Advice to A Young PhD Me
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- The last of the end-of-grad school videos. These are just some of the things I had to learn in grad school, some things I wish I could go back and talk with myself about when I was just starting out. It would have helped her a lot, I think, and I hope some of these things can help you too. I'm not claiming that I have all the answers, but maybe one or two of these things will be helpful to you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: DO NOT FILM AND DRIVE. I shouldn't have to say this, but it's real dumb! For the timelapse shots I used a mount on the far side of my dashboard so that my small camera was not blocking my field of vision (I even looked up the CA laws for where I could place it!) and also I couldn't reach it so I was forced to park somewhere safely to start it, end it, or change settings. Be smart, people! Also I shouldn't have to say this either, but wear your seatbelt! I was not wearing it in parked shots but I wear it EVERY SINGLE TIME while driving and you should too! No drive is too short! Always always always wear your seatbelt.
Another giant thank you to my Patreon supporters, including my amazing ribosomes:
Marcel Ward
Dave Moore
Christopher Miles
Ben Krasnow
Mathieu Moog
Palle Helenius
Phiroze Dalal
Tim Rhodes
Peter Cook
Brad
Filip
Edgar Romero
Diane & George Dainis
Thomas Davis
Alexandra Daly
Don Burlone
Tim McNally
Jose Cruz
Brandon C.
William Pilkington
Kevin Hardesty
Nick Ramos
Okay so this next part of the description always used to say: "Trying to document grad school one CZcams video at a time, from lab equipment to genetics lessons to interviews with other scientists! Each video is a new view into life as a grad student, and the rollercoaster that is getting a PhD." But now I have my PhD. I'm not a grad student anymore! On to new adventures...
Twitter: @AlexDainis
Instagram: Alex.Dainis
Facebook: BiteSciZed
Patreon: / alexdainis
(All thoughts and opinions are my own and do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of my institution.)
Music:
"Ex-Boxer" by Riot
"Fender Bender" by Bad Snacks
"Lullaby" by Yung Logos
"I Miss You" by Text Me Records / Leviathe
"Pixelated Autumn Leaves" by Jeremy Blake
Thank you to DCMP for captioning! dcmp.org/ - Věda a technologie
Some other great grad school suggestions have been popping up in the comments here and on social media, so if you've got some, leave them here so that we can all help each other out! The video is definitely not a definitive list!!
I don't understand your system. Is "grad school" a separate institution to the university where you got your BSc and Honors/Masters?
You are totally a scientist! "Scientists" is more than a job, it's who we are.
Come to Europe (Belgium), it's basically a job here. Good pay :p but don't do a PhD for money, that's a NONO.
@@greensteve9307 Damn right! :D
You are a free Bird, Keep Flying and eventually you will land exactly where you're meant to be.
"I went to grad school b/c I wanted to learn how to ask really good questions" - THIS right here is why I chased a PhD, and have stayed in science since! Excellent advice video!
Thank you!
They're waiting for you Gordon... in the test chamber...
Starting my PhD in the Fall 2019 semester! I loved the statement: "I don't know, but let's find out!" I have been struggling with this as well. I have been upholding a similar mantra: "I may not know the answer, but I am smart enough to figure it out." :) Thanks so much for the wonderful video!
good mantra.
We started PhD at the same time! After three semesters I still have a lot of things I do not know and I have to learn. But there is beauty in finding out! I wish you all the best in your journey and remember you are doing well. :) Cheers!
@@JJames-ju5vs I feel the same way. But I think it's good to never label oneself as an expert, as there is always more to learn :) Best of luck to you too! I hope you're staying healthy and safe during this challenging time!
Lovely. The journey motif really worked for me, start to finish. Creative and personal. Nicely done.
I just wanted to thank you for such an amazing video! I am in the process of applying to PhD programs and have been obsessively watching grad school vids and its super nice to hear from someone thats finished grad school and really enjoyed the experience/loves to learn!!
Thank you so much!! Starting my PhD in a week and this was a really down to earth, honest video which got me thinking about what I will get myself into and what are things to keep in mind. Loved the editing with the driving and the variety of movie clips! -Esther
Whenever I am down i watch your videos and it gave me hope
Thank you Alex for your awesome video! Thank you for reminding me why I applied to grad school and why I am here now. All the best to you and I am excited to follow you and see where you continue to ask & answer good questions.
Garlic Ice Cream? 🤮
I have driven by the signs advertising it for years and finally had to stop! It's a roadside staple on that drive. It was... interesting!
