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How to PhD PodcastPhD Entrance Exam GuideđResearch Paper PresentationđPhD AdmissionđUS Candidacy ExamđResearch ProjectđHow to Pass the PHD Candidacy ExamđOhio State UniversityđPhysics PhDđResearch ProjectWhat is candidacy? Â
The 6-week formal exam required by grad schoolÂ
Advisor/committee chooses a topicÂ
Typically not something you have worked onÂ
But good for you to knowÂ
You do a literature review on the topicÂ
Deliverables: 15 â 20 page paper (at the end of 4 weeks) + Talk (at the end of 6 weeks)
Timing
Professors are busy
Ask to be on your committee >= 4 months in advance
Schedule your exam on a day and time that works well for you â this is your candidacy
Make sure oral exam is on committee membersâ schedules
If very hard-to-get professor such as the Chair of...2022-10-0135 min
How to PhD PodcastSolo Vacation in the Caribbeans | Day 4 Insights | Mainland Versus the Islands | Boston LifeI am loving September in Boston. Today when I stepped out the sun was just right. Warms your heart but doesnât burn the skin. Then after work I went to Home Goods and the evening too was just perfect.
You know when youâre driving and the sun decides to blind you and you canât see the road for a moment, that almost happened but itâs becoming dusk earlier now and a cool twilight had descended by the time I was done buying my new comforter set.
Also Iâm back home as Boston...2022-09-1217 min
How to PhD PodcastMost successful, free resume template and full tutorial | Technical resume fully customizable for one page and more | Going over the process using Overleaf and LaTeX in detail in the videoI have been told by multiple employers that my resume using this template is the best resume they had ever seen! I always got the interview if not the job! I have also helped many friends successfully use this template and give their careers huge makeovers!! So now it is YOUR turn.Â
Please donât hate me, but this resume template is in LaTeX. If you are not familiar with that, now is a great time to learn and that is exactly what I go over here in this episode! You can Google LaTeX and get lots of...2022-08-1734 min
How to PhD PodcastWhy a systems analysis role might be what you are looking for ⨠technical roles post academiaIn this episode I cover what it means to be a systems analyst and share from my personal experience spanning three jobs post academia. A systems analysis role is 1) problem solving 2) big picture architecting of how to solve a problem backed by technical analysis 3) not focused on building tools for other users but rather leveraging existing tools and using them for your analysis and only building a tool from scratch if it is needed and in a way where you will be the main user of it 4) making PowerPoint slides on your analysis and presenting this work and spending time...2022-08-1025 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to be an effective program manager đđź Leadership in STEM đ Getting out of the way âźď¸In this episode, I share from my recent experiences as program manager and what I learned. Being in a leadership position is very different from being an individual contributor and I think itâs good to strike a balance of having both aspects on separate projects if that is important to you. In leadership, the primary focus is to serve the team and do what is right for the team and performance of the projects and often times if things are going well your main job is to get out of the way! Develop and maintain trust. Donât micromanage and...2022-05-0120 min
How to PhD PodcastI moved! To a new city and job!!! Government to Subcontractor! MIT Lincoln LabFollow on LinkedIn and let me know if you need any help or advice with finding a job at any of the organizations I have worked in so far. Chances are I can at least point you in the right direction if I have not worked there yet. A referral is the most efficient way to get a job so don't forget to reach out and get started on this process! It is not you, it is them if you are not getting a job or a good offer. We will work on this together!
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Support this...2022-04-1840 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to get your next job: Do this in the next 30 seconds âĄď¸(Change your LinkedIn headline to appear on more search results and replace profile pic with a headshot outdoors using natural lightingLADIES, change your profile photo and LI headline this New Year. (I need to as well once I find someone to take a headshot of me, lol!)
Here is what I have learned and like to share!!
đą Get someone to take a headshot of you in the outdoors against a natural background with natural lighting. Look professional yet approachable, which you are!!!
