Tips From a Final-year PhD Student
The journey to start a PhD is interesting but can also be challenging for some. Here are a few tips that can be helpful to avoid setbacks in mental health and maintain a peaceful life.
This article is generally applicable to all but especially written in the context of plant biology students. Some ideas may not be relevant for others.
Most of the time, finding a PhD position and winning a scholarship are hard and tiring. Preparing applications and facing rejection or receiving no reply can be disheartening for candidates seeking a position, potentially leading them to “settle for anything”. Going to the right lab and the right supervisor is critical for progress, mental health and productivity. To avoid challenges, candidates should remain open to learning beyond their interests, while avoiding irrelevant fields. After accepting an offer, it is recommended to read previously published articles to gain a clear understanding of the research direction. Once you arrive at the station, meet the registration requirements and choose electives wisely, so that they can equip you with all the skills required for data analysis and experimenting. In the meantime, students should read extensively about the current findings, outstanding questions and knowledge gaps in their field of study. Consider whether it would be worthwhile to study these questions before choosing a research plan and dissertation topic. Learning practical knowledge from experienced lab seniors or supervisors will help to avoid common mistakes in the lab. The experiment timeline should be carefully designed to ensure the feasibility of its completion within a stipulated time. However, the design should still be comprehensive, as sometimes insufficient data and findings may not be helpful to pass thesis review. A student should accept the comments and suggestions of the review committee wholeheartedly in proposal defense. Students should keep an eye on the formal presentation of results in science with proper backup of experimenting and data recording. Often, the presentable results are just a little, but the editor may ask for supplementary files and raw data during the peer-review process of submission. Looking into the supplementary files of published articles in quality journals can help to understand the requirements of publication. For example, storing the intact gel pictures along with proof of DNA or protein bands is essential in protein biochemistry. Similarly, sequencing files (ab1) of the genes, vectors and clones can also be asked by the review integrity team. Generally, students pay a lot of attention in performing experiments but a little to the presentation and backup of supplementary files. Students should try to co-review the submissions along with their supervisor, to have a clear idea about accompanying supplementary data along with the text and figures. They should actively learn all the soft skills required from an experiment to writing a draft. They can seek help initially from seniors or online platforms (e.g. YouTube) but in the end, should be able to perform everything as an independent researcher. In other words, learning proper use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint is equally important as learning of an experiment involving technicalities. A popular saying in academia “Publish quality, not quantity” is a must to keep in mind, which simply means never rush to publish until you are not ready to publish. A few quality articles can be more advantageous in finding a potential job compared to many irrelevant or low-quality articles. Students should track their progress and celebrate their achievements, and can have their social media accounts (e.g. Research Gate and X formerly known as Twitter) and online tools (e.g. Notion) to monitor the progress of experiments and manage day-to-day tasks. One thing that is even more important than everything else is “be a good human first, a scientist second”. Enjoy your weekends, network with friends and family and celebrate your milestones. Live a happy life first before doing useful science.
Leeza Tariq, a final year PhD student at Zhejiang University says “Cultivate open communication with your supervisor and embrace the fact that a PhD is a learning process. Asking questions and seeking help are essential strengths that will drive your research and academic growth”.
Syed Sarfaraz Hussain, a final-year student at Beijing Forestry University says “The PhD journey presents a valuable opportunity for personal growth and professional development. Asking questions, remaining open to learning, and continuously refining expertise are essential to success in this academic endeavor”.
Khan Shoaib, a final year PhD student at North East Agriculture University emphasizes the value of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and having a strong support network to cope with challenges in academia. He highlights the need for perseverance, self-care, and open communication with colleagues to navigate obstacles in research. His key advice: “Embrace every opportunity to develop resilience, and refine science writing skills.
Zeeshan Ghulam Nabi, a final year PhD student at Zhejiang University says “Embarking on a PhD journey can be exciting and challenging. To navigate this experience, adopt a growth and progressive mindset. See setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Establish a support network of peers and mentors for guidance and encouragement. Prioritize self-care and effective time management for a healthy work-life balance. Your well-being is crucial for success”.
Muhammad Yaseen, a final year PhD student at Sichuan Agricultural University says “I have faced significant challenges in research due to language barriers”. Despite this, I turned to resources like YouTube to learn new techniques and troubleshoot experiments, which helped me to grow both academically and personally. A supportive supervisor can help to overcome setbacks and manage stress. I would say, seize every chance to learn soft skills, improve techniques, and learn from mistakes—it’s all part of the journey.”
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About the Author
Asif Ali is currently working as a Young Talent Researcher in Prof. Xianjun Wu’s Lab at Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China, and a 2024 Plantae Fellow. Asif is passionate about teaching molecular biology, omics data interpretation and science communication through his YouTube tutorials. You can find him on X: @pbgasifkalas.
