Worst Case Scenario
I spend a good chunk of my work time on my way to do workshops or thinking about travel. I check train times and maps, I think about taxis, I look for hotels… …is it any wonder my dreams skew...
Daily viva help for PhDs
I spend a good chunk of my work time on my way to do workshops or thinking about travel. I check train times and maps, I think about taxis, I look for hotels… …is it any wonder my dreams skew...
I’m a fan of the “three easy wins” productivity idea: simply put, start your day by getting three little victories. Clear that email out of your inbox, write down that short paragraph or check your blog feed for new posts....
Look at the first statement of research in your thesis, your abstract. How clear is it? How would you explain it in plain, simple words? How would you remove jargon? Would your abstract be enough to explain your ideas to...
If your examiner tells you they don’t like something in your thesis you have options: You could say sorry, and do whatever they say as a result. You could stare them down, insist that you’re right, and see what happens....
From time to time I’ve shared an acronym I like on this blog. I’ve talked about SMART before: a useful tool to help with planning, it stands for Specific, Measurable, Advantages, Realistic, Time-bound – the five qualities of an effective...
Is passing your viva guaranteed? No, but let’s say that it is the most likely outcome. Statistics, stories and the structure of the PhD journey say it clearly: how else could a candidate get to submission if they and the...
There are many ways to think about your thesis’ contribution. Instead of coming up with a list of things you’ve done, start with why others might find something valuable in your research. What might they value? What would help them?...
Doctor Who was first broadcast fifty-five years ago today. Given my past posts on superheroes, it should come as no surprise I’m a fan. One of the highlights of my time recording interviews for the Viva Survivors Podcast was interviewing...
I love reading mystery stories. One of my favourite things is trying to figure out which clues are red herrings. What are the distractions? Which things don’t matter? What gets in the way of important things? It’s not always so...
It really is! Like one of the George Clooney Ocean’s Eleven movies. ……… Let me explain: You have heroes working to overcome an all-or-nothing challenge! (or at least that’s how it feels for the viva) You have unexpected moments that...