Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
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Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#2Nature published "A PhD State of Mind" in 2018, with this blurb:
Recent surveys have linked academia and PhD studies to a risk of experiencing mental health issues. Despite the lack of extensive data, the negative impact of the stresses of lab life should not be underestimated, and PhD students and research trainees should be supported.
It was discussed here at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19322834.
Repeating a comment I made in the above discussion, here are a couple of relevant quotes from Freeman Dyson (who does not have a PhD):
“Well, I think it actually is very destructive. I'm now retired, but when I was a professor here [Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton], my real job was to be a psychiatric nurse. There were all these young people who came to the institute, and my job was to be there so they could cry on my shoulder and tell me what a hard time they were having. And it was a very tough situation for these young people. They come here. They have one or two years and they're supposed to do something brilliant. They're under terrible pressure — not from us, but from them.
So, actually, I've had three of them who I would say were just casualties who I'm responsible for. One of them killed himself, and two of them ended up in mental institutions. And I should've been able to take care of them, but I didn't. I blame the Ph.D. system for these tragedies. And it really does destroy people. If they weren't under that kind of pressure, they could all have been happy people doing useful stuff. Anyhow, so that's my diatribe. But I really have seen that happen."
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#3Nature published "A PhD State of Mind" in 2018, with this blurb: Recent surveys have linked academia and PhD studies to a risk of experiencing mental health issues. Despite the lack of extensive data, the negative impact of the stresses of lab life should not be underestimated, and PhD students and research trainees should be supported. It was discussed here at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19322834 . Repeatin…
Also, The New York Times Magazine published "Lethal Chemistry at Harvard" in their November 29, 1998 issue, detailing the suicide of chemistry grad student Jason Altom:
https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/29/magazine/lethal-chemistry...
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#4Sometimes I think PhD's should be awarded to Groups or atleast Pairs of researchers.
Let the group find each other and defend a thesis. If the group breaks apart they loose their certification of expertise. And can reform and reprove it. Those who want to do things alone can, ofcourse do things the old way.
This would reduce the the unrealistic expectations on some folk who work better in groups, while allowing them to hone whatever skills they bring to the table.
Groups basically compensate for each others limitations and in the modern highly competitive world, with it's time/resource constraints and complex problems certifying individual expertise is looking over rated.
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#5Sometimes I think PhD's should be awarded to Groups or atleast Pairs of researchers. Let the group find each other and defend a thesis. If the group breaks apart they loose their certification of expertise. And can reform and reprove it. Those who want to do things alone can, ofcourse do things the old way. This would reduce the the unrealistic expectations on some folk who work better in groups, while allowing them…
One of the main goals of a PhD is educating an individual so they can independently direct a research program.
Awarding PhDs to pairs of people goes directly against that.
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#6Tbh I'm tired of the Nature articles about this. When is something going to change?
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#7I worked in an animal lab on masters research that required strict 12/12 light cycles. 12 hours bright white, 12 hours red light (circadian rhythms impacted the study design). No windows and no support from post doc or supervisors (both had different serious health problems). I'm quite an upbeat person so it was fine short term, it did put me off academia and purusing a PhD though. Good decision in retrospect and after staying in contact with my peers who have not learned much new and have in my opinion over-specialised.
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#8I am currently a master's student and about to start PhD in one of the top AI labs. I already feel mentally exhausted with all the indirect pressure tactics my supervisor uses like not responding to emails, withholding stipend for several months and so on. It's a disaster and I never imagined myself in this situation. I hope things change soon.
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#9Sometimes I think PhD's should be awarded to Groups or atleast Pairs of researchers. Let the group find each other and defend a thesis. If the group breaks apart they loose their certification of expertise. And can reform and reprove it. Those who want to do things alone can, ofcourse do things the old way. This would reduce the the unrealistic expectations on some folk who work better in groups, while allowing them…
PhDs are fundamentally not about a team effort. They are about recognising a single persons ability to produce and communicate novel research in a highly specific area. Unrealistic expectations are as much a part of this process as they are anything else.
Re: Nature’s survey of 6k grad students reveals the turbulence of doctoral research
#10I am currently a master's student and about to start PhD in one of the top AI labs. I already feel mentally exhausted with all the indirect pressure tactics my supervisor uses like not responding to emails, withholding stipend for several months and so on. It's a disaster and I never imagined myself in this situation. I hope things change soon.
This isn't going to change. You should do everything in your power to get a better supervisor, particularly for your dissertation research. You're early enough in the process that starting a new project, or modifying your current project, is completely worth it to get a better supervisor who actually supports you and will help you graduate. Talk to other grad students to see what they think of their advisors.
Also you should try to find other faculty (and possibly postdocs) to advise you who aren't your supervisor if at all possible, and try to form an informal group of grad students to meet periodically to discuss research and grad life in general.
And remember it is a marathon not a race, so overworking is usually unproductive unless you are up against a strict paper deadline (even then it's unproductive but may be worth it in the short run.)