PhD Advice: Going on placement

During the course of a PhD most students will have the opportunity to go on placement in industry or in another academic research facility. The perks of working in a well-established research group with international collaborators means that this placement may well be far outside your little bubble you call home. This can be as exciting as it is daunting and I should know-having just completed a 5 week placement in Austria and as I write this I am sitting in a fairly air-conned office in New Jersey. Considering I have lived and studied in Glasgow my entire life it is fair to say I understand the fear and excitement going on placement can bring so I thought I would draw upon my experiences to share a little advice.
  

What being a PhD student has taught me...so far

The leaves are falling and the air is getting cooler. It is autumn time. October is here and it’s time to look forward to Halloween, Guy Fawkes and of course Christmas. For me October marks the end of my first year as a PhD student and the beginning of year two. So rather than looking forward to the exciting festivities to come please stick with me as I look back on the past year and reflect on all I have learned…or not.

July Round-Up

Another month has come and gone. Just where does the time go? July has been as month of two halves split between holiday fun and relaxation and more stressful PhD times. But of course for a shopaholic like myself I definitely made sure I got some time in for shopping!