The Seven Secrets of highly successful research students

Judith Shawcross jks45@cam.ac.uk

Overview
Your research expedition The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Research Students Newtons Laws of Graduation What to do in your 1st year

Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Research Students

By Hugh Kearns & Maria Gardiner

Do you want to increase the probability of completing your thesis on time and be happier doing it?
Students who know these secrets and make use of them do so.

#1. Care & Maintenance of your Supervisor

Meet regularly Discuss and negotiate your progress regularly

Understand your different / similar styles If its not working do something about it

#2. Write and Show as you go

If you are reading but not writing after about 3 weeks you will have forgotten what youve read Enables you to stay on track and refine your thinking

Avoid perfectionism by setting deadlines Write journal articles as you go You need to write to produce a PhD thesis!

#3. Be Realistic

You are learning to do research and how to write a thesis you are not expected to know this already You will be making an original contribution to knowledge Stay focussed Go for a result and not perfection Separate yourself from your thesis

#4. Say No to distractions

Work related distractions demonstrating, supervisions, organising conferences / events, assisting with other research projects Personal distractions emails, texts, facebook, sport, hobbies, partying!

Desperate distractions

#5. Its a job

Work regular hours 5 days a week If you take time off make it up Stick to your work-times and get evenings, weekends and holidays to do what you want! Set up a proper work place away from distractions Set deadlines and targets and agree these with your supervisor

#6. Get Help

You are allowed It will make your life easier It will save you time

There are many sources of help at Cambridge

#7. You can do it

Know and believe you can do it

Keep going it will get tough at times

Keep using the other 6 secrets

Sir Isaac Newton 1643 - 1726

Third Law For every action towards graduation there is an equal and opposite distraction
First Law A grad student in procrastination tends to stay in procrastination unless an external force is applied to it Second Law The age, a, of a doctoral process is directly proportional to the flexibility, f, given by the advisor and inversely proportional to the students motivation, m George Cham, PhD Comics

The First Law of Graduation

A grad student in procrastination tends to stay in procrastination unless an external force is applied to it How to apply an external force? Set a deadline write it down & tell people Set up regular meetings to review progress Arrange a reward conditional on achievement

The Second Law of Graduation

The age, a, of a doctoral process is directly proportional to the flexibility, f, given by the advisor and inversely proportional to the students motivation, m Controlling flexibility
Agreed milestones / goals with Supervisor/PI Regular Progress Meetings

Keeping motivated
Regular milestones / goals Finishing before funding runs out

The Third Law of Graduation

For every action towards graduation there is an equal and opposite distraction Just say no Separate personal & work email Turn them off Set aside time for them outside of work

Post-Graduate Competency Development Framework Year 1

Subject Specific Research Skills Research Skills

Year 2

Year 3 +
Research Skills

Common
Personal Skills Personal Skills Foundation Enterprise / Knowledge Transfer Skills Teaching

Personal Skills Enterprise Skills

Enterprise / Knowledge Transfer Skills

Teaching

Post Graduate Skill Needs

Research Subject specific research skills Common research skills - Reviewing Literature, Research Methodology etc. Foundation research skills e.g. IT, Communication, planning and organisation Personal Skills e.g. Career Development, Personal Development Enterprise / Knowledge Transfer Skills E.g. Innovation, Creativity, Intellectual Property, Commercialisation, Business Finance, Entrepreneurship Teaching e.g. supervising student labs

What to do in your 1st year

Book onto a Research and Communications Club
See your Divisional Administrator

CUED Graduate Lectures

3 Lectures in Lent Term look out for the emails

Planning and Managing a Research Project

Book a course at www.training.cam.ac.uk/gdp

Time Management
Book a course at www.training.cam.ac.uk/gdp

One to one Skills Analysis

Book a session at www.training.cam.ac.uk/gdp

Make sure your computer skills are up to date

Book a course at www.cam.ac.uk/cs/training

Booking Courses
Book at www.training.cam.ac.uk/gdp They do tend to fill up very quickly with our new booking system. It is worth going on the waiting list. Other Resources VITAE www.vitae.ac.uk