do you have any experiences to share? We'd love to talk about it further in the comments on our show notes at PhDinProgress.com/16 or /mentalhealth . You can also say hi on Twitter @PhDPodcast or e-mail us at feedback@phdinprogress.com Finally, If you like the show so far, help us out

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher   Patricia Berhau is an ISLES Asset Building Coordinator who works primarily with moderate and low-income people. She encourages graduate students to remember that their income-level is only temporary as their income potential is much higher in the long-run. [Episode Card uses a Flickr image by epSos.de under Creative Commons licensing] Important reminders: It's all the irregular things that are budget busters. Budget! Knowing where your money goes is crucial to being financially healthy. Mint.com for organizing your accounts and budgets Get a copy of your credit report! AnnualCreditReport.com You're entitled to a free credit report from each of the bureaus per year. Your credit report and score dictate your borrowing potential. If you feel that you want to borrow money at some point, be conscious of your credit handling. "Make a Resolution to Budget? Here Are Some Apps to Help" by Tara Siegel Bernard - New York Times - Jan 3

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher     This week, Jason talks to Parag Gupta, 12th-year materials science and mechanical engineering PhD student at Northwestern University about his perspective on graduate school and learning from mistakes. Resources: Parag Gupta's April 2014 TEDxNorthwesternU  "So, Um...12 Years, Huh?!" can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32QCk1fRpfY.  Robert Fulghum's Book Excerpt on problems versus inconveniences is attached Robert Fulghum -- Uh-Oh  How To Win Friends and Influence People  by Dale Carnegie can be found at your local library, your friendly neighborhood bookstore, or any online retailer. (Parag's suggestion for a positive outlook and framing) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Dr. Stephen R. Covey can be found at your local library, your friendly neighborhood bookstore, or any online retailer. (Jason's suggestion for personal productivity and growth) NASA Academy Gener

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher This week, Jason and Kelly talk to Princeton University graduate student Jessica Rowland Williams about starting graduate school with a child and deciding to raise a family. Resources Parenting in Grad School by Andrea Zellner at GradHacker.org Grad School and Parenting: If I Knew Then What I Know Now...  Jennifer Bengtson at GradHacker.org What to Consider Before Mixing Graduate School with Raising a Family by Theresa Phillips at biotech.about.com Your graduate school's student resource page Listener Jennifer hosts a new site called Parenting and Academia! Stop by and share some stories. Let us know about any resources you come across feedback@phdinprogress.com DO YOU have 10 seconds to help us acheive our goal? We would love 50 reviews and ratings in the iTunes store. When we reach 50 reviews or 100 ratings, we’ll release a bonus outtake episode to everyone AND one reviewer will be randomly selected to either join us on t

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher This week Jason, Nikhil, and Kelly discuss productivity resources that have worked for them in their graduate studies. For more information, visit our blog entry on Productivity Web Tools for Graduate Students. There is more information on Mendeley, Papers, Google Calendar, and Mint. Resources Mentioned and Recommended: Papers (€34 for students) http://www.papersapp.com  Mendeley (free) http://www.mendeley.com/ Google Calendar (free) https://www.google.com/calendar/ Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day by Todd Henry (Jason personally endorses this book) Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey Creative Routines infographic by RJ Andrews Pomodoro Technique (Wikipedia): 25 minutes of work then 5 minutes "off" Lifehacker has a great article "Why You Should Keep a Journal and How to Start Yours" Coffitivity The white noise of a coffee shop! Also useful: Nickelback. We have

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher What dating challenges and mistakes do grad students face? How do you start dating as a graduate student? Should you using online dating services? How can you maintain a relationship while in grad school? This week we discuss having a love life as a grad student. After a long discussion, we only end up scratching the surface! We'll be sure to return to this broad subject. Have you ever searched for love in the liquor store? Dating: Online vs Offline Relationship Sharing interests Complementing traits and interests Intellectual intimidation Let us know what you'd like to hear more in depth. (If you are a bear or a lumberjack, Kelly would also like to hear from you) Comment at http://phdinprogress.com/love E-mail us feedback@phdinprogress.com Interact with us on Twitter @PhDPodcast or Reddit /u/PhDPodcast , /r/gradschool   *Sorry for the audio quality. I'm working on making it better! -J  

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher This week Nikhil interviews PhD candidate in Criminology, Law & Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Oren Gur. They discuss Oren's research on drug and substance use among graduate students and the challenges associated with his dissertation work. You can e-mail Oren Gur for more information at ogur2@uic.edu  NOTE: While drug and substance use and/or abuse is a serious subject, the hosts and guest decided to keep true to the show's  unique voice. We integrate levity and a sense of humor into discussion of an important topic of academic research. Jokes made in this show should not be confused with endorsement of illegal/harmful drug use but should promote thoughtful dialog.

