This document provides information for doctoral students in their second year of study. It discusses common feelings mid-stage doctoral students may experience like uncertainty about next steps. It encourages students to focus on consolidating their skills and preparing for their career. The document outlines resources and support available from the Graduate School, including professional development courses, library resources, and alumni speakers. Students hear perspectives from representatives of different support services on developing career plans, using library resources, balancing coursework and research, and getting involved with the Graduate Student Union. The presentation aims to help second year doctoral students feel supported and informed about next steps.

1. hfh
Doctoral Orientation: Year 2
“What I wish I’d known…”
Dr Caroline Hargreaves, Senior Teaching Fellow Graduate School

2. Doctoral Orientation Year 2: “What I wish I’d known…”
The Graduate School in collaboration with
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Academics across college
The Careers Service
The Library
Late stage doctoral students
Alumni
Winner of the Times Higher Award 2006 & 2008

3. The Graduate School
Professional Skills Development Programme
Supporting Quality Assurance and representation
Assisting cohort building
Events

4. Mid-stage
Celebrate
• Research Plan Confirmation (RPC) ~12 weeks
• Early Stage Assessment (ESA) ~9 months
The second year framework of support may seem less clear
• 18 – 24- month late stage assessment on the horizon

5. Mid-stage - where you are
Fulfilled the Graduate School attendance requirement for “underpinning”
courses, what now?
• Independence increasing, taking your research to another level and
thinking towards finishing
• Uncertainty
• Changing expectations
• Deciding what you want to do
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•
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•
•
Start preparing for a career (inside or outside academia)
Consolidating and Enriching courses
College resources
Research integrity – theses embargoes, plagiarism
Opportunities to gain evidence & practice of necessary skills for CV

6. Doctoral students: a staged learning programme
•
Funders, government and employers expect you to allocate time for
development (RCUK, 2013)
•
Consolidating and Enriching may be most relevant
•
BUT – you can take the courses you need at any stage
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/currentstudents/professionalskillsresearch

7. Consolidating and Enriching
Advanced writing
Career Planning
Advanced Presenting
Progressing
Working with others, Business and Enterprise,
Public Engagement, Social enterprise,
Resilience, Specialist technical and online
courses
…new this year Leadership In Action (November)
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/currentstudents/professionalskillsresearch

8. 10 minute talks
5 minute Q & A
Plus Q&A at the end

9. Ms Shahida Osman
Careers Service
Careers Consultant

10. Careers Support for doctoral
students – Faculty of Natural
Sciences & Non Faculty
Shahida Osman
Career Consultant

11. Overview
• Destinations of PhDs
• “Moving-On after your PhD” - What should you
be doing at this stage”?
• Careers Service – What help is on offer?

12. Where do PhD graduates go?
2011 Imperial Research Graduates*
5.6%
4.2%
Entered Employment
16.0%
Entered Further Study/Training
Seeking Employment
74.3%
Not Available for
Employment/Study/Training
* Data collected 2012

13. Employment – Sector Entered
2011 Research Graduates Sector Entered *
Others
Health/Social Work
Education
Public Administration/Defence
Other Business Activities
Business & Management Consultancy
Accountancy
Banking / Financial
IT & Communications
Technical Consultancy / R&D
Utilities & Transport
Manufacture
Oil/Mining
Agriculture
0.0%
15.9%
53.3%
2.8%
0.0%
1.9%
0.9%
3.7%
0.9%
8.4%
0.9%
9.3%
1.9%
0.0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
* Data collected 2012

14. ** www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/107611/What-do-researchers-do-.html

15. Career Thinking
Key Message
• Your future choice of
career need not be dictated
by your subject but it can
be a good place to start
thinking about what really
interests you

16. Where do I start?
Starting Point: 2 Questions
1. What would be the most important factors
for you when choosing a career?
2. What are your skills and strengths that you
would like to use in your future job?

17. Options after your PhD
Linear
progression
Continue in scientific
research e.g. postdoc,
specialist scientist in the
field or in industry
Build on
experience
and skills
Using technical background
and knowledge in a nonresearch role
Something
new
Choosing a new career
where knowledge from your
PhD isn’t relevant, but your
skills could be very relevant

18. Something new
Linear progression
Building on skills +
experience
Postdoc
Research Fellow
Scientific specialist e.g.
Marine Biologist, Tiger
Scientist
Technical specialist
Computer Modeller /
Statistician
Conservation Officer /
Manager
Ecological Consultant
Environmental Officer
Teacher - science
Patent Attorney (Nat. Sci.)
Science communication /
Media
Policy officer
Medical Physics
Consulting
Business Analyst
Risk Analyst – insurance /
commerce
Finance /Audit /
Accountancy
Law
Social /Community Worker
Civil Service Fast Stream
Local government
Entrepreneur too many to
mention …
Academia
Research Institutes
Government or quasigovernment bodies
NGOs, charities, trusts
NGOs, charities, trusts,
related professional bodies
Private companies
Education sector
Public Sector
Self-employment
Spin-off companies
Private sector – industry /
commerce / Business
Public sector – central /
local government
Charities / NFP
Self-employment
Examples of specific job roles and sectors

