Looking for PhD tips? Why not check Twitter

Twitter can sometimes be an absolute minefield of different opinions, angry comments and just downright rudeness. But every now and then a Twitter thread appears that is helpful and insightful and sparks thoughtful discussion and advice. 

One such thread was by Dr Sara Althari, who recently received her PhD from the University of Oxford making her part of just a small handful of Saudi women who have ever achieved this. 

On completing her PhD, Sara took to Twitter to share some tips she had picked up about how to get through a PhD. And you can see them below: 

Thread: some high level tips & general advice for phd students (based on my experience) #phdchat

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

1. Understand the incentive & motivation behind your choice to make this enormous commitment. Be fully transparent & honest w/ yourself. This is the big picture — the macro perspective. It will help you navigate the process w/ impeccable clarity, efficiency, & resilience.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

2. Build a reliable network of kind and compassionate mentors characterised by a diversity of career backgrounds, levels of seniority/expertise, life experiences. Consult them often, build trust, and give them access to your dreams and fears. Nourish these relationships.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

3. Invest time & energy into acquiring general, widely transferable, coveted skills (writing, coding, stats, public speaking). Make it an objective to be as good as you can w/ words (written/verbal communication) & numbers (stats, data sci). Learn at least 1 programming language.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

4. Be smart about how you use and manage your time. Develop a set of techniques/rituals that help you focus and optimise performance. Don’t work all the time — it’s about tasks completed and goals achieved, not hours spent. Maximise productivity windows.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

5. Don’t compete/compare. A PhD is not zero sum. Celebrate successes of colleagues. It’s a positive sum game if opportunities to publish & innovate are distributed equally across members of a research group. Inequality breeds resentment, unhealthy competition, unethical conduct.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

6. Bullying is endemic to academia. Adopt a zero tolerance policy. Play your role & help eradicate it. Don’t put up w/ manipulators, sociopaths, egomaniacs. Call them out, no matter their place in the hierarchy. The more people do this the less it will seem easier said than done.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

7. Stay away from chronic complainers & pessimists. A PhD is tough enough as is; maintaining a positive attitude is essential for a healthy, productive process. Release frustrations but don’t dwell. Realise &appreciate how privileged you are to be in the position of PhD candidate

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

8. Get comfortable & good at ending things: thesis chapters, manuscripts, projects, experiments. It will never be perfect. You won’t complete the story or answer all of your research questions. Be confident & satisfied. Finish on time. Perfectionism is your enemy.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

9. Remember: you’re there to learn. Selection criteria are there to ensure you’ll be a fast, efficient & productive learner (vary by program/institution). You’re not yet an expert, you’re learning to become one —remember this when dealing with failures & unrealistic expectations.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

10. You are not your results. It’s important to disentangle your self-esteem and self confidence from the volatility of a PhD. You are a scholar, a student, a researcher. Enjoy and embrace the process without letting the highs and lows define you.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

11. Do things on the side from which you derive happiness, fulfilment, energy on spiritual, intellectual and physical levels. Teach, travel, blog, exercise, dabble in areas of study outside of your own, spend time with people you enjoy spending time with.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

12. Take breaks. Take them regularly. Recharge and avoid burnout. Don’t put life on pause. Don’t miss weddings, birthdays, funerals, reunions, etc. You can always make it up — it’s simply not worth it.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

13. Independent research is stressful, exhausting and difficult... it can also be lonely. Depend on others for moral, personal and intellectual support. Surround yourself with good voices. Build a solid support system and use it. Support others.

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

14. Explore career options. Go to recruitment events. Take time to study and understand where the world is going, both in and beyond your field. Identify the best opportunities for you based on how well they align with your personal vision, values & purpose. /end

— Dr. Sara Althari | د. سارة الثاري (@SaraTee77) August 15, 2018

What do you think of these tips? Do you have any others to add?

Read more: What is a PhD? Advice for PhD students