Navigating the PhD pathway To know the road ahead, ask those coming back. Assoc Prof Murray Drummond Dr Shaun Filiault Ms Deb Agnew

Many things to consider Do I want to do a PhD? Some people call it a ‘journey’ but it is high risk journey with no guarantee at the end Why do I want to do a PhD? What will be at the end of my PhD? Who can help me attain my PhD?

My supervisor Is my supervisor important to my PhD? Yes (He/She is integral to entire PhD experience)

Choosing a supervisor Have experience in supervising To provide a sound educational experience Should be fully conversant with student’s research area They should have a level expertise in the area in which you are studying This can also be methodology While track record is important you have to be able to ‘get along’

Have an ability to mentor Should serve as a good role model of what a professional researcher/academic does Have the ability to be a colleague and friend Note: Don’t be afraid to find out about your potential supervisor from other people ie previous or current PhD students, other academics

Establishing the supervisory relationship Start early developing a good working relationship ie timelines, expectations, openness and honesty Should be encouragement, guidance and personal support along the entire process Never too late to change or modify the relationship ie things happen throughout the PhD process or you may not have been comfortable from the outset Try engaging with supervisor (may take some independent moderation)

Get to know each other well Remember that while you want your supervisor to understand your PhD load, they will also have many tasks to complete as a part of their academic role

A PhD in a land far away … Do I want to do a PhD? Usually three choices in a PhD process: Do I want to do a PhD? With whom do I want to do my PhD? What to research? As an international student, one more choice: Do I want to undergo the stress of an international move, at the same time as a PhD?

My Story Used the literature as a guide: Whose articles do I like? Early 2006: Knew I wanted to do a PhD about men’s body image Used the literature as a guide: Whose articles do I like? Aug. 2005 – Dec. 2005: Make initial contacts (e-mails): Are you taking any PhD students next year? Interested in my area of research? Initially, all Americans ... That’s just how it’s done Feb 2006: But, I really like this Drummond guy … but he’s in Australia … Eh, what harm can an e-mail do? Uh oh … We actually get on … Why not toss in an app?

My Story Accepted to 3 schools: Do your homework! Cornell (accept/deny) Flinders (clinical psych) UniSA (human movement) How do decide? Do your homework! PhD is more than just academic: Know where you’re moving to Picking the right supervisor: They can make or break you Finances, finances, finances The X factor

“Down Under” American arrogance  “Cultural difference in the presence of sameness” (Young 2009) Was not anticipating cultural differences: American arrogance  Superficial similarities of industrialised, English speaking country Unprepared for degree of culture shock experienced …

The Iced Coffee Story The scenario: July 13th 2006 Post USA > Adelaide flight (33 hours plus delays) 3 suitcases X 25 kilograms each (“my life”) “Time for a pick-me up”

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Doing the PhD Your initial idea will not resemble your final product Your PhD will not win a Nobel Prize. Get over it, then get done with it. An isolating experience: Find support networks beyond the supervisor Negotiated roles with your supervisor Set deadlines for yourself Marathon, not a sprint Find non-academic activities and friends

PhD by Publication Unique opportunity to develop publication skills “The thesis-by-publication may be useful to future doctoral candidates to not only gain the skills necessary for writing journal- style articles, but also provides the opportunity to engage in debate, review, and revision earlier than would be possible through a traditional model of thesis” (conclusion of my thesis!) Intellectual challenge: Discrete but unified Practical challenge: Few extant models Job market advantage: Proven track record Job market disadvantage: Data is mined; need to do new research!

Deb’s Adventure Processes What is expected Supervisors Started my PhD at UniSA Received scholarship offers from Adelaide and UniSA and had to choose which uni How to decide? Processes What is expected Supervisors Scholarship value

Major hurdles Difficult first year Not being given permission from the AFL Rewrite research proposal Do I really want to do this? Murray changed unis Change direction and university

The good stuff Great lifestyle- get to spend 3 years learning about a subject I am interested in, lots of variety day to day Get to meet people you may not normally associate with Travel opportunities Grow as a person

PhD Thesis Entering the final few months of my PhD Important to have personal deadlines or it will never get finished Also important to have ‘time out’ with outside interests

Opportunities Tutoring Lecturing Academic Internship Program Mentor Program

What’s next? Started PhD with a goal of working in the AFL Now heading in the direction of an academic career PhD can do just about anything Where you think you will end up may not be where you end up