I am a fourth-year PhD student at the dept of Social Medicine. I study the contribution of psychosocial factors, such as hostility and depression, to socioeconomic differences in heart disease, thereby using four different datasets of longitudinal cohort studies. Currently I’m writing my fifth article, and with three publications, one article waiting to be revised, and one more article to write, the end is (finally!) in sight, although it still might take some time.
Endurance
If there is one thing I learned during my time as a PhD student, it is that endurance is the most important attribute you need if you want to finish your thesis. Even if you are an optimistic person (which I am), the numerous repetitions of the analyses, revision upon revision of your introduction and discussion section (somehow, the method section is easier to write) combined with rejections from journals where you submitted your work, is definitely not beneficial to your self-esteem, your self-confidence nor for your motivation. Having a supervisor who acknowledges this and encourages you is extremely helpful, as well as developing a ‘thick skin’.
But, most important of all, acceptation of your paper makes the effort worthwhile. Nothing more encouraging than your article in print with your name on it!
Ambitions
After finishing my thesis I’m looking forward to working more independently and develop my own research questions around my own favourite topics. So, my ‘to do’ list for the upcoming year contains: 1) finishing my thesis, 2) networking (might always come in handy), 3) writing a research proposal, 4) obtaining funding, and 5) teaching, since I have just become a lecturer, a position I also held in the two years before I started my PhD track. I won’t get bored…