đą Change your headline to something like this: "Entry 1 | Entry 2 | Entry 3 | Entry 4 | Entry 5" where the entry values can be stuff like what I have in my headline describing myself, my role, etc. The last entry...2022-01-0831 min
How to PhD PodcastFearless female interview to discuss how women can be successful in STEMWomen have everything it takes to be very successful, that is, more than average-level successful in STEM. We discuss:Â
STEM opportunities that women might feel are not for them like roles in defense, physics, engineering, etc. pay extremely well so even though women would be fewer in numbers in these types of roles, they would be paid well, become independent professionals, and thrive in spite of existing challenges (more on that below). Making good money is the first step to having independence and doing well in your life regardless of personal challenges. I have lots of content on h...2021-12-2955 min
How to PhD PodcastSTEM Ph.D. candidate to Government ScientistThis is my talk given on Nov 19, 2021, at the University of Mount Union at the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics!
I cover my Ph.D. thesis which is in the field of particle astrophysics. I also go through content from my books, and blog to help students succeed in academia, industry, and government!
I have experience in all three worlds now (academia, industry, and government) so anything I can share to help students and young professionals to navigate challenges in these fields, I am happy to!Â
The journey from Ph.D. candidate t...2021-11-271h 06
How to PhD PodcastHow to negotiate and answer salary expectation questionsWhen asked salary expectations, say you will consider all reasonable offers
It is hard to give a salary number because things like benefits, PTO, sick leave, all make up the offer and these would need to be considered as well
It is hard to give a number because things like location would affect it and adjust for the cost of living
I will consider all reasonable offers (yes, you are applying to multiple places and may have multiple offers, let people chase you)
These will make you seem like a reasonable and balanced person who is not...2021-10-3024 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to update your LinkedIn profile before applying for your next job (Resume tips and template attached!)
Work on getting referred formally or informally for the job you are applying to!
Apply through the referral link if you are getting referred, don't rush and apply through the general link
Work on updating your LinkedIn profile BEFORE applying because that could be the first impression they get of you - your online presence is importantÂ
Updating your LinkedIn profile is working on your PERSONAL BRAND - this is critical to your SUCCESS
CHECK FOR SPELLING AND GRAMMAR ERRORS - I do this with Grammarly which is a free plugin with Google Chrome and this makes everything much more t...2021-09-0136 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to keep working from home if that is what you wantIt seems most employers want their employees back in the office I cannot speak for all of you, so chime in with your comments, but from what leadership I interact with, it is clear that employers want us to go back in. I also know that plenty of employees would like to go back in and regain the option of keeping work at work.Â
In my experience, though, these are folks who are parents and have been struggling with doing work at home. Not us child-free folks. But, in general, a lot of us would be in t...2021-07-2840 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to write a cover letter for a postdoctoral applicationQuick Takeaways for Writing the Cover Letter for a Postdoctoral Application
If you do not know the name of the professor who is hiring then stop right here and find that out! Itâs about what you know and who you know. If you donât know them already, chances are low for getting an interview.
The cover letter should be no more than a few powerful paragraphs. Donât make any paragraph too big a block of text.
In the very first sentence, you should say what you are writing them for, that is, to apply for a posi...2021-06-0129 min
How to PhD PodcastWhy you should ditch the paper and just be done with your PhDShould you stay longer and make sure your paper gets published?  I address this question from a Ph.D. student. Here are the details of the question:
I want to transition to the industry as a research scientist.
I have one protocol paper accepted, one second-author paper, and one first-author paper that is not yet submitted.
I am worried as my advisor wants to add more data to the first-author paper before submitting it, and it keeps getting delayed.
Now he wants me to stay as a postdoc to finish it.
...2021-04-2821 min
How to PhD PodcastWhat is my daily schedule for research and writing?What is my daily schedule for research and writing?
I am not super disciplined and donât operate on a strict schedule day to day. I like flexibility and thrive on being able to improvise. Basically kind of like doing whatever I feel like.
