======= Date Modified 07 Nov 2009 08:44:16 =======
Dear Someone,



Congratulations on submitting!!!! Good luck for your viva. To try and respond to all your questions:

there is now a blog/ forum for research staff (which includes postdocs as a major group): have a look at www.vitae.ac.uk/rsblog. Maybe you could post a similar request for advice there? You'd definitely get to feel like you know some postdocs there.



Re responsibilities of a postdocs- I found that my role had changed quite a lot during my doctorate and I am sure yours has too- you're likely to be far more independent now than you were when you started. maybe you've already helped some more junior doctoral researchers? What I mean is that becoming a postdoc is more part of a gradual change than an amazing cliff edge change of responisibility suddenly. How much responsibility you take on will be down to your PI, lab, coworkers and most importantly you.



On your difficulties in critical analysis of papers- I bet you're better than you make out, but this is something you could validly discuss with your supervisor.



My tips on the VIVA day I think are all on http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1241/Your viva.html- did you manage to find that on the Vitae website too? Most important to remember is that you are the world's expert on your thesis.



Job hunting- use your networks to find out about opportunities and make sure you talk to current or past postdocs about what it is really like before or when you apply. PGR tips this month is on where to find jobs: www.vitae.ac.uk/pgrtips




Tips on succesful postdoccing: the pressure is different as there is no more submission or examination EVER. But there is genreally a real pressure to publish, to obtain research funding and to guide doctoral students.



Hope this is useful and again- congratulations on your achievements to date and all the best for the future.



Tennie

Hi Bug,

I did but just got told it accidently got deleted when it was moved to the Off Topics section so I posted it again. I am pleased you thought it was exactly the same though as I couldn't remember quite what i'd written last time!

cheers,
Tennie

I have seen posts saying people would like a forum similar to this for postdocs. Vitae have just launched their Research staff blog, which will be somehwat similar. Research staff includes postdocs and everyone who does research at higher education institutions, whether they have doctorates or not. please go and have a look and join in:
www.vitae.ac.uk/rsblog

You need to register on the Vitae website to comment or post or start a thread. To post, go to the dashboard in the top left hand of the screen and select 'my discussion articles'..... Hope to see you there!

Tennie

Hiya,
reviewers are only human too and editors know this. If you can say why you are not going to incorporate (some of) one reviewer's recommendations but show reasonable and willing about other changes this will give you a very good chance of it getting published. It helps to put yourself in the editor's shoes- they need to select papers to publish and rely on peer review to do the selection and some enhancement and will forward all their comments but they will use their own judgement on how much is needed in the end. Hope that helps...

The very first PGR tips I wrote was on peer review... http://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/PGR_Tips_Issue_19_May08.pdf
Tennie

Hi,

the latest PGR Tips from Vitae is on designing academic posters:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/61811/Current-issue-of-PGR-Tips.html or
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/upload/PGR%20Tips%20issue%2034%20sep%2009.doc
Hope this is useful!
Tennie

Hi,

yes, Tennie from Vitae. It would be really useful for me to know what people doing doctorates actually thought about transferable skills training. People I've spoken to referred to the time they have spent doing this sort of training as 'Roberts days', which is why I used the term, but obviously it's not used the same at all universities.

Thanks to those who've already answered! keep comments coming; the good, the bad and the funny....
cheers,
Tennie

Hi,
'Roberts training' is now an integral part of doing a doctorate in the UK.
Do people find it useful?
Most/ least useful/njoyable courses you've been on?
Anyet peeves?
What sort of things count towards 'Roberts days' in your university apart from provided transferable skills training?
What are the most creative things people have done?
what would you like to see?

thanks!!!
Tennie

======= Date Modified 27 Aug 2009 15:20:16 =======
Hi,



there is a section on this on the Vitae website which may include something of use:

http://www.vitae.ac.uk/62621/Undertaking-a-doctorate-at-a-distance.html



But just being part of this community should help!

all the best,

Tennie



ps- your cottage sounds too idyllic!

Hi,
Vitae's PGR tips is on the topic of supervisors this month (specifically making the most of supervisory meetings):
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/61811/Current-isssue-of-PGR-Tips.html
Hope it is of use to people!

those of you who are subscribed tp PGR tips- you should get it in your inbox tomorrow.
Tennie

Dear Jessthecat,
I have no experience with a sociology PhD but know that work schedules vary hugely by discipline. Mine was science and I was still getting results untill about two weeks before submission... while arts and humanities are (almost) all about the writing. So first bit of advice is to talk to someone who does know-talk to your supervisor(s), they'll probably be impressed you've planned things to this extend anyway.

Next bit of advice (for what it's worth) is to go with what you've got..... You'll need to do the analysis before you can write up any results. Plan to get it all done in the three years (again, with your supervisor). This will probably mean some compromises on the scope and depth of your research but that's better than carrying on for ages without funding... It's probably a good idea to start on some of the writing you can do without the analysis to get that side of the ball rolling.

Hope this helps- good luck!!!
Tennie

Hi,

not offended at all. Hope this is an opportunity to find out what real content you would find useful....
Let me know, seriously!

Hi all,

if it's tips you're after, Vitae do a list of tips every month called PGR Tips (PGR- postgraduate researcher) on different topics to do with your PhD:

http://www.vitae.ac.uk/4069/PGR-tips-email-bulletin.html
which cover a few of the requests above.
topic 7. conferences will be up there later this week....
requests for topics will be considered!

Good luck all,
Tennie

I had something similar writing up, but it was the slightly more common eye twitching. Annoying but it did pass (and only comes back really occasionally). I've since heard it might be a lack of potassium (in which case eating bananas may help) but I have no idea whether that is true!

Good luck writing up- look after yourself. Here is a link to some advice on writing your thesis:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/1239/Completing-your-doctorate.html

Tennie

Dear worrier and Sheena,

good luck guys- I think it is acknowledged that writing up is one of the toughest phases. remember your thesis doesn't have to be the pinnacle of perfection but needs to be good enough to pass! Another tip I've heard that I like is: start writing a paragraph at a time, rather than seeing the whole of your thesis as a whole lurking ahead.

Lots of advice on the final stages on the Vitae website:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/1239/Completing-your-doctorate.html
specific advice on writing your thesis:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/1240/Writing-your-thesis.html

all the best,
Tennie

======= Date Modified 06 Jul 2009 14:50:49 =======
============= Edited by a Moderator =============
Dear KT

really agree with the last reply- you're nearly there, don't stop now! Take stock of what you need to do to get your doctorate (which is probably less than you think: make sure you ask your supervisor what is necessary to pass rather than strive for perfection) and make a plan, together with your supervisor.

I also agree that you need to look at your career options again once you've overcome these difficulties. Then, make sure you are informed of all the alternatives possible by talking to careers advisors. Did you know that less than half of all doctoral graduates stay in academia? You are dfinitely not too late to change direction! A doctorate is a valuable qualification in all sorts of walks of life.

most of all- good luck...

all the best,

Tennie