19. Action Points
• PhDs pursue a wide variety of careers in a range of
employment settings so there is a lot of choice
• Career Decisions - Complex Process
• You need to understand what will give you success, provide
job satisfaction and challenge you as well as find the work /
life balance that is right for you.
• Realism about what it takes to find the ideal job
• “Skill -up” – identify gaps & develop the skills. Develop other
skills in non-research activities –“extra-curricular” is important
• Learn how to present yourself effectively in a CV & in
person

20. Working with the Graduate School
• Support Professional Skills Development Programme
• Comprehensive programme of Career Management workshops e.g.
• Career Planning & Job Search etc.
• Career Action – CVs, Applications, Interviews etc.
• Tutor on Research Skills Development Course (RSD)

21. PhD Events for your Diary
PhD Careers Forum
23rd January 2014
PhD Careers Fair
May 2014
PhD Skills Workshops
May – June 2014
Careers Week
July 2014
Research Careers Forum
Charity Insights - 2014

22. Careers Service
Level 5, Sherfield Building
Tel:
020 7594 8024
Opening hours:
• Mon – Fri - 10.00 – 17.15
• 20 minute Consultations:
– must book on-line on the day
10.00 - 12.30pm & 2.00 – 5.00pm
• 40 minute Consultations:
– book in person or telephone
to discuss any career related issues
www.imperial.ac.uk/careers

23. Questions?
THANK YOU

24. Ms Katherine Thompson
Liaison Librarian
Chemistry, CEP and
Grantham Institute for
Climate Change

25. Getting the most
from your Library
Katharine Thompson: Subject Librarian,
chemistry & environment

26. Step 1: Meet your Librarian
Get in Touch or ASK the Library

27. Step 2: Locate useful resources
Use Library Search & Subject guides

28. Library Search
Find books and articles

29. Subject Pages
Find specialist resources

30. Step 3: Manage your references
Book a workshop

31. We can also help with….

32. …writing your thesis
Plagiarism &
rd
3
party copyright

33. …open access
How to publish OA & access funds

34. Want to know more?

35. Step 1: Meet your Librarian
Get in Touch or ASK the Library

37. Links
Your librarians: www.imperial.ac.uk/library/getintouch/yourlibrarian
Subject pages: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/library/subjectsandsupport
Reference management:
www.imperial.ac.uk/library/subjectsandsupport/referencemanagement
Information for researchers: www.imperial.ac.uk/library/researchers
Plagiarism awareness: www.imperial.ac.uk/library/subjectsandsupport/plagiarism/phdstudents
3rd party copyright: www.imperial.ac.uk/library/subjectsandsupport/spiral/etheses
Open access at Imperial: www.imperial.ac.uk/library/subjectsandsupport/openaccess
Open access resources for researchers: www.righttoresearch.org/, http://sparceurope.org/

38. Ross Webster
Late Stage Doctoral Student
Chemistry

39. A different perspective
You are already a third of the way there!
• Movement towards self-sufficient work
• Change in focus of your project
But remember:
•
•
•
•
Everyone’s projects are different
You might end up with 3 papers at the end of your PhD, or none!
A PhD is about growth – not good results or bad results
You’re still a student – expect to keep learning throughout

40. A different perspective
Common feelings of PhD students:
• Imposter Syndrome
• “I don’t know what I’m doing”
• “Everyone’s doing better than me”
You’re not just a monkey at a typewriter:
• Arrange time-off with your supervisor if you need it
• Join some societies
• Go to GSU events

41. Max Boleininger
AWO Physical Sciences
Graduate Student Union
awo-physsci@imperial.ac.uk

42. What is the GSU?
• All postgraduates are members automatically
• The executive committee is run by student volunteers,
elected by students
• Constituent union under the Imperial College Union for
postgraduates

43. This is our structure
President
Dep. President
(Representation)
Dep. President
(Operations)
Treasurer
Events
Sports &
Activities
Marketing &
Publicity
Secretary
Life Sciences
AWO
Engineering
AWO
RAG
Medicine
AWO
Physical
Sciences
AWO
Business
School AWO

44. What are we doing?
The GSU has two roles:
1. Representation branch:
• Link between students, departments and key people
• Voice of the students’ in various committees
• Do you know your course rep?
• If you have issues or feedback, let your rep know!
https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/your-union/your-representatives/a-to-z

45. What are we doing?
2. Operations branch:
• Organisation of events to the benefit of student
welfare
• So far this year:
• Hammersmith/GSU Boat party
• London tours for new PGs
• Wicked musical trip
• Pub quiz

46. Get involved!
• Would you like to have a say in your department?
 Run for a PG rep position next year!
• Would you like to organise welfare events?
 Become part of the events team!
• Do you have any other suggestions or ideas?
 Let us know at gsu.president@imperial.ac.uk!