I do have a full-time job and recently started to prioritize health and fitness in my daily routine. For the content and side hustle, I am driven by what I want to be doing. I set goals, write them down, and accomplish them. It makes me happy to accomplish the things I...2021-03-3126 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to PhD: Interview with UC Berkeley PhD from Energy and Resources DepartmentThis is an episode with podcast guest Chris! Chris finished his Ph.D. from the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley. This is an interdisciplinary Ph.D. focusing on Water and Sanitation in Urban India.Â
He researched low and middle-income regions in India and also minored in Engineering. Â Â
Not everywhere in the world has 24/7 access to water. Â Â
Chris talks about interesting results including that smaller cities with a lower standard of living were less likely to benefit from existing technologies, especially families with girl children. Â Â
Chris also talks about his experie...2021-03-1558 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to survive criticism and use it to your advantageLearning to not take criticism personally is one of the most liberating and productive things you can do for yourself and your career.
In graduate school, I learned how to take criticism for what it is and it really helped me to succeed.
I started to realize that the criticism had more to do with them than me.
Sure, I didnât know something. That was about me. But, they really, really wanted to point it out, for whatever reasons.
Once I realized that people really do rather love giving feedback, it...2021-03-0225 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to get started with data science using Python (New to coding)To get started with data science using Python, the recommendation from experts is to get Anaconda. The Python programming language is a powerful tool whose true potential is only harnessed with the right packages and libraries.
An Anaconda installation will give you those in one fell swoop rather than have to add things one by one.
To install Anaconda for individual use, go here.
Anaconda Individual Edition as described in the linked website
Your data science toolkit
With over 20 million users worldwide, the open-source Individual Edition (Distribution) is the...2021-02-0220 min
How to PhD PodcastHigh energy neutrinos from Gamma Ray Bursts (Audio book)Abstract
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most luminous transient events in the observed Universe. However, there is no direct observational evidence for what exactly drives a GRB. The most widely accepted model for these cosmic events is the fireball model where it is thought that a substantial fraction of the kinetic energy of the source is converted to gamma-radiation by shock accelerated electrons emitting synchrotron and inverse-Compton radiation. The acceleration of protons in the gamma-ray emitting region of the GRB has been hypothesized as well. In this hadronic acceleration model, it is predicted that protons may interact...2021-01-221h 51
How to PhD PodcastFrom academia as an international student to the US Air Force - How it worksAddressing question I got on LinkedIn about how I ended up in the Air Force after starting out as an international student in the United States âŁď¸ I came to this country after high school and it has been a journey leading to this point now when I'm a civilian employee. Mostly not planned and just doing my best đ
Answering this question I got on LinkedIn:Â
Thanks, Oindree for connecting. So, I see you came to the US for BS and now you are working for the Air Force. I worked in the past for the federal...2020-12-2221 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to PhD: Interview with Earth and Planetary Sciences PhD in CanadaThis podcast episode is an interview with Gavin Tolometti who is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.Â
Gavin is studying Lava Flows on Earth to understand Lava Flows on the Moon and Mars.Â
Born in West London, Gavin's family has been in the North East of Scotland for 13 years. Academic pursuits make one travel far and wide, and Gavin is currently in North America!
Gavin completed his undergraduate studies in Geology at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.Â
He...2020-12-0859 min
How to PhD PodcastFrom particle astrophysics to a government career (Colloquium given at High Point University)Talk abstract
This talk will be broken into three parts spanning my graduate and professional career. I share some of the science I did as part of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) experiment to detect neutrinos interacting in the Antarctic ice while I was a graduate student.
