The steps for building a research group or lab are vague and unclear. For people with a great idea, hoping to build a business on it, there are coaches, start-up programs, business information sessions, incubators, co-working spaces, mentors, seminars, workshops, and more. Yet for research there is very little. In this blog I look at […]
Turning Your Research into Your Business
Have you turned your PhD topic or experiences into a small business? How did you do it? I was an entrepreneur before it was cool. Before being an innovator or being agile was a thing. I was an entrepreneur when it was called owning your own business. Being self-employed. For some, there’s an attraction to […]
Six Steps to a More Competitive and Organised Grant Application
What are your tips for being more competitive and organised when it comes to writing a grant? Here are 6 from me: Prewrite. Know your funding sources. Prepare your application based on those funding sources and their preferences. Say “no” – Not all people, grants or situations are equally worthy. Plan ahead (a year calendar […]
Twenty Questions for Humans Who Are Studying a PhD
We are constantly told to self-reflect. But if you’re not in the practice of it, reflection can be really hard. In his book 20 Questions for Humans, Craig Harper helps readers do just that – answer 20 questions that will help them self-reflect. In this blog, I look at each question Craig poses and suggest […]
Why You Should Write a Good-bye Letter to Academia
Are you thinking about leaving academia but finding it hard? Why not write a good-bye letter? The transition from one sector to another is difficult. So is a change in job or a change in a career. But when you’ve had your heart set on a career – like many in academia – that transition […]
Five Skills I Can Use to Develop My Career Beyond My PhD
Five transferable skills for all PhD students: Problem solving. Project management. Written communication. Oral communication. Presentation skills. Be careful when identifying your transferable skills from your PhD – not all are created equal. Transcript: Good day there, bakers, writers, and rock stars! Dr. Richard Huysmans here. Bringing 5 skills that you can use to develop […]
How to Get a Mentor
So you’ve been told to find a mentor. Take these 4 steps: List the traits you’re looking for. Note who in your network has those traits. Meet with them. Confirm the relationship. Transcript: Good day there, bakers, writers, and rock stars. Dr. Richard Huysmans here with another vlog. This time we’re looking at how to […]
How to Select a Social Media Channel
As an academic, at some point you’ll need to take your research social. If you like pictures, use Instagram. If you like writing, use LinkedIn. If you like video, use YouTube and then share. If you want to connect with other academics, use Twitter. If you want to engage with the general public then Facebook […]
Five Forgotten Transferable Skills
How do you identify transferable skills? One way is a time in motion study or a skills audit. Or, you can google “transferable skills” and see what the internet tells you. Here are five skills – tenacity, collaboration, comprehension, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and software use – and why I think they are transferable. Transcript: […]
Six Things to Do to Increase Your Resilience
PhD students have some of the poorest mental health of ANY professional – inside or outside research. Even worse, the turbulence associated with science and research careers does not make things easier. Thus, building resilience and copying strategies before you need them will be important to long-term health and success. Here are 6 strategies – […]