Skillsand

Life after the PhD

Lilian SimonesLsimones01@qub.

ac.uk

Overview

1. Skills developed throughout the PhD experience

2. Factors promoting skill development

3. Relevance of the acquired skills for life after the doctorate

Skills

Networking• Building contacts at

conferences• Engaging in

academic networks• Teaching/Mentorship

Project management

• Conceptualising, planning,

designing and implementing

projects

Problem solving• Analysing

information• Generating

creative solutions• Generating research funding

Communicating complex ideas• Presenting ideas clearly for different types of audiences• Teaching/

mentoring

To Understand and create new

knowledge • Research

methodology• Technical skills

Drive to succeed

• Determination and motivation over long

periods• Resilience

To work independently

• Use my own initiative

• Driving my own project

Cutting edge research skills• Interdisciplinary• Qualitative and

quantitative data analysis

• IT skills

1. Skills developed throughout the PhD experience

SupervisorsOther

Support at QUB(courses) /external

Previous life experiences

individual factors:

PersonalityMotivation/

age

2. Factors promoting skill development

3. Relevance of the acquired skills for life after the doctorate

• Foundation skills for academic career and important for life outside academia

• These skills will not on their own grant us our “dream job”

• As time passes by in terms of obtaining employment these skills will become less and less relevant in a world of fast change

• a wider integration of PhD students in teaching and in the life of departments (committee meetings, help with Master students’ supervision) and writing bids for funding can increase employment prospects

• A change of mind set is needed where PhD is taken as an academic “internship” rather than just accomplishing a research project

• The term “supervisor” leads to a responsibility of “research supervision” whereas “Mentor” would imply more than that

ConclusionI have:• Enjoyed the PhD experience

• Developed considerable skills

• Would like to continue to develop more

• Now, putting in place plans A (academia) and B (my own company)

Thank you!