I will then discuss the transition to how I got a job in engineering consulting for government clients, primarily in the Air Force. Although I had aspired to be a professor, I ended up taking this route in search of a permanent position and career path. After...2020-11-271h 00
How to PhD PodcastWhy I quit my job in a large consulting firm during this pandemicI quit my job this month and the reason is closely related to the pandemic and the specific situation and leadership I was dealing with. When I got sick with COVID-like symptoms back in April, I sat down and figured out my finances to see how long I could survive on my savings. That was one of the ways I reassured myself that I could leave my job if needed as I suspected that I got COVID from my job. It was an activity that helped me in case you need to do it yourself. Blog post: https://howtophd.org/2020/10...2020-11-0121 min
How to PhD PodcastJob change and uncertainty during the pandemicImpromptu episode recorded on my phone to share what's going on with you
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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/oindreebee/support2020-09-2919 min
How to PhD PodcastWhy doing a PhD requires you to think like a business ownerNot having a degree is not the end of the world. Letting go of that terror of not having the degree after all helped me lots to actually finish.
When you start a business, there is always that risk of things not ending up how you planned them. But you take the calculated risk and do it anyway.
A Ph.D. is the same way â when you start you are taking a risk. You might not finish with a Ph.D. Lots of things could happen and maybe you donât get one at the end...2020-09-2118 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to fight demoralization in graduate schoolAwareness of the problem can help you to deal with it. Which brings me to the last point.
Make a plan and follow it.
Each day, at the end of the day, write down what youâd like to (need to) accomplish the next day. It should be only two or three things.
You might end up doing more things but keep this list short.
This is your list to get STARTED with your day.
So that you donât sit there feeling terrible and also unable to shake it o...2020-09-1021 min
How to PhD PodcastHow you could become a consultant after graduate school (Academia to consulting)1. Realize that you already have the technical skills.
2. Donât wait for permission.
3. Be a good communicator.
Network.
I donât mean that you should suddenly know everyone and have this huge network overnight.
Start to build relationships and have meaningful connections.
This could be in the form of reconnecting with your old friends that you have forgotten due to graduate school.
Maybe it is time to be a good friend again.
I had become so focused on work in graduate school that I ha...2020-09-0721 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to succeed in the Ph.D. candidacy exam (or prelim)Worrying about your Ph.D. candidacy exam (prelim)?
Been there, and here to help!
I will cover everything from what candidacy is and what a first-year grad student should focus on, to what to do on the day of your oral exam.
Itâs an exam. Get ready to study!
Make sure to visit your schoolâs official website and look up the candidacy requirements for your specific graduate program.
Here, I share my personal experience and guideline, having completed my Ph.D. candidacy in Physics at Ohio State Univ...2020-09-0347 min
How to PhD Podcast26 Tips on Giving a Successful Job TalkHere are 26 tips on giving a successful job talk. You can use this list as a guide when working on creating your research presentation for an academic position or research-based role.
Good to have pretty pictures on the title slide.
A âquick orientationâ slide quickly provides information to the audience on what to expect. It has helped me to deliver my talks. Here, you give basic info on you and your project immediately after the title slide.
It is very important to show knowledge of the field as a whole and acknowledge other work. Do this for your rese...2020-08-2219 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to break up with your PhD advisorEven in an âidealâ research group, grad school is really hard.
In my humble (and biased!) opinion, the grad school experience is not worth going through unless you have found an advisor/group/research combination that clicks for you.
You need to be filled with much-needed motivation to return to school day after day, maybe night after night, for several years (5.5 years average in the US), to work the hardest you have ever worked on something.
If you donât think you have met your match for a research group, then keep looking.
2020-08-1918 min
How to PhD Podcast17 Tips on Successfully Applying to Postdoc PositionsTo summarize the major tips for successfully applying to postdoc positions
Be selective and apply to specific positions that excite you and where you can make a strong case for yourself.
Know the name of the person who would be hiring you and do your research on them. Donât send out generic applications just to send out applications. Itâs not worth your time and you probably wonât get interview calls. Make two good applications rather than 20 generic ones.
