Academic Skills – PhD Students

10 qualities of successful postgraduate students

How to thrive and be successful is a common question that (prospective) postgraduate students ask themselves. Learn more about the top 10 qualities of successful postgraduate students, centring around mindsets, relationships, and physical and mental health. Contents What makes postgraduates…
How to disagree with reviewers (with examples!)

It may come as a surprise, but you can disagree with reviewers. Sometimes it is not attainable or sensible to incorporate all reviewer comments in the revisions of your manuscript. In these situations, you have to politely but firmly disagree…
How to revise a manuscript by responding to reviewer comments

Publishing scientific articles in academic journals is a lengthy process. Even when manuscripts are accepted, most have to undergo major or minor revisions before being published. This guide explains how to best revise your manuscript and respond to reviewer comments.…
Separating your self-worth from your PhD work

Many PhD students have a hard time separating their self-worth from their PhD work. This is especially true when they experience setbacks in their PhD projects. While it is not an easy task, creating that separation can improve a PhD…
Public speaking in academia and how to practice it

Public speaking is an important skill to master in academia. It is also a common source of anxiety. Luckily, public speaking is a skill that can be learnt and gets better with practice. Find out why public speaking is so…
The best way to cold emailing professors

Cold emails often carry a negative reputation. However, there are several compelling reasons why cold emailing professors can be beneficial. Learning the proper way to write cold emails can significantly increase your chances of receiving a reply. Explore more about…
Juggling research and teaching obligations

Teaching is a common task for postgraduate students. Due to its interactive nature and more defined tasks, it is easy to prioritise teaching over research. Carving out time for research during busy teaching periods is never easy. However, there are…
How to write effective cover letters for a paper submission

Some journals require a letter to the editor, also called a cover letter, as part of the submission process. This can come as a surprise to PhD and master’s students who are (relatively) new to manuscript submissions. Learn about the…
Dealing with failure as a PhD student

PhD students are extremely prone to experiencing failure. All academics are much more likely to experience failure (repeatedly) in contrast to other professions. But there are strategies to learn how to better deal with ‘academic failure’. Contents Dealing with failure…
Energy management in academia

While time management skills are praised in academia, energy management is often neglected. Learn more about energy management and explore concrete steps of how to manage your energy better. Contents Why time management in academia is not enoughWhat is energy…