A new PhD started today. She asked for general advice for the first few months. This was my advice:
1. Don’t work evenings or weekends
2. Don’t aim to prove yourself (to me), I’m already convinced of your capacities
3. Go for a walk when things dazzle you (1/3)
4. Get and stay in contact with other PhD students from our program
5. Tell me when you struggle
6. Search & share example papers that spark joy (and that don’t)
7. Try not to wonder if what you do is enough (2/3)
8. Use a reference manager
9. Make a planning per week
10. Find some relevant courses to take
What did I miss or would you add?
#AcademicTwitter
#PhdChat
Hi new followers!
I’m Renske de Kleijn from the Netherlands. I’ve supervised 4 and currently supervise 7 fantastic PhD students. I founded and coordinate our PhD programme
@UMCUtrecht
. My aim at X/twitter is to inspire & support PhD students & supervisors around the 🌍, but…
A PhD student who recently finished her dissertation gave me the book “Big Panda and Tiny Dragon” from James Norbury. This page resonated so much. Does it also apply to your academic journey or would you disagree?
#AcademicTwitter
#PhDlife
#PhDchat
Hi new followers!
A brief reintroduction: I’m Renske, I study feedback in HE, I’m supervising 6 PhDs and coordinating a PhD programme. My aim is to support and empower PhD researchers around the world and to keep learning myself 💪🏼.
#10
.000
#AcademicTwitter
I’m proud when PhD students work hard, progress, and succeed. But I think I’m even more proud when they have the courage to say:
I’m not ok, I need to take a step back, I might need help.
#AcademicTwitter
#AcademicChatter
#phdlife
#phdchat
Do you have (funny) celebration rituals in your lab / group?
For me, I print the abstract of PhD student’ first published paper on a mug. And with the supervision team we write funny & personal lyrics to a pop song and sing it at the defense party 🎵.
#PhDChat
#PhDLife
When giving feedback on a manuscript, it’s important to distinguish between what needs improvement and what’s just not your taste.
PhD students need to learn the writing conventions in their field, but also need room to develop their own style.
#AcademicTwitter
#phdlife
just keep in mind that contexts differ:
in 🇳🇱 doing a PhD is a PAID JOB, that means no need for an extra job. And in my field PhDs do nót need to work evenings and weekends. Also, in my university the use of impact factors is revisited 🥳 (see link).
Hi new followers!
I’m Renske de Kleijn from the Netherlands. I’ve supervised 4 and currently supervise 7 fantastic PhD students. I founded and coordinate our PhD programme
@UMCUtrecht
. My aim at X/twitter is to inspire & support PhD students & supervisors around the 🌍, but…
Let’s make a thread together:
What question do you think PhD supervisors should ask their PhD students more often (than they do now)?
I’ll start with a genuine
🗣️ “how are you?”
#AcademicTwitter
#PhdLife
#PhdChat
I’m an educational researcher and my specific research focus is feedback in Higher Education. So my tweets may also contain some educational literature every once in a while 🤓.
Feel free to introduce yourself and your context too ⬇️.
Nice to meet you 🙋♀️.
#AcademicTwitter
Today it’s 10 years ago I defended my PhD thesis. Back then I thought I would leave research. I too believed that was a 1-way ticket. But in hindsight it wasn’t that black or white. A summary of my post PhD Life (🧵):
#AcademicTwitter
Just wishing you all PhD students around the world a good day today 💪🏼. This is the view I woke up to with our son this morning in Den Bosch, the Netherlands.And I just felt like sharing it with you.
What’s your view today?
#PhDLife
#PhDChat
#AcademicTwitter
Wahoooh! My PhD students nominated me for the supervisor of the year award. Based on their (secret!) interview, I’m on the shortlist. The list shows 2 interview quotes about each nominee and I must say: my students win the award for funniest quote 😂.
@Elle_Uncensored
I think
@PhDVoice
and
@PhDForum
take unanymous questions through DM and tweet them. Also, feel free to DM me. And know that there might be national, cultural and disciplinary diffetences in how a PhD is organised.
Just wanted you to know:
- even if you love doing research
- even if you have great supervisors
- even if you and your loved ones are healthy and safe
It’s OK to struggle with your motivation and productivity 💚.