Knowing Better I just watched one of your videos and now I see you in the comments here
"roll with the punches"
Super helpful! The labelling system has been such a huge help in managing a whole array of experiments. And I fully endorse writing everything down. You will forget.
Thank you so much for making this video! I'm starting my PhD studies in the fall and now I feel so ready!
I really needed this right now. I just got an offer and I haven't been scared of this before until now. Its what I've always wanted but it's so huge and scary and your video has helped put me at ease. Thank you so much. I feel more prepared now. And far less scared.
I just found your channel through Sally le Page and I will definitely stay! I am far from being in grad school (going to uni next year) but I find a lot of the things you talk about so important and relatable! Thanks for the video, love the way you presented it and the honesty!
Thanks for this very informative video especially about plotting right after you did something. I have started doing it and it really does make things a lot better. Looking forward to more tips/inspiration from your channel! Have a great day and stay safe!
Thank you for putting up this video. I am going through the same stuff as you were. It is very stressful. But it's nice to know things will get better and it's fine to ask for help.
I’m one semester into my PhD and this was such great practical advice. Literally never would have thought of the color scheme thing but it makes so much sense!
Aw man, I was so grumpy at myself when I looked at all my figures at the end of my PhD and they were all a rainbow of clashing colors!! I wish I had picked a color palette sooner, so I’m glad this was helpful!
Similarly, get a citation manager/system for your writing, so that when you're compiling all your papers/articles/etc into your master thesis document you're not chasing down 6 yr old references.....
Oh yeah, this is a great one too! I personally used a bunch and didn’t like any of them before finding Paperpile and then never went back...
Thank you
How cool is that:) I've been watching your videos for probably 5 or 6 years, and now I just started a phd myself even though I never really considered it a possibility before, but so far I'm thoroughly enjoying it, and I just wanted to let you know that (among others) you really inspired me to take this leap and dive deeper in a subject that I do love so much.
Just finished my first semester of my PhD program - clicked on this video so fast! Your videos were a big part of my journey to now. Thank you!
Thank you!! Knowing that I've influenced any part of someone's path to or through science means a lot to me. Congrats on finishing your first semester!! There's a lot more science ahead :)
Happy new year. Thank you so much for making a video on this topic. The advise given will surely help many future PhD students. And please continue to make more Grad school/phd/academic research related videos.
Hi Alex, I just saw this video and I really can relate. I love your motivation because I got lost in the middle of my PhD because I simply forgot what I came for. Thanks for reminding me. And I am still struggling with "I don't know" because apparently some people can't take that answer because they thought we ARE scientist, and we SHOULD KNOW. Silly, but it happens in my circle. But I really feel motivated by your video. Thanks btw! This is inspirational
I just started my research and had a bad day today. Your video makes me feel a lot better so thank you!
This video helped a lot and suggestions about preparing figures from data immediately is great! My super senior gave me same advice last semester when I started my post-graduation.
Really loved this video! Especially the part about questioning why you started. In my case, when I started, I hadn't really thought about what I wanted my career to be after the PhD, I just knew that I had a really good opportunity ahead of me to study something I was passionate about in a place that I loved being. Now I'm trying to finish up and the pressure's on, so it's nice to look back and remember that I'm pretty lucky to get to work on something I think is so cool :) congrats on finishing your PhD!
Great advice! I wish I had gotten the same ones when I went for my Ph.D. as well. One I got early, was to get EndNote and start populating it. The literature review became so much easy because of it.
Also, in retrospective, I learn that pays off to focus only on the research by: 1. No TAs or similar that takes away time, unless there is no money. 2. Convince your SO to cook your meals, it saves significant time and allows to focus more. 3. Get the Pass Exam (examination of research proposal) done ASAP. My (married) friend managed to finish his PhD in exactly three years because he followed those.
I waited 4 years to chance on your video. Thank you SO MUCH FOR BEING SO SENSIBLE!
i just found your channel, and this is such an interesting perspective! thank you for sharing it. the notes & labels thing is so real -- for my undergrad thesis i started out my lab book labelling stuff like "Gel A"....like an idiot....like i wouldn't run out of letters......
This video is really inspiring.
Knowing why you started a PhD and how u got there is what can make u more determined
Thank you for the video
You’re video came up at the most amazing time for me. I’m about to sign up for Grad Level courses this spring in hopes of applying to the same Master’s program, and this advice was so helpful. I keep being hard on myself, but I know it’s something I can do. And yes Alex, you are a scientist!
