The Third Degree [Empowering Post-Graduate Researchers]

Burnout is very real, and it is experienced differently by each of us. This episode touches on how PhD candidates may experience, cope with, and bounce back from episodes of burnout, both mental and physical health related. The PhD journey can be a particularly lonely one, and burnout doesn't always creep up. Somedays we feel fine, and the next day dread sets in and our energy levels have hit the floor. Whilst I can't offer foolproof solutions, I can get us started on sharing what works for us!

I was fortunate to be able to teach before, during, and after my PhD. That opportunity shaped my thinking, my interest in, and skillsets associated with being in academia. I wouldn't change it for the world! In this episode, I share about the benefits and challenges of teaching during our journey, and also share some tips on developing our own personal teaching style.

Academic privilege is a controversial topic. At risk (fear) of being cancelled, I want to explore the concept, and take steps to rebalancing the equation. The Third Degree was founded to democratise access to postgraduate education, and to help address the imbalances faced by academics and research candidates in the Global South. As a privileged caucasian academic, having spent almost half my life (and two thirds of my career) in developing Asia, I am confronted with the disparities evident in academia. I hope my thoughts in this episode start both a reflection and a conversation for us all, but for the betterment of academia!

Resilience is something that most of us keep fighting to develop through our lives and careers. Personally, my journey has been challenging, with many steep learning curves. But these learning curves, good and bad, have helped me to develop and strengthen my own resilience. I share eight (8) lessons from my own journey to help you think through the challenges you are facing!

There's a lot of opinion and advice out there on how to become a good researcher, and of course the attributes that are essential to this. I put my own spin on to this discussion by exploring what I consider essential facets of being a good researcher, not only as a PhD candidate or Early Career Researcher, but as a research professional that wants to hold their own against others.

In this episode, we discuss a vital aspect of our PhD journey: managing feedback and how to handle it in a mentally healthy way - including when we don't concur with the feedback offered!

The very nature of research implies that failures and setbacks may be part of the journey. In this episode we look at ways to lean from and overcome setbacks, and use this to positively influence our research progress.

Having a mentor in your academic journey can be an incredibly rewarding and beneficial experience. This episode discusses how you can find and engage with a mentor, and how they can help you develop in your journey.