@AcademicChatter
#AcademicTwitter
#phdlife
#phdchat
#phdvoice
Passed 7.500 followers so time for a reintroduction. My name is Renske, I’m from 🇳🇱, work at
@UMCUtrecht
and I co-supervise 6 PhD students. With this account I hope to support PhD students around the 🌏, by (re)tweeting advice & pos&neg experiences with supervision.
(1/2)
For the first time since I became a mom six years ago, I spend a night away from home for work: a two-day writing retreat in a hotel in the woods. Just me.
Never expected to say this, but I loved it! Writing, reading, walking, good food and quietness.
Revision’s almost ready!
Having seen my husband struggle as a
#firstgen
student, I was só thrilled to now be able to talk to a group of new students and tell them things I wish he was told at the time.
This was the most heartfelt lecture I ever gave 🥺.
#AcademicChatter
#academia
When your supervisor’s feedback contradicts earlier feedback, this can mean:
1. There are new arguments in play.
2. The first fb was misunderstood
3. They (honoustly) don’t remember the first feedback.
What can you do? (1/4)
@OpenAcademics
@PhDVoice
#phdlife
#AcademicTwitter
Me when I send my extensive feedback on a manuscript to a PhD student ⬇️.
In the email I often first warn for the nr of comments and emphasize that I’m excited about the work and what I specifically like about it.
#AcademicTwitter
#PhdLife
@OpenAcademics
@PhDVoice
To those without supportive supervisors:
You can do it!
You‘re putting in enough effort.
You‘re progressing even if you don’t see it now.
Add your words of encouragement in the comments & retweet to reach those who might need it 💪🏻.
@AcademicChatter
@OpenAcademics
#phdchat
Inspiring example ✨
In a LinkedIn post a colleague introduced her new PhD researcher to her network. Explaining the research topic, with a nice picture of them together and a personal tag.
#PhdChat
#AcademicTwitter
#PhdVoice
#AcademicChatter
Sometimes I think I should focus on getting more supervisor followers.
But then I realize current PhD students are the new generation of supervisors-to-be ✨. And y’all are just gonna rock and change academia for the better 💪🏼.
@OpenAcademics
#phdchat
#phdlife
#phdvoice
Did you know that asking for feedback is a SUPER POWER? 🦸🏽♀️
Feel stuck? Ask a POWER question
P: this is the Problem
O: I see these Options
W: with these pros & cons (Weights)
E: without help I’d choose option X (Election)
R: Can you give fb on this (Request)?
#PhDchat
Almost 600 copies of my children’s book were sold 🎉. So yesterday I could donate €1250,- to a PhD project that studies the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents.
This was a whole different way of supporting a PhD student (who I obviously do not supervise btw).
For me, liking a tweet can mean:
1. I like/agree with what you are saying. ❤️
OR
2. I’m sorry you are going through this, thanks for sharing. ❤️
Is this confusing or generally accepted out here?
@OpenAcademics
#phdlife
#phdchat
#AcademicTwitter
I emailed my PhD supervisor and asked if I could call her with a personal question. She called me WITHIN 5 MINUTES and helped me out. Still amazed by this loyalty ✨.
#PhdGlee
#AcademicTwitter
Exactly one year ago I started this account. Because I wanted to bring positivity & support.
Because I wanted to be more outspoken on my view on supervision & feedback.
But mostly because I was on full sick leave, in pain, frustrated, and really needed some distraction. (1/X 🧵)
I’m such a Happy PhD Supervisor 🤩!
After my students’ nomination and a passionate plea in their interview, out of >2.000 supervisors I was awarded copromotor of the year. So thankful for this 🙏🏻! For me good supervision means… (1/3)
#AcademicTwitter
#PhdLife
After a round of revisions, the paper was accepted for publication in another journal today 🥳.
I think nothing beats sharing the joy of a first journal publication with a PhD student. So even though I’m not working today, I am a very HAPPY PhD supervisor 😁.
My PhD student got her first rejection today. With one sentence of feedback 🤯.
Admittedly, I am behind with a review myself, but I‘d never even consider writing ONE sentence.
Do you rather have a one sentence rejection or wait longer and have serious feedback?
@OpenAcademics
Today a PhD student wanted to discuss the review of a journal submission she was asked to do.
She noted such relevant points for improvement and was so considerate about how to communicate it to the authors.
Academia, you got yourself another good reviewer 😃.