Good luck on the courses and applying to the Master's program! You can absolutely do it!
In this video, I completely feel like your advice with graduate school paired along with the symbolic/nostalgic/familiar I5 was outrageously brilliant T.T
Congrats on your PhD! And thanks for this advice. It is good, not only for post grad.
Thank you so much Alex! I'm surely not the first to say this but: THANKS! For this video and others where you open with this community about your feelings. Everytime you show me (us) that it's ok to wonder from time to time who are we and what do we want. And for me it's so important to see someone I admire so much struggling with these issues. It reminds me that there's not just one right way.
Thank you, really. =)
Signed: an Italian master student
"I don't know.. but let's find out!"
❤💕
Something, I definitely need in first year of my PhD is to get a Driving License
This summer at my internship I spend a couple weeks researching how to implement some boundary condition in FEA. Finally when I got to what I thought was a dead end I looked for help and was told pretty quickly "yeah that's mathematically not possible". My supervisor was great and basically said "sometimes research has dead ends regardless of how competent you are"
About to head into my first set of Exams next month for my Masters. Since I started watching your videos I went through my undergrad in Virginia and moved to Germany for my masters. I am learning to ask a lot of questions.
I think you are still a scientist because you will advance science as a science communicator. Good science communicators get more people involved in science as a whole. Good communication to people who fund science is even more important. I think we both know that sometimes professors with stacks and stacks of publications aren't always the best communicators to the layman.
My god you are a life saver !! I am getting started and I needed someone to tell me these!!!
Hi! I randomly came across your video, and I'd like to say thank you for sharing these advice! I just started my own PhD, so this video was really helpful in understanding what to expect from grad school.
I'm so glad!! This is why I put it out there, to find people early!
I've really enjoyed your videos since I discovered your channel the way you communicate concepts in your educational videos is great but I also really love the honest look at your grad school experience. I think your constant advice to reach out and not be so hard on yourself is something everyone needs to hear more. Imposter syndrome sucks but I'm glad you're pushing through it. Can't wait to see more content in the coming year.
Thank you for sharing this, and for sticking around through various video formats! I'm excited to share more videos coming soon :)
This was wonderful! I'm applying to my master's this year and am hoping to pursue a PhD after so it's nice to know what I should be thinking of now
Thank you so much for this video. I am going through some tough times in my last year of my master's and this really helped me out. I am going to favorite it and watch it whenever I feel confused. Though I really wish this was available when I was just starting grad school so I could have taken less detours.
I am glad that I could help in whatever way. You've got this.
Thank you for this video! I start grad school in 2 weeks and am taking notes from your practical advice so I can be organised from the get-go. You might doubt whether you can claim the 'scientist title', but nobody can dispute that you have a scientific mind!
The “I don’t know.” part. Man, this hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m so afraid of not knowing an answer to anything. It’s ridiculous... I know. But you nailed this video. So helpful. Thank you.
This is extremely useful advice! Thank you Alex :)
you are humble and smart. That's a true scientist.
good luck in life.
from the Middle East.
I fully agree with this advice, a PhD was a really tough time for me and tips like this would have been marvelous 3 years ago :P
I have just started my journey as a grad student, I have been following you since my 2nd year at college I guess. Fortunately, I found you talking about something in my head frequently It's a pure coincidence but I feel deep gratitude for your being and to every minute you spent on this channel!
Doing mistakes and accepting the fact that I don't know was the hardest mission as it challenges my ego more than anything else, I studied Microbiology and genetics but now I'm enrolled in grad school of computer science for the seek of becoming a bioinformatician. My professors are computer science oriented with very low or non biological background which represents a hard challenge as they treat as I knew what a C.S graduate student knew and I found my self embarrassed to ask some question about some trivial thing that I miss as biologist When I've enough courage to ask I find that I was a foul just in my head and they already waiting for us to ask such question which might be stupid for a C.S majors student cause I'm not! and this doesn't the fact that I'm a good student who has a strong background in some field my professors don't know none about.
Hi Alex Dainis, thank you for such helpful contents, just ending PhD and having very painfull feelings.
Issues with identity can be difficult to deal with and push through, but with time it goes get better.
Thank you for the advice, really helpful!
I’m a month into my first semester of my masters and already stressed out, but this definitely helped myself to remain calm.
Very insightful, thank you.
