A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A PHD STUDENT (in Chemistry/Microbiology) | My PhD and Me

TL;DR

Following a PhD student's lab work, writing thesis chapters, making presentations, and managing research activities.

Transcript

hello my YouTube friends and welcome back to the weekly love Vlogs So today we're doing something that we haven't done in a very long time I'm going to prepare some media that's how I'm starting off the week it's actually Tuesday today and yes I need to run some bioassays today because I've been writing up over the last two weeks I've actually been... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 Writing early and leaving time for lab experiments is crucial for a PhD student completing their thesis.
• 🏃 Balancing lab work like running bioassays and preparing data with tasks like making presentations is essential for productivity.
• 👨‍🔬 Utilizing tools like editing software and citations to enhance research and academic progress.
• 😨 Personal challenges like sickness and managing fear of spiders affect a PhD student's work routine.
• 😫 Setting goals for writing chapters and maintaining focus with breaks and planning tasks aids in productivity.
• 💦 Celebrating milestones like citations boosts motivation and signals progress in research work.
• 💦 Weekends are for completing lab work and planning relaxation activities to balance work-life commitments.

Questions & Answers

Q: What challenges did the PhD student face during the week?

The PhD student faced challenges due to sickness and gaps in experiments for thesis chapters requiring bioassays to fill in data.

Q: How did the PhD student manage lab work along with writing their thesis?

The student balanced lab work like preparing media, plating bacteria, and running bioassays, with writing and making presentations to ensure progress in research activities.

Q: What activities did the PhD student engage in besides lab work and writing?

Besides lab work and writing, the student focused on making a presentation on "How to Survive Your PhD," editing videos, and managing research tasks like retrieving data and citations.

Q: How did the PhD student plan to improve productivity and manage time?

The student aimed to focus on writing at home, drop off their dog at a dog sitter to maintain focus, and planned tasks to enhance productivity such as attending group meetings and using quiet spaces for work.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• PhD student faces challenges due to sickness but works on thesis chapters by running bioassays.

• Lab work involves preparing media, plating bacteria, making presentations, and writing.

• Balancing lab work with writing and managing research tasks is crucial for productivity.