#proud
Dear PhD students,
Rather than asking you what you’re most proud of I’ll tell you what I’m most proud of:
⭐️the times you persevered ánd the times you rested
⭐️the words your wrote ánd didn’t write
⭐️your successes ánd struggles
#AcademicTwitter
#phdlife
#phdchat
@OpenAcademics
To develop a constructive relationship with your supervisor(s), it helps to have frequent meetings. Especially at the start. How often do you meet with your supervisor(s) and are you happy with the frequency? (1/4)
#PhdLife
#PhdVoice
#AcademicTwitter
@OpenAcademics
@PhD_Genie
My take on creating a successful supervision relationship: both student & supervisor need to be willing to understand each others interests, expertise, drives, motives, etc. Its a 2-way street of adapting to one another.
What’s your take?
#AcademicTwitter
#PHDchat
Seeing a PhD researcher after 1,5 years of online supervision meetings and calls was so great. Especially when there’s something to celebrate 🎉. So proud of her, and in fact of all of you PhD researchers for all your progress during these crazy times 👏🏻.
@OpenAcademics
@MrAkashTrivedi
@AcademicChatter
@PhDVoice
@OpenAcademics
Take it easy, talk to other researchers in the same field, read literature and find a way to organise it all, meet with your supervisor regularly to discuss your ideas, try to learn from other PhD students (eg join a journal club) and most of all: take it easy.
I love
#phdone
so much!
I often just scroll and like all of them. Which made me think: Let’s create
#hashtags
for other PhD successes too!
- 1st publication
- great meeting with supv
- first citation
Etc.
Give me your suggestions
#academictwitter
#phdchat
@OpenAcademics
A PhD student told me she didn’t feel good about my feedback. We talked it over and resolved several misunderstandings both ways.
I’m still impressed by the courage, vulnerability, and respect she showed. These conversations are tough.
#AcademicTwitter
#phdlife
#phdchat
I just realized that in a period of 4 weeks ALL my PhD students submit(ted) a paper for publication and/or a proposal to the ethical review board 💪🏼.
No wonder I was so busy with giving feedback 😅.
#AcademicTwitter
#AcademicChatter
I have a confession to make:
I’m not álways happy.
Actual footage of me witnessing a PhD student I deeply care about, being bullied during her public defense by one of the opponents.
#AcademicTwitter
#phdchat
#notsohappy
Our university’s PhD psychologist told me that about 45% of the PhD researchers she has seen, were struggling with their supervision. I think that’s quite a lot…
Does your institute have a psychologist to turn to?
#AcademicTwitter
#AcademicMentalHealth
#PhdLife
I had some initial doubts (because of the power imbalance) but I’m so happy this community encouraged me to ask some PhD researchers for feedback on my manuscript. They gave such relevant and useful feedback 🤩.
#AcademicTwitter
#phdlife
#phdchat
So yesterday I presented my book to... OUR PRIME MINISTER 😱. They invited a few people to share how they tried to make the best of the Covid situation.
#surreal
#printingextracopies
Almost 600 copies of my children’s book were sold 🎉. So yesterday I could donate €1250,- to a PhD project that studies the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents.
This was a whole different way of supporting a PhD student (who I obviously do not supervise btw).
Does your supervisor write with you?
Even though I’m often listed as coauthor on the papers of the PhD students I supervise, I do not write whole paragraphs. I do give feedback, make suggestions, propose restructuring of words/sentences/paragraphs.
#AcademicTwitter
Tomorrow I have a full day of Communication training as part of a talent program I was selected for. And even though I’m very committed, I just decided to miss the first 30 minutes. So that I can bring my son to his very first day of school myself 🤍.
#AcademicMom
@Momademia
I made acronyms for 3 types of feedback questions.
This is no.3:
Almost finished? Get CLOSER!
@OpenAcademics
#AcademicTwitter
#PhdAdvice
(The first two, POWER and SUPER, are in the thread below)
I need to get this off my chest (🧵).
So far I supervise(d) 9 PhD researchers. With one of them I was unsuccessful in creating a safe relationship and when I changed jobs, I decided to stop supervising her. At that moment I thought it was all her fault...
When a PhD researcher says: I’m sorry I’m just rambling really.
And I’m like: No don’t stop, you’re making perfect sense!
These are the best meetings 🤩.
I think a PhD supervision team ideally covers:
1. theoretical expertise on main concepts/variables
2. relevant methodological expertise
3. knowledge of the context of data collection
4. mentorship on how do to a PhD
Agree? Complete?
@AcademicChatter
#academictwitter
#phdchat