Applying for PhD defense at Karolinska Institutet

So you are nearing the end of your PhD at KI, and need to start planning and applying for defense. Maybe you are in a group that has done this process 50 times, in which case you might not need this help. However, when I found myself at the time that I needed to apply for defense, I realized I am the first PhD student in my group, and so navigating the application process included a bit of “figuring things out”. Some things are clear and well documented, others are rather mysterious. None of it is hard, but around this period we are usually freaking out, so even small hurdles can cause stress, and it’s really not needed when someone can just tell you how it works. Now that all the application stuff is over, I’ve had multiple fellow-PhD-defenders contact me to clarify things. So, I figured there are probably more of us out there, freaking out about the ins and outs of the application process, and I decided it could be useful to write a guide based on my own experience. Additionally, I’ve also been a student representative in the dissertation committee (the ones you send your application to), and I think it will be helpful for both you and the committee if you have an idea of how it all works. So, here we go!… Read More Applying for PhD defense at Karolinska Institutet

8 January, 201924 May, 2021 Ayla De Paepe3 Comments

Small things to help you through PhD

Sometimes it is not the big things that get you through something, but the tiny ones. This is why I have decided to share three “small things” (tips) that help me through my PhD. I hope you will find some of them helpful, or be inspited to adjust them to your own needs.… Read More Small things to help you through PhD

19 October, 201824 May, 2021 Nika SeblovaLeave a comment

The wrong type of scientist?

“You don’t want to have a publication in Science!? But that is everyone’s dream!” exclaimed another participant of a mentoring for early career researchers at my summer conference. For years, I was not able to say this out loud, but by now – a fourth year in my PhD – I got used to the shocked expression that usually follows my declaration.… Read More The wrong type of scientist?

5 September, 201824 May, 2021 Nika SeblovaLeave a comment

Learning to teach – teaching to learn

Approximately 30 seconds after we enter the room, we get accustomed to the lack of light. With dark, blackout curtains separating us from the first rays of blooming spring outside. All for a good purpose. All of us will learn something today. We are in the microscope room. The darkness keeps all our attention to… Read More Learning to teach – teaching to learn

5 April, 20183 June, 2021 Yildiz KelahmetogluLeave a comment

Valentine’s ode to my (Mr.) PhD

As of today, Mr. PhD and I have been in a relationship for a long time! Incredible 3.5 years! But in the last year we hit a rock bottom. Honeymoon phase was long over, and hard work on building a lasting and rewarding relationship settled in. And since we are stubborn and strong personalities, endless… Read More Valentine’s ode to my (Mr.) PhD

14 February, 201824 May, 2021 Nika SeblovaLeave a comment

#23 So you are going to defend your thesis

Thinking of defending your thesis? While it is still fresh on my mind, I would like to share some tips from my own dissertation experience this year. Note that this is not a replacement for the guideline stipulated in KI website. I am just re-organising their guideline in a flow that makes sense for me,… Read More #23 So you are going to defend your thesis

23 December, 201724 May, 2021 Yossa Dwi Hartono2 Comments

Are you a typical PhD student?

Guest blog post by Maren Köhne and Lisa Schmidleithner blogging for the ImmunoSensation Blog. The ImmunoSesation Blog is a young investigators’ initiative and aims to inform about the research and events within the Cluster of Excellence. The ImmunoSensation Cluster is an association of several institutes and departments in Bonn connecting immunological research groups. By reposting this… Read More Are you a typical PhD student?

20 November, 201724 May, 2021 Guest BlogLeave a comment

Recipe for imposter syndrome cure

If you are in academia, you have probably been acquainted with imposter syndrome. Maybe you are on a first-name basis or hopefully you have just been introduced in passing. He and I seem to be old buddies, and as such we engage in endless conversations over coffee or during my sleepless nights. However, sometimes even… Read More Recipe for imposter syndrome cure

16 November, 201725 May, 2021 Nika SeblovaLeave a comment

The ivory tower and its casualties – Part 1

Once upon a time… someone decided the public had the right, even the need, maybe even the duty, to know what was going on in science. Well, probably it has been “decided” upon multiple times, but a striking example was when the Royal Institute of London started Christmas lectures for the general public. In these… Read More The ivory tower and its casualties – Part 1

18 August, 20173 June, 2021 Ayla De Paepe2 Comments

“A PhD is like having a private chauffeur……”

Guestblog written by Pingling Zeng Juhana Heinonen is currently a global marketing director at AstraZeneca based in Cambridge UK. He builds strategies that lead to global commercialization of new medicines. He works with colleagues from different parts of the world to understand specific market needs or problems and to give recommendations on how to address… Read More “A PhD is like having a private chauffeur……”

20 June, 20173 June, 2021 Guest BlogLeave a comment