Dr Tracy Bussoli Careers Adviser for Researchers Careers
Dr. Tracy Bussoli Careers Adviser for Researchers Careers Why do a Ph. D?
A Ph. D. is an in-depth research programme. The work produced for the Ph. D must fundamentally be original, in other words written by only you, containing your thoughts and findings. Once all the research is complete, it is presented in a thesis. 2 Careers What is a Ph. D?
• A first or 2: 1 degree • Masters • Postgraduate Diploma 3 Careers What qualifications do you need?
• Fascinated by a particular topic • Know that they want to work in academia • Stay at university 3 more years • Recession…. no good jobs! • Good at ………. • To be called Dr! • Not sure what else to do • Need it for…. • Academic suggested it because you are great. 4 Careers Why do people do one?
Careers What to expect
6 Careers To have an intense relationship with supervisor
7 Careers To be able to motivate yourself
8 Careers To be proactive!
9 Careers To stay on top of literature!
10 Careers To feel stressed when you take a holiday!
11 Careers Long hours…but flexible!
Careers To be consumed by your Ph. D research!
• Completely absorbing • Become an expert • Only way into academia/industry • 3 years to develop research skills including many transferable skills such as analytical skills and problem solving • Extremely fulfilling when you finish! • Get Dr. before your name 13 Careers Do it!
• Academia is extremely competitive More Ph. Ds graduate than tenured posts available • Few employers actively recruit Ph. Ds although 70% would welcome applications from Ph. Ds. • Takes three years of life…could be learning ‘on the job skills’ • Many people feel ‘too specialised’ at the end and it is then difficult to become a generalist *Only 6% of employers actively recruit Ph. Ds (Vitae report 2010) http: //www. vitae. ac. uk/policy-practice/1393 -205111/Recruiting 14 researchers. html Careers Don’t do it!
• 16, 500 Ph. Ds graduated in 2006 cf. 320, 000 undergrads (1: 20) • Only ¼ of researchers know what they want to do at beginning of Ph. D…. does not get better throughout (in my experience!) • Bottleneck for academic jobs 15 Careers Some Facts about Ph. Ds and employment
Careers From 16 Vitae: What do Researchers do? 2009 http: //www. vitae. ac. uk/policy-practice/107611/What-do-researchers-do-2009. html
• Final year project • Talk to people in your department • Look at Ph. Ds on various websites, speak to potential supervisor • How experienced is your potential supervisor? How many Ph. Ds has he/she supervised. Did they complete on time? • Research the lab/department…. speak to people about lab/supervisor • Don’t accept until you have done research. 17 Careers How to choose a Ph. D?
• http: //www. findaphd • http: //www. postgraduatestudentship s. co. uk • http: //www. jobs. ac. uk/ • www. prospects. ac. uk/links/pgdbase • Nature and New Scientist • Times Higher Education • University Websites • Finalist Directory 18 Careers Where to look for a Ph. D
• Ph. D's; What they don't tell you - by Duggi Zuram Reflections on Tutors, Libraries and Other Ph. D Students • Ph. D Study in the Arts & Humanities - by the Find. APh. D Team How to apply and how to get by in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences • A Guide to Ph. D Research in Computing - by Prof Sean Gong • A short overview of what is expected of both student and supervisor Hints for New Ph. D Students on How to Write Research Papers - by Prof Shahn Majid A guide for writing in mathematics 19 Careers Books
Mock Interviews and DVD CV Checking Advice Telephone: 020 7882 8533 Email: careers@qmul. ac. uk • Open Monday – Friday • 10. 30 – 5 pm (4 pm on Friday) • Drop in sessions (Book appointment) • Monday - Thursday • 10. 30 – 12. 30 and 2 – 4. 30 20 Careers • •
Careers 21
- Slides: 21