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For PhD students to be thinkers than just the specialists in their micro domain, both the students & supervisors need to invest time & efforts. Though it depends on individuals, here are some suggestions for PhD students & PIs. 1/n
@AcademicChatter @hapyresearchers @PhDVoice https://twitter.com/phdfriendsana/status/1338165469132546051
PhD supervisors, letâs respect & have faith on ability of our PhD students. They are selected through a rigorous process. Give them time & space to experiment. Allow them to fail & learn from failures.
2/n
2/n
PhD supervisors need to encourage systems thinking. Provide students with lens to zoom in & out to see the micro & macro views. Context, landscape & environmental immersion is necessary for the students to see interconnected nature of things, identify missing links & gaps.
3/n
3/n
As PhD supervisors, letâs help them experience joy of learning & discovery. Letâs develop conducive environment & strive to provide an experience to students that science is a continuum & PhD is a step to learn how to navigate the path of discovery.
4/n
4/n
I have heard many supervisors (in India & abroad) say âuse PhD studentsâ (to do this or that). I feel very bad when I hear it. PhD students are not a commodity to be âusedâ. Supervisors need be discouraged to refer to their students/studentâs contributions in such a manner.
5/n
5/n
PhD students need to remember that itâs their PhD project & their journey. They need to take ownership. Read, understand & comprehend problem(s). Frame the right hypothesis & validate it. Remember, research is important. So is the process.
6/n
6/n
PhD students, itâs ok to fail. In fact fail fast to learn faster! Discuss, deliberate with supervisors and fellow students. Learn to respond than react. Respect views & opinions of others. Develop ability to question.
7/n
7/n
PhD students, please spend some time alone to think and articulate your take on experiments & their outcome regardless of positive/negative results.
8/n
8/n
Most importantly, students try to describe your work to friends, family and society at large. Believe me, explaining to someone not from your domain and answering their questions helps a lot to develop bigger perspective & picture!
9/n
9/n
Finally, PhD students please do take pride in what you doing! Enjoy it fully. Deal with obstacles rationally & logically. Have friends, build support systems and live life. Life happens in parallel & there is no need to think like: I will start living life âpost PhDâ!
10/10
10/10
