Important pieces of training/skills for a Ph.D. Students to facilitate their success in research !!

Many of today’s pressing research challenges require a multifaceted approach that combines several historically distinct disciplines.

First and foremost, Ph.D. is a great chance for students to pursue truly novel research, a range of different career paths, and stimulating intellectual life. However, these benefits are often accompanied by additional academic and logistical challenges. The rules presented here aim to provide guidelines that will enable Ph.D. candidates to maximize the benefits of interdisciplinary research whilst minimizing any burdens.

Few disciplines that considerable to help Ph.D. students for their thriving and success!

1] Need to cooperate with somebody who is more experienced and skilled

Many professors cannot unfortunately do good research because they are poor researchers themselves also working in the same office with somebody hard-working helps a lot, the best way how to learn to think critically is to cooperate with somebody who has this skill.

2] Need to work continuously in small steps

Many students procrastinate and the quick work is usually of poor quality, great job is mostly done by doing something small every day or at least a few times a week. I recommend students to start doing the most important things – like dissertation research – as the first thing in the day. So they will surely finish the small task before something “more important” foils their efforts; it should be at least one time-block which is usually about 2-4 hour long to make something substantial.

3] Seek facilitation and help from the advisor or colleagues

Doing research is time-consuming and not much fun most of the time; most of us will never discover anything of great importance for humankind, students need to know that this is normal and not to panic and need some regular assistance now and then.

4] Love the research

Internal motivation will help to overcome the many obstacles that will surely come.

5] “Boss” who is result-oriented

Without somebody who wants to see the results regularly, the results may not come or will come very late or in poor quality, in cases when you are not a “self-sufficient” genius.

6] Meet other scholars and students at workshops, conferences, meetings, etc.

It is not only necessary to see others stuff or to present ours; it’s important to share our ideas, fears, obstacles, it’s great to see the “big names” and to find out that they are human beings with their own strengths and weaknesses.

7] Praise the failure and be courageous

Failure is the normal part of the process and without failures, there is usually also no success because we do only things where we expect to be successful which are often the things that do not need more research, so be courageous, don’t be afraid to do something with what others don’t agree if you “feel” the potential.

8] Learn time-management

In times of resource abundance and a lot of administration, this is a must, especially the ability to log-out from e-mail and not using a mobile phone, being able to find a comfortable quiet zone where we can work without being constantly interrupted.

9] Need to Know the whole research process

It’s great to be focused but without knowledge of theory, statistics, methodology, etc. it is hard to do something substantial because we do not see the “whole” picture, all Ph.D. students should have at least average skills and knowledge of all necessary ingredients – it takes of course time but many things can be learned by “doing” on the go.

10] Don’t need to spoil name by doing a crap work

This maybe doesn't seem to be relevant but I recommend all students not produce anything – e.g. an article – that is of a poor quality (unless they are open about it and it is produced with the intention to make it better with the help of other scholars). Our name is like a “brand”. Once we start doing great things people will eventually like our stuff and will share it. Once we spoil our name by doing something crap or even commit academic frauds it may be too late. Of course, when we start learning the research we can make many mistakes and will publish some lower quality stuff. But we should strive to improve over time.

11] Leave the academic and research world if you find out that it’s not for you

I find this to be a highly important life skill. Life is too short to do crap research that we do not like. The sooner students leave the better. Note: I recommend conducting research as well as possible for at least several months before leaving. Beginning problems and obstacles are normal and it would be a pity to leave during this “trial” period.

That’s how these disciplines are much beneficial for all Ph.D. students to need to follow for their training to help them.