Career resources for PhD students

Scholars in PhD and master’s programmes struggle with securing work–life balance and support around career training and mental health, finds Nature survey.

The cost-of-living crisis is causing widespread financial distress among those in master’s and PhD programmes worldwide.

The cost-of-living crisis is a fundamental threat for PhD scholars and early-career researchers. They need to be paid properly.

As interest in academia fades, scholars in PhD and master’s programmes are dubious about the value of their degree in advancing their professional lives, finds Nature survey.

Visa woes and a lack of career prospects affect many international students, Nature’s survey finds.

Graduate scholars are eager to launch their careers, eschewing the years of further study required for doctoral degrees.

Bias and discrimination are rife in master’s and PhD programmes worldwide, a Nature survey finds.

A hiring manager reveals the lessons he learnt when transitioning from a PhD programme to industry.

Facing challenges including parenthood, mental-health strain and financial pressures, these researchers give advice for navigating the uncertain paths before them.

Anxiety and depression affect nearly half of all early-career researchers. Strengthening our communities from within can provide relief, says Taylor Tibbs.

A growing number of PhD programmes and postdoc positions combine academic questions and industry resources.

I learnt the benefits of reaching out through e-mail while I was a student, now I receive many cold e-mails myself. Here’s how to write a good one.

Andrew Wood plans for a career-defining 12 months ahead, and what he needs to focus on.

As the first graduate student in a new lab, Jillian Collins came to rely on regular virtual meetings with peers from across the United States.

Some scientists earn two PhD degrees to expand their skills, cross fields or create a niche research programme.

As inflation rates soar, new data on the finances of US graduate students spark calls for action.

Ronja Weber describes living as a PhD student with narcolepsy, a chronic condition that disrupts sleep-wake processes.

A chance meeting at a scientific retreat took Zoltán Kócsi from the electronics industry to the entomology lab.

Yuning Wang learned to rely less on her supervisor’s guidance during her doctoral programme, an important step on the road to research autonomy.

Roger Tipton was approaching 50 when he made a bold career move. Here’s what he learnt.

Experience in grant-writing, data analysis and presentation will serve you well, say Samantha Baggott and Jonathan McGuire.

A new survey underscores mental-health risks for doctoral researchers.

Your supervisor has a vested interest in your success. Set the right tone and communication style when you meet with them.

Kelsey Inouye’s job search gave her panic attacks and dented her self-esteem. But she learnt to take rejection in her stride.

Satheesh Kumar has found ways to be productive without ever visiting his supervisor or lab.

Aine Lehane’s dog taught her the value of taking a break.

Sophie Dufour-Beauséjour chose an unusual way to capture an academic rite of passage, with a little help from her friends.

If you’re starting a doctoral programme later this year, particularly if your institution is still facing COVID-19 restrictions, Ciara O’Brien has some advice.

Universities, funders and others want to expand the contributions that the scientific community values and recognizes, says Karen Stroobants.

Don’t get bogged down in technical details, and balance the professional and the personal.

Join a group that represents PhD researchers to improve the working environment of your colleagues and to make friends.

Cecilia Zumajo-Cardona learnt three key lessons as an international graduate student in the United States, and is optimistic about 2021.

Biomedical scientist Vladimira Foteva didn’t imagine she would be working with physicists at an Australian particle accelerator when she began her PhD, but the experience taught her the value of collaboration across disciplines.

Waitressing, bartending and tutoring stole time from my academic studies, but I picked up transferable skills that still serve me well, says Cassie Sims.

When encouragement from friends, colleagues and family became harder to find, Taylor Engdahl learnt how to push herself.

Oday Abushalbaq outlines his experience leading a team of neuroscience researchers from 9,000 kilometres away — while completing his PhD training.

Julia Nolte realized that the only fair comparison to make during a PhD is with your past self.

A childhood diagnosis of type 1 diabetes taught Olivia Favor about the importance of meticulous record-keeping and other skills that proved useful in the lab.

Naheda Sahtout says being legally blind doesn’t fundamentally affect her skills, and argues that science needs to start a conversation to attract and empower more researchers like her.

Three strategies for fighting those insidious feelings that you don’t deserve to be where you are.

Survey finds that standard metrics of success can’t completely explain why some candidates get offers and others don’t.

How a PhD student found a way to be productive during lockdown after weeks of inactivity.

Plan to force students to take in-person classes or face deportation is dropped during a federal hearing.

Unable to afford medicines, utilities and housing, some students expect to suspend their doctoral programmes or drop out.

A closed lab prompts John Tregoning to reflect on his early career, informed by his 12-year-old son’s response to COVID-19.

When the coronavirus pandemic struck, field ecologist Nicholas Herrmann adopted a perspective inspired by experiences earlier in his PhD.

Instead of looking for PhD positions, designing your own project offers advantages and challenges, says Jesko Becker.

Volunteering with an organization can improve communication and help you adapt to the unexpected, say Sarah Groover and Ruth Gotian.

Preparing for three races in three years at university showed Kathryn Wierenga parallels between running and PhD work.

Navigating the turbulent waters of the doctoral voyage

Nature’s survey of more than 6,000 graduate students reveals the turbulent nature of doctoral research.

In this second article to mark Nature’s 2019 graduate survey, respondents call for more one-to-one support and better career guidance.

Nature’s biennial doctoral-student survey reveals struggles for work–life balance, career guidance and emotional support.

Anxiety and depression in graduate students is worsening. The health of the next generation of researchers needs systemic change to research cultures.

Ipshita Mandal-Johnson teamed up with other graduate students to set up an annual forum to develop tomorrow’s biotechnology leaders. This is what she learnt.

Nature spoke to three US researchers who have built academic careers after they were released.

Top tips for avoiding last-minute disasters and filing your thesis on time.

Gaia Donati and Julie Gould discuss some of the career issues faced by physicists today.

Helen Currie has shared her fish-migration research at several UK festivals, including Glastonbury.

Overcoming my initial struggles after leaving China to start my PhD has been like riding a bike.

Support must come from a place of understanding, says Kate Samardzic.

Six limiting maxims PhD students should avoid.

Medical physicist Iyobosa Uwadiae ignored sceptics who questioned her plan to pursue a doctoral programme in the African nation. Here is her advice.

Circumstances outside my control contributed to a year of ‘F’s when I started at university, but by owning the experience and addressing it directly, I strengthened my application to do a PhD, says Jasper Elan Hunt.

Rekindle your love for problem-solving by taking your lab skills to a completely different environment, says Jessica Sagers.

Closed labs and rescinded job offers have snatched away opportunities. How can science bounce back? Julie Gould finds out.

PhD programmes in "the rainbow nation" mostly lead to academic careers, but reform is needed to boost collaboration and integration, higher education experts tell Julie Gould.

The thesis is a central element of how graduate students are assessed. But is it time for an overhaul? Julie Gould finds out.

Scientific research is not the endeavour of a single person. It requires a team of people. How can this be better reflected in graduate student training, asks Julie Gould.

Julie Gould asks six higher education experts if it's now time to go back to the drawing board and redesign graduate programmes from scratch.

Students need to be clear about their reasons for pursuing a PhD and the career options open to them, Julie Gould discovers.

Gaia Donati and Julie Gould discuss some of the career issues faced by physicists today.