PODCAST · education
How to PhD - your academic survival guide
by Dr Arun Ulahannan & Dr Julia Gauly
This is How to PhD, the show dedicated to sharing those key, practical skills for PhD success. Perhaps you‘ve just decided to embark on a PhD, or maybe you‘re a seasoned doctoral veteran about to face your viva. Whatever stage you‘re at, the PhD can be a huge challenge. But it can also be one of the most rewarding things you‘ll ever do and there are a few things we learned along the way that can help you. Join myself, Dr Arun Ulahannan and my co-host, Dr Julia Gauly, as we share everything we wish we had known before starting our PhDs!
Episodes
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Master the secret art of asking for help
Asking for help sounds simple, but why do so many PhD students find it so difficult? Whether it's struggling with statistical methods, getting stuck on a research problem, or feeling like you should already know the answer, it's easy to spend days or even weeks trying to figure everything out...
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Too Many Papers? How to Read Critically and Get Organised
Ever downloaded a paper, highlighted half of it, then forgotten why you saved it? In this episode of How to PhD, Arun and Julia share practical ways to read critically, organise your literature and make your reading useful when it’s time to write. We explore how to question a paper’s methods and...
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How to know when you have enough for your PhD?
How do you know when you’ve done enough for your PhD? Research rarely feels truly finished- every answer seems to uncover another question. In this episode, we explore how to recognise when your thesis contains enough evidence, makes a clear contribution and tells a coherent story. We’ll share...
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How to PhD and start a family!
Is it possible to thrive, not just survive, as a PhD parent? Julia speaks with Phil Gordon about balancing doctoral research, professional work and teaching while becoming a dad. Phil shares honest reflections on how life changed when his son arrived, the pressures he encountered and the support...
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How to get your PhD work into the media!
Ever wondered how groundbreaking research grabs headlines? If you think it’s all about luck or fame, think again! This episode dives into the strategic side of getting your PhD research out of academic journals and into the wider world. With practical insights and tips, we’ll guide you through…
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What is IMPACT and why it's essential for your future career!
In this episode, we dive into the concept of impact in research—what it is, why it’s crucial, and how you can plan for it even at the PhD stage. We explore how impact goes beyond simple dissemination or public engagement, aiming for real change in society, the economy, culture, policy, health…
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How to craft your PhD's story
In this episode, we explore why a strong narrative is the backbone of a successful PhD. It’s not just about compiling studies or chapters; it’s about weaving them into a story that’s engaging and easy to follow. We discuss how to build a compelling pitch that answers essential questions and...
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A little teaser for Season 3...
Get ready for the best season yet! Season 3 is almost here, and we’re taking your PhD journey to new heights. From building a standout PhD narrative to navigating tricky co-worker dynamics, this season is packed with insights that will help you create impactful research and get the recognition…
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S2E9 | Handle criticism like a PRO with our guide!
This week, hosts Arun and Julia share personal experiences and practical guidance on handling criticism effectively. They emphasize the universality of criticism and the need to recognize its emotional impact, advising listeners to step away and regain perspective when it stings. The episode...
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S2E8 | What they don’t tell you about plagiarism!
In Season 2 Episode 8, hosts Arun and Julia discuss the critical issue of plagiarism, shedding light on its various forms and offering valuable tips on how to avoid it. They emphasize that plagiarism involves taking someone else's work or ideas and presenting them as one's own. Arun and Julia...
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S2E7 | Smart ways to make extra cash during your studies!
In the latest episode of "How to PhD," hosts Arun and Julia discuss practical strategies for graduate students to supplement their income during their doctoral studies. As the cost of living continues to rise, finding additional sources of cash becomes crucial. Arun and Julia, who were fortunate…
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S2E6 | Our best writing motivation and productivity hacks!
Welcome back to "How to PhD," Season 2, Episode 6! In this episode, Arun and Julia are your guides on a journey to boost and maintain your writing motivation. Writing is at the core of every PhD, but staying motivated can often feel like an uphill battle. Arun and Julia share their own…
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S2E5 | Master the art of influence and tame intimidating academics!
In Season 2, Episode 5 of "How to PhD," hosts Arun and Julia address the daunting issue of dealing with intimidating supervisors during your PhD. They dive into why supervisors can be intimidating and provide actionable strategies to manage these relationships effectively. Their advice includes...
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S2E4 | Beat procrastination with our science-backed guide!
We're back! This week we're delving into the world of procrastination. But importantly, we talk about techniques that actually address the root-cause of procrastination! Join us as we give you the tools you need to kick the habit and make the most of your time
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S2E3 | The secrets of journal publishing!
We've talked a lot about publishing in journals, but this week, we're diving in deep and going into all of the little secrets of journal publications. Learn all metrics, authorship and even maximising your citations!
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S2E2 | Choosing the perfect journal keywords!
Keywords are often an afterthought, but actually can be incredibly useful in ensuring your work gets the biggest reach possible. This episode, we don our SEO keyword optimisation hats and share some smart little tricks to choose the best keywords for your journal paper!
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S2E1 | Quick and easy productivity boosters!