This was a lovely video, Alex. Have you thought about some form of therapy or counselling? Moving on from any long-term workplace can be tough but this also represents leaving formal education where you have been, at least in some part, for most of your life. It would be normal for it to feel scary or seem like you're grieving for giving up on whatever criteria you personally feel a scientist needs. I believe in you regardless but I just want you to know that if it becomes overwhelming, it's okay to get help. You inspire me so I want you to feel your best.
I'm in grad school now and I can totally relate to this :) thank you for the extra tips
Thanks so much for making this video, Alex (I'm applying around for Ph.D.s). All the very best with your future life and with your identity question! You said: "you don't know". Well, let's find out :)
Wow.. You style of speaking is awesome. Very attractive
insightful! thank you for the video... one other advise for most undergraduates, do science for the love of it and avenues it offers - because that's the only thing that will take you through emotionally and mentally during the up & down roller coaster of experiments, grants, manuscript reviews! Also, do not take anything personally - you know best who you are, be confident, and keep learning & moving!
This is also good advice!
"Scientist" is not a job title, it's training and experience. Kind of like "Musician". Of course, they can both be used as job titles, but you don't get the job without the training and experience. Some day you might get rusty, or even become a "retired scientist", but you are still a scientist.
Hey Alex, I'm catching up some videos that I couldn't watch before and I think there was no better time to watch this one.
I admire you so much, and I've followed you since I started my major and you started your grand-school and it may sound ridicoulous comming from me, but both of us have grown in different ways. In another video I wrote a comment about my future in live, that I'd finish working with biofuels even if all my life I had wanted to be a marine biologist.
Well, it results that there was a problem and I can not longer work with the topic I had, and right now I'm in a crossroad: I've got my degree, now I don't know what to do, apart from being a marine biologist I want to be a scientist, to do research. Here in Mexico things are complicated, if you want to be a researcher you have to teach too, I don't have problems with that, but a master's degree is not that valuable. I literaly don't know if it's better to start my master in August, to look for a bad-paid job or even to leave everything behind and move to another state or even country.
Sorry for turning my comment into a cry-post, but maybe you can give me some advice.
Anyway, still thanks for all what you've taught me and surely you're a scientist, the mere fact of sharing what you know in a way that people understand and have access to. I'm teaching English in a part-time job at my school and one of my recommendations is to watch some CZcams channels I like, obviously yours is included in that list.
I loved this so much!! Thank you :)
I'm so glad! You're so welcome!
Really great video, very helpful tips!
I’m on the first year of my PhD in medical field and I can say that this is pretty exhausting to adjust my self to a new pattern of life, meet new people and facing new circumstances.
But whenever I look back, I remember getting the place where I am now wasn’t easy and this was what I always wanted to do back then.
But everything seems to forge me to be a better personality, with an advance knowledge. I love my self in that kind of state ❤️
Thank you for reminding me that what I’m doing now is a beautiful achievement.
I am here too, Andriana, thank you for speaking up. I can totally relate as a fellow first year PhD girl
Thank you sooooo much for the insights... Even though I am not a PhD student.... But those tips help alot 🇸🇩✌️💪
Good on ya, Scientist-Communicator, hope things are going well now. Belated congratulations!
0:43 "No samples of garlic ice cream." You wanna try it, you gonna buy it!
Best of luck alex. I love your content. Keep doing this. Try something new if possible
Thank you, I needed this today
Phd is an amazing experience but full of challenges and need lots of patience... I would say its a team work and needs more strategic thinking than just reading and doing experiments.
Wow, this goes into purpose and meaning of life!...hope u will find that out soon!
Thanks for the great video.
You are a Beauty with brain ...
Really helpful video
On your last point, I ask this: what’s more impactful to you? Knowing that you are a scientist or that you could tap into your inner scientist whenever you want?
We learn skills and move on after achieving some level of satisfaction and what we move on to can be completely unrelated. After several iterations of this transition, you’re more mentally developed in a multidisciplinary aspect, which allows you to ask more creative (in addition to intelligent) questions.
The way i see it, the more hats I wear, the more unique my perspective becomes, which makes my contributions more valuable to scientific advancement.
Thanks for the tips
As someone who's about to start grad school, this is so so so helpful
I am so glad! Good luck!
talk to your advisor and team mates, make a consistent labeling system for your entire lab. your successors who try to make sense of the data you generated and left the lab would really appreciate it. and yes make notes. write every single thing down. add also a time/ duration label alongside date of experiment.
