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30 Best PhD Blogs and Websites

• The Thesis Whisperer
• Northeastern University PhD Education
• Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD Blog
• FInd PhD Blogs
• The Professor Is In Blog
• Foster Blog » PhD
• IMISCOE | PhD Blog
• Get a Life, PhD
• PhD Assistance Blog
• Olga Degtyareva, PhD
• Research Degree Insiders Blog
• The Dutch PhD coach Blog
• A Happy PhD
• Thrive PhD Blog
• The Slow Academic
• How to Write a Phd in a Hundred Steps (or More) Blog
• How to PhD Blog
• The PhD Careers Blog
• From PhD to Life Blog
• PhDStudent Blogs
• Finish Your Thesis Blog
• Hanna Erickson, MD, PHD Blog
• patter » starting the PhD
• Anuja Cabraal (PhD) Blog
• Adventures of a PhD
• PhD Academy Blog
• Fearless Grad Blog

PhD Bloggers

• PhD Newsletter

Here are 30 Best PhD Blogs you should follow in 2024

1. The Thesis Whisperer

2. Northeastern University PhD Education

3. Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD Blog

4. FInd PhD Blogs

5. The Professor Is In Blog

6. Foster Blog » PhD

7. IMISCOE | PhD Blog

8. Get a Life, PhD

9. iLovePhD

10. PhD Assistance Blog

11. PhD Life

12. Olga Degtyareva, PhD

13. Research Degree Insiders Blog

14. The Dutch PhD coach Blog

15. A Happy PhD

16. Thrive PhD Blog

17. The Slow Academic

18. How to Write a Phd in a Hundred Steps (or More) Blog

19. How to PhD Blog

20. The PhD Careers Blog

21. From PhD to Life Blog

22. PhDStudent Blogs

23. Finish Your Thesis Blog

24. Hanna Erickson, MD, PHD Blog

25. patter » starting the PhD

26. Anuja Cabraal (PhD) Blog

27. Adventures of a PhD

28. PhD Academy Blog

29. Fearless Grad Blog

Media Contact Database

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A Happy PhD

A blog about doctoral productivity, supervision and wellbeing..

Looking for tips, tricks and advice to finish your doctoral thesis on time and with high spirits? Baffled by how little information is out there about how to support PhD students to become independent researchers? As an ex-doctoral student now co-supervising five students , I feel your pain.

“A Happy PhD” is a blog where I distil what has worked for me, as well as recent research in doctoral education, psychology and many other fields. Join our newsletter , or follow the blog on Twitter , Facebook , or via RSS .

New to the blog? Start here.

Are you looking for…

Common problems and challenges in doing the PhD, from mental health (e.g., depression or anxiety) or productivity challenges , to writing or dropping out of your PhD .

Mental health and wellbeing tips and advice : common mental health symptoms in the PhD , tips to avoid dropping out of the doctorate , the importance of sleep , holidays or advice from positive psychology to keep yourself motivated during the PhD.

PhD productivity tips and advice : from the classic Pomodoro technique , to avoiding to-do list overwhelm , dealing with multiple projects and priorities , staying productive and motivated , how I manage my daily tasks or how I do my weekly reviews .

PhD-specific tools , like the CQOCE diagram to conceptualize your PhD, the NABC method to structure your research presentations, or the process I use to write scientific papers or make big career decisions .

Supervision tips and advice , about giving feedback on student papers , or supporting a sense of progress in your doctoral students .

What (else) do I write about?

Recent posts.

Is Doctoral Productivity Bad?

In this blog I have written a lot about doctoral productivity tools and advice. Yet, many doctoral students out there may also think that the focus on productivity is exploitative, dehumanizing, and counter to the very spirit of the scientific endeavor. Should we reject the quest for being productive altogether? Should we “quiet quit” our PhDs? This post tries to clarify what I mean by (doctoral) productivity, which may not be the “narrow productivity” view you find in certain research policy or journalistic articles about the topic. That way, you can decide whether it makes sense for you to follow my advice, or get it elsewhere.

Tiny idea: To-do lists are menus

Overwhelmed by your endless to-do list? Stressed because of the many PhD-related tasks you need to “go through”? As we discussed previously in the blog , you are not alone (and ask any already-doctors whether this feeling goes away after graduation). Lately, as I struggle with not-so-new-parenthood-unproductivity in my own research, I have been reminded several times of a mental reframe I first encountered in productivity writer Oliver Burkeman ’s work. This simple metaphor helped me change my relationship with my to-do list, without hurting my productivity (more probably, the opposite).