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher This week Jason, Nikhil, and Abigail sit down with Amy Pszczolkowski, Assistant Director of Princeton University's Career Services office to discuss career search resources and networking strategies. We encourage you to reach out to your career service office and tell us about your experience! What can you expect to receive from your university's career service officer? -Counseling/Advising: a thought partner and guide; broad exposure -Assessments: personality, fit, strength/weakness, professional skills, interviewing -Free valuable information on career center websites Grad students often don't know about these services, but the earlier you come in, the better support you can receive. Mentioned this Episode: So What Are You Going To Do With That? - Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius* A PhD Is Not Enough!: A Guide to Survival in Science* Princeton Career Services: Resources  University of Pennsylvania Career Services: Resources

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or Subscribe on Stitcher This week, I talk to former PhD student Doug Swanson and current Chief Technology Officer of Malwarebytes about his decision to leave grad school and his advice to current grad students who might be considering an exit from academia. Thanks again to Doug for his time and insight! It was definitely a personal topic, so we appreciate his participation. Do you have more questions about possibly leaving grad school? Leave us a comment at phdinprogress.com/8 or email us at feedback@phdinprogress.com. We're also active on Twitter @PhDPodcast. If you enjoy the show, please spread the word by telling your friends and colleagues. Finally, the best way you could support the show is to leave an honest review and rating in the the iTunes store. Thanks for the support!  As always, all this  information can be found at phdinprogress.com.

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or find us on Stitcher This week we talk to our co-host Dr. Abigail Sporer about what it's like to continue education after a few years out of academia and how she felt while finishing her PhD dissertation defense. Thank you to Nick @diacritic for an important topic for our show. He reached out on Twitter, saying "Hey, I'm a listener starting grad school after about fifteen years of industry work. Know any resources for people like me?" If you have any more wisdom for him, please leave a comment below or send us mail feedback@phdinprogress.com Doing your dissertation with Microsoft® Word: A comprehensive guide to using Microsoft® Word for academic writing Updated for Microsoft® Word 2007 & Microsoft Word® 2010 by Jacques Raubenheimer Coffitivity- Increase Your Creativity! Coffee shop sounds How do you deal with more immature classmates? What helped Dr. Abigail through the dissertation writing process? What does she wish she did differently? And please, do

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or find us on Stitcher This week we have Kelly LaRue in studio to discuss public outreach, a targeted career search, and the importance of finding value outside of your main research. Kelly is the recipient of the Princeton Graduate Student Recognition Award for her work with Princeton University's Graduate MolBio Outreach Program. While performing an amazing level of volunteer work, she has leveraged her experiences into taking action on her professional goals. She has taken an approach to her career search that may help others narrow down their own searches. The 2 resources mentioned by Kelly: Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research http://saber-biologyeducationresearch.wikispaces.com/ EvolDir (i.e. "EVIL DEER") http://life.mcmaster.ca/evoldir.html Why is Nikhil fidgety? What is a good name for a courtship song? What happened to the coffee? Answers within. Thanks for listening!

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes Or find us on Stitcher This week Jason, Nikhil, and Abigail hope to help newer graduate students by discussing what they WISH they knew earlier in their studies. Self-management, the production mindset, and failure are the 3 broad topics we dive into for this discussion. We mention a couple of neuroscience studies- Chronic partial sleep deprivation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19961/ Sleep and memory - way too much literature, but the wiki is pretty comprehensive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_and_memory Where does Nikhil find his best ideas? How can you earn your secret Ph.D.? And correct, unurgent is not a word. Thank you in advance.  

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or find us on Stitcher This week we talk to Zach about taking a leave of absence, self-education, and preparation for consulting job interviews. Abigail gets ready to defend, Nikhil finishes up experiments, and Jason is a subpar caterer. Nikhil interviews Zach. They discuss the reasons Zach took a leave of absence, what he did during that time, and how it prepared him for his next career. During the interview, Zach mentions two books ("the classics") he has read during his preparation for a consulting job search: Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter Competitve Advantage by Michael Porter   We're active on Twitter @PhDPodcast. If you'd like to help boost our visibility, please consider sharing the show with your friends or rating us on iTunes. We'd appreciate all the honest feedback, questions, and comments you're willing to send our way. As always, you can find this week's show notes and all the information I just mentioned at PhDinProgress.com  

Click here to subscribe and rate us in iTunes | Or find us in Stitcher This week Jason, Nikhil, and Abigail continue the discussion initiated in Episode 2 by Fatimah Williams Castro, PhD on how we should approach our career searches. We then make public some "anecdata" while briefly summarizing the steps we are taking to 1) obtain skills inside/outside the lab and 2) initiate our career exploration. How can you "manage up"? Where do you find contacts to pursue job leads? Why would you want a treadmill desk? All this and more in Episode 3! Thanks to everyone who has sent us feedback already, it's been great and helpful so far. Extra thanks to our friends at Reddit.com/r/gradschool for constantly contributing to a dynamic community. You can learn more about American Journal Experts (the editing group Abigail works with) at AJE.com, or the technology consulting group Jason works with at PreScouter.com Send any comments or questions, to feedback@PhDinProgress.com or @PhDPodcast on Twitter. Let us know wha