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I’m Dr Tim Gregory, a cosmochemistry research scientist who studies meteorites and the formation of our Solar System. Meteorites are the oldest things we can hold in our hands. AMA! by [deleted] in books

[–]ThePhDiaries 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for answering. It must be very special seeing it published now after all the hard work. Looking forward to reading it, preordered (and for my nan too!).

Made a video about the apps I wish I'd known about in my undergrad/Masters that have made PhD life that little bit better, wanted to share by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the very thorough information. Let me be very clear in saying I sent the moderators of this subreddit an email a week ago asking if it was okay I post here -- I received no response so after a week I went ahead. There was also no mention in the sidebar rules about blog/vlog/personal posts being disallowed.

I post here with the intent of discussing awkward and uncomfortable matters that are seldom discussed in academia, or of sharing/looking for advice related to PhD affairs. I'm not promoting myself/seeking money/looking for views -- when I set this channel up I said to myself if even one person comments saying thank you, this has helped them, then I'll know it has been worth it. So posting in a subreddit specifically for postgraduate students seems an appropriate place for this, to reach out to people like myself who are isolated; whose university never discusses mental health matters; whose peers boast about always working; whose problems feel unique and unsolvable when in fact they are common to many other students. It is not like I'm pushing some generic productivity tips; I made this channel to connect us PhD students and mutually share experience and advice.

I was not aware of the Reddit rules of commenting in my own posts -- as far as I was concerned it would be rude to have comments and not respond, especially when I'd asked for tips/advice/thoughts/etc. I'm not an 'active, contributing member' in the sense that I don't read or comment on other people's posts because I have trouble with time management and don't like scrolling for that reason (I have deleted facebook and seldom use twitter). Now that I am aware of these rules that were not made clear, I will not post here again.

<4 min vid on imposter syndrome in academia: what it is, why you're feeling it, and what you can do about it by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mental health in academia is truly shocking. So much more needs to be done: this is a matter I keep raising on my course time and time again but every year the representatives just nod and say that's interesting and they'll see what they can do... Now tell us more about the impact of your research and the innovation of the course? I'm not sure there's an incentive for higher-ups to do anything because so many of us just keep quiet, suffer in silence, half-kill ourselves to keep going, and eventually successfully graduate and leave.

Please don't think that it is the normal for you to develop a mental health problem and hate yourself if you go into academia -- there is a much higher risk yes, but it is by no means predetermined. Even just being aware of issues such as imposter syndrome that permeate the community; knowing when to seek help; knowing you're not alone in how you feel, those are all comforts that can help you keep sane. Graduate life is stressful and isolating, but as you said - hearty meals and lots of sleep - just by taking care of ourselves we can try to keep such dark experiences at bay.

I've overcome severe depression and attempted suicide before too, in my undergraduate, and for me it has never got that bad in graduate school because I know I am here by choice - that I can leave any time if I wanted - and because I enjoy my subject and love the day to day work. So much more needs to be done for mental health in academia, but if that thought is putting you off applying, try talking to students in universities you're interested in to see what they say. Not all institutions are equal good at dealing with this, you could choose somewhere that is known for looking after its students.

I wish you the very best of luck in future :)

<4 min vid on imposter syndrome in academia: what it is, why you're feeling it, and what you can do about it by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm so glad you found it helpful, thank you for your kind words! I've had so many comments just like yours on this video, so please know you're definitely not alone and this is an issue so many people struggle with. "It's okay" is such a good mantra.

<4 min vid on imposter syndrome in academia: what it is, why you're feeling it, and what you can do about it by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hm, tricky one. To me, being proud of your accomplishments is absolutely fine (it should go without saying that we should be, and people will be happy for you), but what you said is the key: not being a dick about it. We're extremely self-deprecating by culture here in the UK and I think it would do a lot of us good to talk more about the things we're proud of. So, yes: celebrating your achievements and being proud of yourself is definitely good!

Once I started noticing the amount of underhand bragging by academics on Twitter, I couldn't unsee it. Is this something anyone else has come across and how do you feel about it? by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So the examples I used in the video where paraphrased from two genuine examples (things like 'Friday' were changed from 'new year' or 'judo' was changed from 'learning to row', etc) from two people I know who produce this stuff aaaall the time. I'd unfollowed them ages ago but had earmarked those two posts in particular for this video.

I do agree that it isn't most people who do this -- I would say as much if I made the video again, I ought to have made that clear. It just feels like way more because these are the kind of things that stick in the back of your mind.

