The initial stages of a PhD can be daunting. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can make the transition into productive doctoral study as smooth as possible.
Whether you’re starting a PhD fresh out of undergrad or after many years of employment, the decision to begin a doctorate is a significant career move. When I started, 18 months ago, I figured I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into: I’d previously worked in industry, completed a Master’s degree, and worked as a research assistant in another lab.
But I soon realized that my PhD was different — in a number of ways — from what I’d done before. Here are some things I’ve learnt so far, and some ways I‘ve made efficient use of my brief time as a PhD student.