We're back! Maintaining productivity and being consistent is one of the cornerstones of a successful PhD. This week, we share some simple changes you can make if you feel you’re not making the most of your time. It’s not about working harder, but more focussed!
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A quick show update- don’t worry, we’re still here!
A very brief update on the show and when we'll return! Thank you to the entire How to PhD community for continuing to listen to the show! It means so much to us and we can't wait to come back!
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S1E39 | A structured method to finding your research gap!
Often we think of knowledge gaps as the key thing to aim for in a PhD, but actually there are many more types of gaps that can be just as powerful and useful! Tune in to learn about the many types of research gaps and a very simple tool to help you identify which ones you'd like to pursue!
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S1E38 | How to balance your time writing journals vs your thesis!
Balancing spending time on journal papers vs writing your thesis chapters is a tricky one. This week, we have everything you need to know on how to find that balance between the two and what you need to prioritise during your PhD!
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S1E37 | How to avoid the 3 most common email mistakes!
Never get replies to emails? Find that your supervisors don't actually answer your questions? A lot of these problems can be traced back to how you write your emails. This week, we're going to be talking about some super simple things you can start doing straight away to optimise your email…
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S1E36 | Why you need to engage with the public for your PhD- and how!
Public involvement and engagement are two really powerful techniques to help justify your work. Think about times you couldn't find the literature to justify what you're doing... or if you feel you're not sure what your work is going to do for the world... these techniques can help solve those!...
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S1E35 | More important lessons from the highs and lows of our PhDs! (Part 2)
We're back again, this time with Julia's PhD story. It's different in many ways and so many things to takeaway from the experience- tune in to find out!
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S1E34 | Important lessons you can take away from the highs and (many) lows of our PhD journeys! (Part 1)
This week we're going into each year of our PhD journeys to show you the reality of what a PhD is. Often, all we see is that final success from people on Twitter, but actually, most PhD candidates face the same problems and challenges. We'll be talking in depth about all the challenges Arun faced...
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S1E33 | Essential tips on being a successful researcher with Prof. Sebastian Kernbach! (Part 2)
We're back with part 2. In this second half of our collaborative episode with Prof. Sebastian Kernbach, we talk about identify the things in your life that give you energy, how to achieve a resilient mindset, managing perfectionism and how to utilise positive psychology! It's a packed episode- we...
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S1E32 | Essential tips on being a successful researcher with Prof. Sebastian Kernbach! (Part 1)
Here's part 1 of our first ever collaborative episode! We're so happy to welcome Prof. Sebastian Kernbach to our show! Sebastian is an expert in life design, resilience, design thinking, visual thinking, and positive psychology. In this episode we dive into the concepts of successful intelligence...
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S1E31 | Four common problems with supervisor meetings-and how to overcome them!
So often supervisor relations can go awry, but this is usually down to some simple things that are being missed. Often, a lot of these issues stem from the meetings themselves. We took a look around twitter, social media and listened to our own One-to-One students to list down the most common...
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S1E30 | Five common PhD mistakes, and how to avoid them!
Is it better late than never? Apologies for missing a week, but we're back! This week, we dive into some of the most common mistakes we've seen in PhDs and provide you with the essential tips to avoid these pitfalls!
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S1E29 | How to choose the examiners for your viva or defense!
It's perhaps one of the last things you want to be thinking about when you're in the run up to your PhD submission, but it's good to give this some thought. Thankfully, our tips will have to ready for that process so you can rest easy knowing you have one less thing to think about in the final…
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S1E28 | Essential tips for creating your CV or Resume- that you can start today!
We'll be honest, the CV or Resume was the last thing we were worried about when we were doing our PhDs. But doing some very simple, practical things can set you up very nicely for when you need to create that document. In this episode, we've got some really important tips for that document, and...
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S1E27 | How to enjoy a guilt-free Christmas!
Lockdowns and quarantine rules meant we had to slightly adjust our recording schedule- but we're back (albeit with a slightly makeshift studio!). A special episode to round off the year dedicated to helping you relax and unwind this holiday season. We're back on the 17th January! So all that's…
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S1E26 | How to network and grow your researcher profile!
We're not huge fans of the word 'networking', but it is an important thing to learn during your PhD. But you don't have to be the loudest voice or super extroverted to network! No, all you need is to put yourself and your work out there for people to see, and there are many ways to do this.…
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S1E25 | Things you need to know about being a supervisor!
"Being a supervisor?? Wait, but aren't I the one being supervised?" Yes! But don't pass up any opportunities to engage with supervising other Bachelor/Masters students during your PhD! There's so much value in being able to apply what you know from your own PhD experience in teaching and guiding...
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S1E24 | Things you need to know for your Research Proposals!
Research proposals can be extremely daunting and it's easy to get lost in the process. Fortunately, we've been there before and we've got an episode packed with practical guidance on writing your own research proposals- both for a future PhD and for those that come after!
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S1E23 | How to overcome the biggest PhD challenges!
PhDs are difficult things! But don’t confuse difficulty with progress. Just because you might be facing challenges does not mean you’re not doing well- quite the opposite in fact! In this episode, we talk about the 5 key challenges we faced in our PhDs and how we went about dealing with them.
