Post on 28-Dec-2015
Skillsand
Life after the PhD
Lilian SimonesLsimones01@qub.
ac.uk
Overview
1. Skills developed throughout the PhD experience
2. Factors promoting skill development
3. Relevance of the acquired skills for life after the doctorate
Skills
Networking• Building contacts at
conferences• Engaging in
academic networks• Teaching/Mentorship
Project management
• Conceptualising, planning,
designing and implementing
projects
Problem solving• Analysing
information• Generating
creative solutions• Generating research funding
Communicating complex ideas• Presenting ideas clearly for different types of audiences• Teaching/
mentoring
To Understand and create new
knowledge • Research
methodology• Technical skills
Drive to succeed
• Determination and motivation over long
periods• Resilience
To work independently
• Use my own initiative
• Driving my own project
Cutting edge research skills• Interdisciplinary• Qualitative and
quantitative data analysis
• IT skills
1. Skills developed throughout the PhD experience
SupervisorsOther
Support at QUB(courses) /external
Previous life experiences
individual factors:
PersonalityMotivation/
age
2. Factors promoting skill development
3. Relevance of the acquired skills for life after the doctorate
• Foundation skills for academic career and important for life outside academia
• These skills will not on their own grant us our “dream job”
• As time passes by in terms of obtaining employment these skills will become less and less relevant in a world of fast change
• a wider integration of PhD students in teaching and in the life of departments (committee meetings, help with Master students’ supervision) and writing bids for funding can increase employment prospects
• A change of mind set is needed where PhD is taken as an academic “internship” rather than just accomplishing a research project
• The term “supervisor” leads to a responsibility of “research supervision” whereas “Mentor” would imply more than that
ConclusionI have:• Enjoyed the PhD experience
• Developed considerable skills
• Would like to continue to develop more
• Now, putting in place plans A (academia) and B (my own company)
Thank you!