Author: Cherene de Bruyn // Editor: Sophie Alshukri & Oliver Hartley Forging metal. Photo from Pexels In his book, The Art of Peace (1991) Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the martial art of Aikido, wrote: “Iron is full of impurities that weaken it; through forging, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Human … Continue reading The PhD Confirmation process is not a hurdle – It’s a crucible
Author: Osman Khaleel // Editor: Cherene de Bruyn Cover image from Pexels *Archaeology: The study of past human cultures through the material culture (artefacts) left behind. *Lithics: Archaeological artefacts made from stone, including hand axes, scrapers, projectile points and knives. *Cataracts: Areas on the Nile between Aswan and Khartoum where the water is shallow. BACKGROUND Growing … Continue reading Navigating the PhD journey amid prolonged conflict: Challenges, growth, and resilience
Author: Precious Chiwara // Editors: Cherene de Bruyn & Sarah Charlin Klingberg My journey to pursue a PhD in palaeosciences, specifically archaeology, started in 2021 when I received the Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI) #Advancing Woman Award for black female students at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. This #Advancing Woman program was … Continue reading Thriving against all odds: Navigating a PhD as a black woman in palaeosciences
Author: Nompumelelo Maringa // Editors: Cherene de Bruyn & Sarah Charlin Klingberg THE PAST I have had an interest in history, archaeology and the environment for as long as I can remember. I cherished being outside, playing with plants, gardening, watching insects forage for food or tunnelling a new home in the soils of my home garden. … Continue reading The Road to PhD: A Zooarchaeologist’s Reflection on the Past and the Present
Three realisations for coping with stress and anxiety when PhD plans go awry Author: Elan Shellard // Editors: Rashmi Danwaththa Liyanage & Oliver Hartley A PhD is a somewhat unique challenge in that, while some have a strong mentorship and supervisory team, you are essentially left to sink or swim on your own merit. For … Continue reading Probably Not the End of the World
Author: Cherene de Bruyn // Editor: Erin Pallott Starting a PhD is no small feat—only about 1% of the global population ever achieves this milestone. It’s tough, and for good reason. A PhD demands a whole range of skills: analysing data, writing, managing your time, and communicating your ideas. Some of these you already have—after all, you made … Continue reading Starting Strong: Productivity Tips for the First 6 Months of Your PhD
Author: Yamini Meshram // Editor: Olatz Niembro Vivanco Hello, I'm Yamini, a passionate scientist and PhD student currently engrossed in the fascinating world of cancer research at The University of Manchester, UK. In the heart of Nagpur, India, where the scent of orange blossoms intermingles with the buzz of innovation, my journey began. As a … Continue reading Embarking on my Journey of Scientific Exploration
Author: Priya Srivastava // Editor: Erin Pallott Featured photo by Priya Srivastava. Embarking on a PhD journey at the University of Manchester is a thrilling experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Beyond the academic rigours, there's a wealth of resources and opportunities that can significantly enhance your time as a postgraduate … Continue reading Maximising Your PhD Experience: My Comprehensive Guide to Life at the University of Manchester
Author: Jason Chu What's your story? This is a question I never thought I'd ask myself about my science or my research. What is my story? I've always had it in my mind, that science is about understanding the literature, asking the unanswered questions, analysing these results and discussing what they mean. Very methodical. There's … Continue reading What’s your true, personal story in science?
Authors: By Mike Daniels and Katie Walwyn-Brown So your thesis either submitted (how good did that feel, right?) or almost done, the end of your PhD is in sight and the distant future is now not so distant. There is one more challenge to get through, your viva. The subject of academic myth and legend, … Continue reading Claiming Victory in your Viva
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