Advice to a Student

This is the @profserious advice to new research students. Somewhat quirky and entirely personal, this is what I say to my students. I have organised them as tweets to allow sharing. Feel free to contribute your own.

Focus on solving a real problem, one that makes a difference. #phdchat http://prof.so

Own your problem. Make it yours. Keep it at the front of your mind, always. #phdchat http://prof.so

Print the cover of your thesis and place it in a binder. You have started. #phdchat http://prof.so

Let go of the handrail, swim away from the side. Research requires risks. #phdchat http://prof.so

Take pride in your craft. #phdchat http://prof.so

Talk to as many people as you can. Share your ideas as widely as you can. #phdchat http://prof.so

The big danger is not that somebody will steal your ideas but that nobody will take any interest. #phdchat http://prof.so

Write every day. #phdchat http://prof.so

Go to see your supervisor when you have nothing to show. Do not hide. That is when they can help most. #phdchat http://prof.so

Remember if you leave it more than a fortnight your supervisor may well have forgotten what you discussed. #phdchat http://prof.so

Do not make grand plans. Just make every day count. #phdchat http://prof.so

Three years seems like a lot of time. It is not, the second year will disappear really quickly. #phdchat http://prof.so

Be ready to abandon ideas if they do not work but do not kill them before they have had a chance to fly. #phdchat http://prof.so

The most difficult part of research is not coming up with ideas but exposing them to rigorous testing. #phdchat http://prof.so

Follow courses, it is an easy way to learn. #phdchat http://prof.so

Write for conferences, go to see people, give talks, make contacts, network. #phdchat http://prof.so

Science is a community. You support it, it will support you. #phdchat http://prof.so

Build waypoints to give your research programme a structure. #phdchat http://prof.so

Keep accurate bibliographic records. That paper may not seem relevant now but could prove so later. #phdchat http://prof.so

Read for a purpose. #phdchat http://prof.so

Always have a practical task running alongside reading and writing. Swap tasks if you lose focus. #phdchat http://prof.so

Never stare at a blank piece of paper. #phdchat http://prof.so

Play with ideas, problems and techniques. #phdchat http://prof.so

Ask a question if you do not understand. Never feel afraid of looking foolish. #phdchat http://prof.so

If somebody does not understand your work it is usually because of your failure to explain it clearly. #phdchat http://prof.so

High quality critical analysis is like gold dust. Seek it out. Welcome it. However painful. #phdchat http://prof.so

Work a regular day, work regular hours, take weekends off. Research is a marathon not a sprint. #phdchat http://prof.so

Keep a diary. #phdchat http://prof.so

Back up. Back up. Back up. #phdchat http://prof.so

And, oh yes, back up. #phdchat http://prof.so