Itâs who you know and what you did. Use your network to find opportunities and get referred...2020-08-1119 min
How to PhD PodcastWhat to do if your advisor is not on the same page about graduationAs a senior graduate student, you might face a situation where your advisor is not on the same page as you about graduation. The recommended approach, in this case, would be to tackle the problem step by step, and not all at once.
It may very well be that the last person to get on the same page is your advisor. In this case, please know that yours isnât the first or the last professor to be a pain in the ass when it comes to graduating. It is a well-known phenomenon. If this is your bi...2020-08-0115 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to answer questions at a job talk for a postdoc applicationAnswer questions at a job talk successfully by maintaining an open, inquisitive mind and professional attitude even under pressure. Always repeat the question. Keep in mind that:
Research is always on the cutting edge of knowledge which means that there will be things you donât know and havenât yet looked into.
The answering of questions during a job talk is more about your attitude than anything else. This is because your answer could very well be âI donât know.â
Answer questions at a job talk by adopting the following methods, especially when you are thrown off...2020-07-2518 min
How to PhD PodcastAnd Then There Were None Approach of Graduating with a PhDThe âAnd Then There Were Noneâ technique of graduating with a Ph.D. is to be deployed when you have the ultimate advisor problem.
You need to graduate and your advisor is not letting you. Talking to your advisor is like banging your head against a wall, so donât waste energy doing that.
In fact, that could be your downfall, and we need to avoid that at all costs. Avoid becoming isolated and as a Ph.D. student, you have to work hard to make sure of that.
This is YOUR business and yo...2020-07-1623 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to write a research statement for a postdoc fellowshipIn this post, I share the research statement I wrote to become a finalist in a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship competition called the Owen Chamberlain Postdoctoral Fellowship at Berkeley Lab.
At the time of the application, I did not have any main-author papers published yet but some in the pipeline.
If you are wondering what do you even write in a research statement, I am totally with you.
I felt the same way.
What do I say?
Then I learned that what you mainly say in a research statement is...2020-06-0935 min
How to PhD Podcast4 ways to help you decide which graduate school to chooseIf you got into multiple graduate schools and canât decide which one to go to, congratulations, and also, I understand the stress. Here are 4 ways to help you decide which graduate school to choose out of the options you have.
Listen to the audio to hear this discussion.
Associated Blog post:
https://howtophd.org/2020/06/4-ways-to-help-you-decide-which-graduate-school-to-choose.html
Leave a comment on the How to PhD blog:
GOT A QUESTION? GUESS WHAT, YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTION IN THE COMMENTS OF ANY POST INCLUDING THIS ONE AND I WILL WRITE A...2020-06-0818 min
How to PhD PodcastWant to know what the parallel universe nonsense is about?Lots of people who are NOT on the ANITA collaboration are talking about this topic of how âNASA scientists may have uncovered a parallel universe.â Well, as someone who is actually on the collaboration and also deeply interested in making science communication more accessible, I figured I will blog about the SCIENCE that is getting twisted around to make tabloids.
I will not be sharing links to any of the tabloids because those clickbait articles have already made enough money off of misinforming the public and creating sensation without actually educating anyone about science.
The only...2020-05-2219 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to PhD is now helping content creators!I am happy to share with you that this blog is now also geared towards helping content creators. I have started a podcast and also a YouTube channel to help both students and also content creators. If you are interested in creating a personal brand or helping people through your content, I hope that the content I share here on that helps you with both big picture stuff and the nitty-gritty.
Listen to the audio to hear this discussion.
Associated Blog post:
https://howtophd.org/2020/05/how-to-phd-is-now-helping-content-creators.html
Leave a comment on...2020-05-2110 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to Make a Case For Graduation With a PhDHere I talk about how to make a case for graduation with a Ph.D. including some techniques you can deploy towards that end.
Finishing a Ph.D. in a shorter as opposed to a longer period of time does NOT mean that you get to do less work. You have to accomplish MORE to graduate faster than to graduate slower.