47. Professor Lesley Cohen
Faculty of Natural Sciences
DPS Physics

48. Doctoral 2nd Year
Essential
Orientations
Some thoughts…
Lesley Cohen DPS Physics

49. The most useful things I know about
completing a PhD
• The learning agreement with your
supervisor
• Using the support network available to you
• Writing things down and up - regularly
• Making task lists
• Formulating the problem
• Keep asking questions….
• Formulating the problem (and repeat)
• Taking a break
Page 49

50. A learning agreement...

A mutually negotiated & agreed set of expectations

What you can expect from each other as supervisor &
research student

Covers the rules & regulations

Also cover the details of how you (both) like to work ...
or a compromise version of what you want

Set things off to a good start

Can be renegotiated to reflect change & solve issues
early
Borrowed from Martyn Kingsbury Educational development unit

51. Research management matrix
First main research question ........
Research
question:
What do I need?
Information / literature /
equipment / data etc..
Where can I get
it?
(possible sources / who
to talk to / methods /
approaches etc.)
Sub Question 1
Sub question 2
Borrowed from Martyn Kingsbury Educational development unit
Time
frame
Student
will ...
Supervis
or will ...

52. Finding the way through….
9M progress
review
3M initial
Page 52
research plan
Thesis
Submission

53. By Month 14..
• The main research problem will have started
to take some shape
• Break the problem into components
• Getting something complete on one
component of the thesis by the 18M should be
a goal.
• - Learning to run equipment
• - Making your own samples
• - Developing your own code or analysis
• Something that you can have ownership over
Page 53

54. The typical support network
Supervisor 1
In Research group in Physics
Departmental
PG Welfare Advisor
Talk your research ideas
Group
Supervisor 2
throughgroup others –PG Academic Mentors
with
as
In another research
Group
frequently as you can.
In another department
PG Cohort Mentors
In another institution
Group Administrators
Talking through your goals can
Research might not dictate the
PG office administrator
help you identify/formulate the
need for one (most cases)
Director of
research problem
Independent academic within
Or
the group (progress reviews)
External examiner
(progress reviews, thesis viva)
Post graduate studies

55. Break the problem down into manageable
chunks … but keep returning to and
reformulating the big picture
The big picture
Manageable chunks
Page 55
The thesis is not about
recreating the Grand Canyon. It
is about demonstrating that you
have used the scientific method

56. Write things down
• A summary of literature
• Tasks for the next week, month
• Review your time plan
Write things up
• Regular small reports
• Small milestones achieved might be
sufficient for a conference presentation
• Take the appropriate graduate school
courses
• Practice giving talks to your peer group
Page 56

57. Take regular breaks
And breaks from your usual routine
Page 57

58. Submission Statistics
• 95% of students submit with 48M
• Almost all remaining students submit
within 60M
• The process itself is a big
part of the learning experience
• Everyone is in the same boat.
• Good luck!!
Page 58

59. Representation
The Graduate School assists with representation
• Quality Assurance committee meetings
• Surveys and regular liaison
Get involved as a student rep.
• Contact your Postgraduate Administrator or the Graduate
Students’ Union (GSU) direct gsu.president@imperial.ac.uk
As a representative you will
• Not only represent your peers
• But also, boost your CV

60. Who is there for you in the PG world?
Sources include:
• Supervisor
• Postgraduate tutor
• Director of Postgraduate Studies
• Head of Department
• Student representative
• Academic mentor
• Faculty student representative
• College Tutors
• Graduate Student Association
• Graduate School
• Health centre
• Counselling
• Library
• Disability Advisory Service
• Careers Service
• English Language Support
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/helpme
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/researchdegrees/support
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/currentstudents/researchstudents/contacts

61. Volunteering, Placements, Student Societies, Outreach?
e.g.:
Volunteering Opportunities
Imperial Hub (not the student Hub)
Outreach
Interships/shadowing (Careers
Service)
Fame Lab
Three Minute Thesis
Student Union GSU
Student Union Clubs
Professional Societies
Poster Symposium
Cohort Events
Conferences
Networking
Events
……etc

62. Events: promoting intellectual & interdisciplinary discussion
Guest Lectures & Receptions
Previous Speakers have included:
Jorge Cham
Professor Jared Diamond
Professor Richard Dawkins
Annual Research Symposium
Ig Nobel Awards Show
Annual Postgraduate Social Event - Chemistry demonstration

63. ,
Look out for these events:
The Life of... Lecture Series –bibliographical talks on the lives & work of
prominent Imperial alumni
March 2014 Ig NobelTM Awards Tour Show
2nd May 2014 Annual Postgraduate Event - Chemistry show and reception
3 Minute Thesis Competition (info coming soon)!
July 20 14 Summer Symposium – posters competition, lecture and reception
Look out for our Newsletters, see: www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/events
wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/blog/postgraduatenoticeboard/
For a list of research seminars taking place across College:
www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/events/researchseminars

64. Take opportunities and support now to influence your trajectory
CE Hargreaves, MEd 2013

65. Improving the Postgraduate Experience
Take advantage of
The Graduate School
Advice from academics around college
The Careers Service
Your fellow doctoral students
The support services
For further information:
www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool
graduate.school@imperial.ac.uk
caroline.hargreaves@imperial.ac.uk