How to transition from a student to a researcher mindset

Early career research can be challenging but extremely rewarding. Trust me, I’ve been there. This experience has allowed me to hone several strategies for building meaningful connections and ensuring my work creates a lasting impact. Remember, the journey from student to researcher is yours to shape. Here is how to embrace it boldly!

Devise an all-encompassing career plan

An effective career plan is essential. To achieve this, lay out your goals in clear, workable steps divided into short-term, medium and long-term. Three questions I always ask myself are: 

• What change do I need to see in the next three months?
• Is this possible to achieve in the next three months, and, if so, how?
• Where do I see myself in 10 years?

Some relevant goal examples include publishing articles or acquiring new research-related skills.

Build resilience

A research career is filled with setbacks. However, rejected papers, unfruitful experiments and funding gaps are all part of the learning process. Accept that and reflect on them to identify areas where you need to improve and gaps in your skills. 

Part of building resilience includes stress management. Take regular breaks, exercise and engage in hobbies outside research. This will help you recognise that your well-being is paramount for your long-term success. Every morning, I dedicate 10 minutes to mindful breathing and reflection. This has helped me start my day with focus and clarity. I also practise mindful commuting. While taking public transport or walking, I focus on my surroundings rather than upcoming tasks. I might notice the sound of birds, the warmth of the sun or the rhythm of my footsteps.  This helps me shift my mind away from work tasks and towards the present moment, creating a sense of calm that grounds and mentally prepares me for the day. 

Setting boundaries has also been crucial in my work-life balance. To prevent burnout, I have a hard stop at 7pm and ensure that I reserve evenings for family time and hobbies. I reinforce this boundary by turning off email notifications and stepping away from my workspace. This mental separation signals the end of the workday and helps me avoid the temptation to “just check one more thing”. It’s also important to allocate specific blocks of time in your schedule for focused work. For instance, I reserve two-hour blocks in the morning for work such as writing or data analysis. During this time, I silence my notifications and avoid meetings. This balances my workflow and helps me make significant progress in my work. 

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Commit to continuous learning

An early career researcher must commit to continuous learning to update their technical skills and stay informed about emerging methodologies and developments in their field.

Keep an eye out for relevant workshops, seminars and other academic events relevant to your field. Also, explore interdisciplinary opportunities, combining your research focus with emerging fields and technologies such as artificial intelligence, sustainability or policy analysis to future-proof your career. This could also provide insights for your research and offer new avenues to explore. The most groundbreaking discoveries often lie at the intersection of disciplines. 

Conducting research is inherently challenging and requires adaptability. Welcome feedback from others and adjust your way of working as needed.

Active participation in academic responsibilities

Teaching has helped me develop confidence that has served me when presenting at conferences and networking with professionals. It has also reinforced my learning in my subject area. 

Teaching diverse students with varied cultural backgrounds and learning needs can help you develop skills to create inclusive learning environments.

Developing a professional support network

For me, networking is about forming meaningful connections that support your growth and amplify your visibility. I remember sharing my research insights in a LinkedIn post on international business expansion. It not only sparked discussion among peers but led to an invitation for collaboration on a research project. It was also a reminder for me that you don’t need to rely solely on formal recognition to increase your visibility and reputation. You can create opportunities by proactively showcasing your achievements. 

At research conferences, instead of attending back-to-back sessions, I focus on connecting with a few key speakers or attendees whose work aligns with mine. At one of the doctoral symposiums, I made it a point to speak to a keynote speaker whose research complemented my dissertation topic. That one conversation has led to a mentoring relationship and helped me gain critical feedback on my research approach. This experience reinforced the importance of prioritising quality connections over quantity.

I believe in building relationships that provide ongoing support and facilitate the exchange of ideas. The best part of having these kinds of people around is that you can bounce ideas off them. The PhD adventure is not an easy ride, so having folks who “get it” will make all the difference. You'll share, learn and grow together, and it makes the whole journey a little less lonely.

The above strategies will help PhD students develop a vigorous research mindset that strives towards new knowledge, skills and resilience. This approach will not only help in your individual growth but help you positively contribute to the broader academic community.

Noman Mahtab is BA business management and entrepreneurship subject lead at the London College of Contemporary Arts.

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