As a researcher at Sheffield Hallam University you can benefit from our organisational membership of Vitae, the global leader in the professional development of researchers. The Vitae website [www.vitae.ac.uk] has a wealth of resources and advice tailored specifically to you as a researcher.
Vitae Focus on ‘Getting started’
For Autumn 2016, Vitae are focusing on new beginnings. Whether you’re just starting your doctorate, a new research project or a new job, it can be daunting to embark on a new professional journey. Whatever your situation, taking a professional approach to your development from the start can help make the path smoother, and enable you to be more successful in the long run.
From August 2016 to November 2016 Vitae highlighted:
- a dedicated page collating web resources on starting out in research including sections on What is a PhD? and How to get on with others? https://www.vitae.ac.uk/focus-on/focus-on-series/previous-focus-on-themes/getting-started
- Routemaps to help you find the Vitae resources most relevant to you
- PDP ROC: Step-by-step guide to career planning for researchers www.vitae.ac.uk/pdproc
- recorded #VitaeHangout (October 2014) for researchers at the start of their Phd Start your PhD hangout
- Vitae’s twitter account launched #startingPhD to encourage the sharing of tips for the beginning of the research journey. Below is a sample of the top shared tips and you can see more here #startingPhD tweets
- Have realistic plans – everything takes twice as long as you think. Be in control of important decisions, but listen to advice of those more experienced
- Focus on the WHY, it will help you keep going when times get tough. When setting goals, remember to step back and look at the bigger picture
- Find passion in your research question, you will be stuck with it for a long time. Your PhD should be enjoyable
- Investigate effective ways of reading literature to grasp main ideas and details. Take time to experiment with different tools and software for note taking, keeping references and maintaining good records
- Make time to let off steam, socialise. Share your concerns with others. Set up group of other PhD students to meet, talk and swap writing. Conferences are important way of meeting others and broadening network outside of your HEI
- Start writing early, even just your notes. It’s a skill you need to practice from the start. In Arts and Humanities disciplines, it is difficult to know when to stop reading. Start writing and it will become clearer
- Managing stress, self-care and holidays are integral to surviving a PhD! Treat it like a job. Don’t forget to reward yourself for meeting goals – even small steps along the way
Local support
The Sheffield Hallam Doctoral Research Training Series includes sessions on ‘Becoming a SHU Doctoral Researcher’ and ‘Data Think Tank’ for 1st year Doctoral Researchers.
Content in this post has been taken from the August and October 2016 Vitae newsletters. You can subscribe by registering to the Vitae website and ticking Vitae updates and information.