Why you need to do more to make a case
If you donât accomplish MORE than others, you will not have a good CASE for graduating. You have to demonstrate that yo...2020-05-1720 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to start a website - Discussion on choosing Platform, Hosting, and DomainIf you are starting off as a blogger or website owner, you might first want to know how much it will cost. So how much does blogging or having a website cost? I will give you the breakdown for this site. There are three aspects to consider: platform, hosting, and domain. All three potentially cost money.
Platform
I use WordPress now, but that is not how I startedâŚ
In my young days of blogging, I was on Blogger, hosted by Google! Google owns it and it is the simplest to set up. It wa...2020-05-1737 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to start a podcast using just your phone and Macbook - Anchor AudioIf you are new to audio like I am, you might be interested in the least expensive and challenging way to get started with recording audio. I share how to get started with a podcast by using just your phone and Macbook. Specifically, you will need a free app on your phone and a free app on your Macbook.
Uploaded the audio file following the methods discussed in this post to Anchor now, added a Transition to the beginning, that is all.Â
Listen to the audio to hear this discussion.
Associated Blog post:2020-05-1610 min
How to PhD PodcastHow To Pandemic-Proof Your Life And Income - AudioThe COVID-19 Pandemic Might Just Be The Best Thing That Ever Happened To You. Pandemic-proof your income to pursue your ultimate dream and be set for life. This post brings together several posts I have been writing to encourage people to follow their dream while also pandemic-proofing their life and income.
Letâs start living the life we have always wanted to because there is no excuse not to do that anymore. Change is not only coming, but it is also upon us, and Nature is forcing us to follow our pandemic-proof dreams.
Listen to th...2020-05-1631 min
How to PhD PodcastWhy you should consider joining Cheeky Scientist------NOT SPONSORED BY CHEEKY SCIENTIST ASSOCIATION-----
The moment before joining Cheeky Scientist, I was sitting in the dark in my bathroom. It was late one night in November 2017.
I was worried about my future.
Listen to the audio to hear this discussion.
Associated Blog post:
https://howtophd.org/2018/08/what-happened-when-i-joined-cheeky.html
Leave a comment on the How to PhD blog:
GOT A QUESTION? GUESS WHAT, YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTION IN THE COMMENTS OF ANY POST INCLUDING THIS ONE AND I WILL WRITE A POST TO...2020-05-1613 min
How to PhD PodcastOn your relationship with time in graduate schoolYour relationship with time in graduate school will determine whether you achieve more rather than less, so have a respectful attitude towards time. Donât let time get away from you and donât take time for granted.
Five years is not long if you want to achieve more rather than less
Listen to the audio to hear this discussion.
Associated Blog post:
https://howtophd.org/2020/05/on-your-relationship-with-time-in-graduate-school.html
Leave a comment on the How to PhD blog:
GOT A QUESTION? GUESS WHAT, YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTION IN T...2020-05-1612 min
How to PhD PodcastHow to successfully defend your PhD thesisA Ph.D. defense is one of those things that one can never feel prepared enough for because usually, it is the first time one is doing it! In this post, I paint a picture of how to successfully defend your Ph.D. thesis including how to make the slides for your defense talk.
Associated blog post:
https://howtophd.org/2018/07/on-my-phd-defense-48-hours-later.html
Leave a comment on the How to PhD blog:
GOT A QUESTION? GUESS WHAT, YOU CAN ASK ANY QUESTION IN THE COMMENTS OF ANY POST INCLUDING THIS ONE...2020-05-1620 min
How to PhD PodcastDangers of a Ph.D. Taking Too LongIn this post, I talk about the dangers of a Ph.D. taking too long to finish and to point out the resources available to you to combat that.
Dangers of a Ph.D. taking too long
A Ph.D. that is much longer than five to six years is a poor return on investment. Whatever the reason, there are two big problems with staying in a Ph.D. program for too long:
Lack of productivity
Decreasing employability
Listen to the audio to hear this discussion.
Associated Blog post:
...2020-05-1609 min