Flessenpost 17: A day in the life of a PhD student

I have been asked many times how PhD life is, what I do and specifically what my average day looks like. Let’s start with the cliché that there is no average day. For example, take 2pm. At that time, I could be doing research, teaching, tutoring, marking, having a coffee break, in a reading group, playing frisbee, in the pub, in a meeting, at a seminar or having a late lunch. And already the first option ‘doing research’ can be a bunch of things: reading papers, writing papers, developing theories, running simulations, writing simulations, field work, etc.

However, to give you some idea: a normal day starts out with a coffee with the PhD crew. Afterwards we all start doing work, rendezvous for lunch, have a little microwave battle, solve a cryptic, have another coffee break, do some more work or annoy the other PhD students or discuss research. Afterwards, depending on the day of the week go to the pub/gym/dance class/play boardgames/out for dinner/home, repeat. But then there are always random events or deadlines that completely mess up that schedule. Random frisbee, volleyball or whatever sport we are playing next semester, practice, deadlines for conferences, marking, training sessions, etc. These last weeks before Christmas, competitive monopoly deal sessions alternated with Christmas parties have mainly been dominating our normal day activities.

However, let’s make it a bit more specific and talk about my PhD, because I definitely already had some highlights in the past year. First of all, since June, I am off probation and an official PhD Candidate! In June it was time for my first annual progress review, or short APR. A sort GO/NO GO if I did enough work and am allowed to stay. Luckily, they were convinced enough and let me pass. Second, I submitted my first paper in September. It is a bit of a fifty/fifty chance if it will get accepted. I will here back in January, so that is slowly coming up soon. One way or the other it’s an achievement. But more on that later.

Back to PhD life, it has its advantages and disadvantages, its ups and downs. The freedom to schedule your life how you want is definitely a big plus, just like the freedom to research and do what you like, of course within certain boundaries. However, the stress, doubt, pondering, feeling stupid that comes with the ever-continuing research expectations, being surrounded by insanely smart people and working on a never-ending project are all part of doing a PhD as well. The website Phdcomics, which I regularly visit, definitely sums this up in a very hilarious, but sometimes bit too real, way.

However, as long as you like your research topic and you have such a great group as mine, it gives you a lot of energy and it’s all so worth it. I go in every day knowing I will enjoy it. Even the days you are stuck with your research, I am surrounded by great people to cheer me up, share ideas with and get me back on track. Or some weeks, like last week, we all just need a little break, so board games or the pub it is. And that is exactly what makes this life so great.