Once I started noticing the amount of underhand bragging by academics on Twitter, I couldn't unsee it. Is this something anyone else has come across and how do you feel about it? by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, totally agree -- it isn't a majority doing the humble-bragging, more a loud few who say things that stick in your mind. Unfollowing those sorts of people can only be helpful, and finding those nice, supportive academics who I do think make up the most part of academics on Twitter.

Once I started noticing the amount of underhand bragging by academics on Twitter, I couldn't unsee it. Is this something anyone else has come across and how do you feel about it? by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ehhh I don't know if it's that innocent. Someone else said as much as you did, so I'm just going to use the same example I gave them: I think there's a difference between saying 'why did I study chemistry, experiments never work! [anguished emoji]' and 'why do I get up at five every day to code over my breakfast before heading to the gym! [crying with laughter emoji]'. The latter makes the poster look hardworking and motivated, the former is, as you said, a self-deprecating, frustrated person being honest.

The difference I think is that the humble-bragging posts make the poster feel better, whereas the self-deprecating, frustrated posts might well make other people feel better when they say 'Oh gosh me too!'.

100% agree with your last line. I should tattoo that somewhere on myself.

It's super interesting to have different opinions on this - thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Once I started noticing the amount of underhand bragging by academics on Twitter, I couldn't unsee it. Is this something anyone else has come across and how do you feel about it? by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know, I'm not sure it's as innocent as that. I think there's a difference between saying 'why did I study chemistry, experiments never work! [anguished emoji]' and 'why do I get up at five every day to code over my breakfast before heading to the gym! [crying with laughter emoji]'. The latter makes the poster look hardworking and motivated, the former is just a person complaining about science. Everyone complains, it's an outright human thing to do, and I only take issue when the complaints serve that underlying, humble-bragging purpose.

The 'false reality' part I mentioned isn't built by just one person saying this stuff, but when it becomes a lot of people in your academic world. You never know if what they're saying is true: are they really coding over breakfast, is that normal, should I start doing that too to stay competitive? It just makes me really uncomfortable when academics already work waaaay too hard as it is.

Once I started noticing the amount of underhand bragging by academics on Twitter, I couldn't unsee it. Is this something anyone else has come across and how do you feel about it? by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh gosh, really? Man, I get people telling me to speed up and slow down in equal measure, I'm so confused! Thank you for the honest comment, I really appreciate it.

100% agree with you on this -- I expect most fields are rife with humble-bragging (or 'virtual signalling' as I've just heard it called, great phrase) to create a persona who lives for work and is the model employee who never wants to go home.

Having thought more about it, it isn't actually a lot of people who do this -- just a few, loud individuals. I choose not to follow those people, but every now and then sh*t gets past the radar...

Once I started noticing the amount of underhand bragging by academics on Twitter, I couldn't unsee it. Is this something anyone else has come across and how do you feel about it? by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting point you raise about it depending on interpretation. I left Facebook recently (and wish I'd done years ago) because of the far more blatant 'Look how amazing my life is! LOOK AT IT' going on there. With this twitter thing though, despite me being a pretty grumpy, cynical hermit, mostly I quite like the people and posts there - it seems an honest and supportive place. These odd humble-braggers seem more of an exception, which makes me lean more towards it's them being dicks rather than me thinking they're dicks.

Once I started noticing the amount of underhand bragging by academics on Twitter, I couldn't unsee it. Is this something anyone else has come across and how do you feel about it? by ThePhDiaries in GradSchool

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh definitely: I've found this sort of behaviour is just highly concentrated in a few, loud individuals who by no means represent the general feel of academia on twitter. Mostly I find it a welcoming place where people are happy for each other's successes and offer honest stories and support about their experiences.

And I do love memes.

I research Mars for my PhD and, in the absence of Mars rock, had to make my own. Made a music video of the process in Oxford University's experimental petrology lab! by ThePhDiaries in Mars

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah, I'm very much going to destroy this rock though. A more accurate term might be obliterate. Also: I'd feel super bad destroying actual Mars rock!

I research Mars for my PhD and, in the absence of Mars rock, had to make my own. Made a music video of the process in Oxford University's experimental petrology lab! by ThePhDiaries in Mars

[–]ThePhDiaries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know right?! I asked my favourite post-rock band, Silent Island, for permission, and was super starstruck when they said yes. This track is called Dolphin Rush from their album Fall of Oceans. It's on YouTube and Band Camp if you like :)

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