I also accidentally ended up doing a PhD and I also had this identity crisis that "omg im not special anymore" after it. Now I don't feel special anymore at all so I feel so much more free.
Im starting phd in chemistry this fall. I have this overwhelming anxiety that i dont have enough experience to even start and that itll be like someone who doesnt know how to swim being dumped straight into the deepest parts of the ocean.
Can you give piece of advise to those students who are just about to enroll them self in the Phd. like me and I am just finished my 18 years education or MS , It was tough experience for me and I am confused about getting admission in Phd.
Hmmm.. I'd say you earned that title of scientist. It's not just a job but a way of approaching the world through everything you do. You've been trained as a scientist and will continue to be one even when not actively conducting science.
Happy 2019, Alex! :)
Happy 2019 to you too!
It's hard to build a network as a introvert in social situations .
hahahahahaha. welcome to my world.
Dude.. totally 💯 for you !
personally, talking is really exhausting,
Love her videos
Thank you for watching :)
Thanks Alex
hahahaha, i just like the way u've presented yo experience, thanks so much, learnt so much.
Thanks for the video
I don't know about PhD, but I started my Master's in Fall '19. It has been so stressful and my supervisor never supported me in the beginning. He gave me a tough time. It's relatively better now, but I feel i won't be able to complete my thesis and graduate.
This makes me feel really depressed.
I would like to know if you had trouble understanding chemistry? Do you need a high level in chemistry to study any field of biology?
Hi, I just have this question, can you already enroll in Ph.D class if you're just about to take the Licensure exam? Like advance? I'm from the PH
"I don't know" - yeah, Everytime I ask my advisor a question about my results, his reply was 'i don't know'.
Then there's an awkward silence and he would provide several ideas on future test to check. Then once those are done a picture begins to emerge.
Really embracing the 'i don't know' -ness of life
Yes! I found that conversations like that were some of the most productive for me as well! Embrace the "I don't know!"
I couldn’t agree that grad school has its ups and downs, more downs then ups. Definitely accept the downs but always strive to make them an up.
That last bit is definitely important. There are downs, but whenever we can make them ups we should try to!
And that bison freaked me out... lol
nice point of view
Oh man, using your definition: ain't no scientist like a preschooler scientist.
As the non-PhD on a bunch of (software) teams, I really value the experience I've gotten in seeing good questions in action. It's an undervalued skill, but is basically a productivity/progress superpower.
(Go forth and do science communication!)
"Ain't no scientist like a preschooler scientist" really deserves to be on a t-shirt!
Thank youuuu!
Thank *you* for watching!
Just curious, are you going to look for a postdoc position? I know you said in your video that you want to communicate science which makes me think of people like Bill Nye or Neil deGrasse Tyson, but if you enjoy actually being in the lab wouldn't that be the way to go?
Love your videos.....👍😍
I'm sorry. Garlic ice cream?
A well-advertised oddity that I'd driven by for years and finally had to try!
It's a Gilroy California thing.
I know that same feeling of "am I still scientist?". I haven't done research since I finished my masters, but then came to the conclusion that I will forever call myself a scientist, even if I'm not doing science as a job, because the very way I think of the world has changed since I worked hard to learn science, to become a scientist! It is a part of you deeper than just a job!
Also, garlic ice cream? I don't know, let's figure it out!
I do like that sentiment, that science is a method of thinking about the world!
A friend of mine has some videos on advice for Ph.D. students - maybe they might be helpful:
This is ten things to know before you begin your doctorate: czcams.com/video/Ilf5lBWnyFg/video.html
This one is on the importance of publishing while you are a doctorate: czcams.com/video/iyRoUEUePC8/video.html
I think this one is hilarious - it talks about what professors are actually doing all day: czcams.com/video/-BG4x2oNH6w/video.html
I enjoyed these videos and I hope you find them helpful as well.
Im a MS and Not yet at PhD level. But I'm inspired with your vlog.
I'm so glad! Good luck on your MS, I hope this was helpful!
I was born in Gilroy, CA so I chuckled a bit when you tried the garlic ice cream.
I drove by it for so long, I had to finally stop! It was one of those things where I would take a bite and think "This is weird. But good? Or weird? Should I stop eating this?" but then take another bite!
@@AlexDainisPhD Garlic hard candy is like that too, if you like garlic it is good once you get past the weirdness of garlic being sweet.
Oooh, I will have to try that on my next drive through!
seems like the perfect way to crash a date