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S1E22 | Poster design- not just for conferences!
Posters are often only thought of in a conference context, but actually they can be so useful at all stages of your PhD. They put you in the right mindset for thinking about your work in a concise and effective way and are a brilliant thing to create before say, a viva or presentation. This week,...
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S1E21 | Systematic Reviews: Why and How explained!
Have you ever felt lost conducting a literature review? How do you know you've covered enough of the literature? That's exactly what systematic reviews aim to solve by giving you a super structured process to follow. In this episode, we're diving it why you might want to consider systematic…
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S1E20 | How to peer review!
This is one of the big things in the academic world, but unfortunately there's very little guidance on what exactly it is and how you can get involved. In this episode, we'll take you through everything you need to know about peer review and why it's something that can be very helpful for you!
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S1E19 | Why interview studies matter and how to do them (Part 2)
We're back after our break and we're wrapping up our two-part episode on interview studies. This time we're tackling the practical things you need to consider when actually running your interview studies.
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A quick update on the show
Hello everyone, a warm welcome to all of our new listeners and of course all of you who have been with us since the early days. It’s been a long time since we spoke! Firstly, we want to apologise to all of you listening here for not updating you all on what’s happening with the show. We had sent…
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S1E18 | Why interview studies matter and how you can do them (Part 1)
Interview studies can give you a huge amount of valuable data- if done correctly! In this first part of a two-part episode, Arun & Julia give you all the details on why you might want to consider doing an interview study and how you go about preparing to do one! In part 2 next week, we'll talk...
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S1E17 | How to tell good research from bad research!
It’s so important, not only for your PhD, but for life in general to be able to distinguish good research from bad research. Doing so will allow you to ensure you reference and talk about papers of a good quality. We’re going to give you 3 essential tips to help you in being a regular Sherlock...
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S1E16 | How to read academic papers!
Pro tip! Don't just read papers like a book! Reading papers is more of an art form than you think. If you know what to look for, you can save yourself a lot of time and focus on just the bits most relevant to you. In this episode, we're going to give you the full rundown of exactly how to do…
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S1E15 | How to do conferences!
COVID has changed conferences for now, but the tips in this episode are still valid! We remember our first conferences were pretty daunting experiences. There's a lot of new terminology you might not of heard before and you might feel overwhelmed at the number of different sessions in a short…
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S1E14 | How to NOT fail your PhD!
This is the worst case scenario right? The thing no PhD candidate ever wants to think about, but might end up worrying about it every day! This episode is here to put an end to that kind of thinking. We're going to give you the SIX KEY THINGS you need to demonstrate to not fail your PhD... and...
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S1E13 | How to balance your work, life & PhD!
This can be so hard during your PhD. But in this episode, we’ll take you through things you can do to try and organise your life and make time for all the important aspects of your life. We’ll discuss how to prioritise your jobs and roles, how to take your leave and how to work from home- it’s a...
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S1E12 | When and how to apply for post-PhD jobs!
Does this sound like a long long way off? In this week's episode, we're going to be showing you why it's never too early to start thinking about life after the PhD. There are things you can do right now, that are going to really help you and take the stress off when it comes to the final months....
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S1E11 | Finding and writing your Research Question!
This can be incredibly daunting- especially if your work is novel and there isn't a whole lot of literature out there. We talk about how you can find your research question using different, 'novel' sources and exactly how you can write your own great research question!
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S1E10 | How to deal with journal corrections and rejections
Corrections and rejections from journals can be extremely demotivating and can be a major stressor for many PhD candidates. Don't worry, this week we're going to show you why this shouldn't be the case and exactly how you should go about responding to all of the many types of responses you could...
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S1E9 | How to write and submit journal papers
It’s a process that’s we’re still learning something new about every time. But with these tips, we’ll give you five essential and practical tips to submit your paper in its best possible form, to its ideal journal!
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This is How to PhD, the show dedicated to sharing those key, practical skills for PhD success. Perhaps you‘ve just decided to embark on a PhD, or maybe you‘re a seasoned doctoral veteran about to face your viva. Whatever stage you‘re at, the PhD can be a huge challenge. But it can also be one of the most rewarding things you‘ll ever do and there are a few things we learned along the way that can help you. Join myself, Dr Arun Ulahannan and my co-host, Dr Julia Gauly, as we share everything we wish we had known before starting our PhDs!
HOSTED BY
Dr Arun Ulahannan & Dr Julia Gauly
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does How to PhD - your academic survival guide have?
How to PhD - your academic survival guide currently has 60 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is How to PhD - your academic survival guide about?
This is How to PhD, the show dedicated to sharing those key, practical skills for PhD success. Perhaps you‘ve just decided to embark on a PhD, or maybe you‘re a seasoned doctoral veteran about to face your viva. Whatever stage you‘re at, the PhD can be a huge challenge. But it can also be one of...
How often does How to PhD - your academic survival guide release new episodes?
How to PhD - your academic survival guide has 60 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to How to PhD - your academic survival guide on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts How to PhD - your academic survival guide?
How to PhD - your academic survival guide is created and hosted by Dr Arun Ulahannan & Dr Julia Gauly.
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