Tiny practice: Beating procrastination with The Right Now List

One of the top barriers to PhD productivity is procrastination. Have you ever found yourself with a big ugly task getting stale in your to-do list, repeatedly postponed because it is too big, too abstract, or makes you somehow uncomfortable? This tiny practice post gives you an simple trick to beat this sort of procrastination.

ChatGPT's doctoral productivity advice... and four ideas the algorithm will (probably) not give you

We know that making progress is a critical motivational factor in finishing a PhD and maintaining good mental health while we do it. In turn, our productivity plays a big role in whether we make progress on our dissertation or not. As the first post in a series on doctoral productivity, I could not help but fall into one of the thèmes du jour : whether ChatGPT and similar artificial intelligence (AI) tools can write a good piece about this topic. In this post, I go over a couple of iterations of (pretty good) computationally-generated advice, and finally give you a few ideas that I think are overlooked by the algorithm.

Tiny idea: Use the Regret Test for daily decision-making

Breathing through the PhD: Breathwork in the doctorate

During the doctorate (and in our later lives as researchers) we have to deal with a wide variety of situations and tasks, some stressful, some requiring focus or calmness. Going to therapy, doing therapy-inspired reflection exercises , journaling , and other practices are all very useful, but they require us to step away from the difficult situation. If only there was a simple, free, portable tool to help us in such situations, something we could do in any occasion and which is evidence-based… Wait, there is ! This post is about breathwork , an array of tools with an increasing body of scientific evidence demonstrating its effectiveness. The post describes how we should breathe for better health and cognitive performance, and how different kinds of breathing patterns can help us cope with common challenging situations throughout the PhD.

Tiny practice: Boost your workday happiness with natural spaces

Tiny idea: subtraction, tiny practice: granny's rule, a happy master thesis: progress and appropriation even before the phd.

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• In The Media

10 Essential Dissertation Blogs for Ph.D. Students

If you are anything like me, then having a few blogs and podcasts to follow is essential to every project – and dissertation blogs are no exception.

In this post, I’ll share ten of my favorite research blogs for dissertation students, including academic, writing, and humorous options. (Don’t worry – we’ll get to podcasts another day!)

Dissertation blogs are great, because you can get everything from instructional tips on research and writing to motivational daydreaming and validation for your frustrations. I think these ten blogs offer a good range of what you need to survive the dissertation research and writing process – but let me know what you think!

(And yes – the ReadWritePerfect Dissertation Advice blog also offers these things – but it’s nice to have options, right?)

The Thesis Whisperer

This blog offers ten years of humorous and supportive content from professor inger mewburn..

Director of Researcher Development at The Australian National University, Professor Mewburn writes The Thesis Whisperer with candor, humor, and more than a little bit of inside knowledge. her tips on writing, surviving the dissertation process, and staying motivated are user-friendly and filled with empathy.

Nick Hopwood

Associate professor at the university of technology, sydney, hopwood shares insight on research, academic work, writing, and more..

More formal and authoritative than the Thesis Whisperer, Nick Hopwood is a site for readers who prefer an all-business approach to academia. As well as the blogs, readers can find podcasts and instructional videos on the site.

Get a life, PhD

Although the last post was in 2021, this dissertation blog offers years of blogs on everything from how to find a life-work balance to general tips on academic writing..

Get A Life, PhD is all about finding the balance between letting your PhD fall to the wayside and letting your PhD consume you, mind, body, and soul. I especially love the practical, realistic tips on time management.

Research to Action

This collaborative site offers a synthesis of instructive blogging, online community, and academic debate, all focused on improving research strategies..

The Research to Action site is a pretty comprehensive one-stop-shop for researchers at all levels, from PhD candidate to seasoned researcher. The site itself is well-designed, as as well as instruction, readers can find reading lists, calls for submissions, and even job opportunities.

The Professor Is In

This dissertation blog offers guidance and resources for graduate students and academics from a range of contributors..

Slightly more commercial than some of the other blogs listed here, the key strength of The Professor is In lies in the range of contributors lending their voices and expertise to the content, from a productivity coach to a graduate director to an editor to several professors and assistant professors. Between them, they know everything there is to know about thriving in academia.

The Research Whisperer

This research blog is similar to the thesis whisperer, but more recent and more funding-focused..

The bloggers at The Research Whisperer address topics related to all aspects of academic research. While they “don’t just talk about funding,” there is a real emphasis in the content on the business side of research (such as getting grants and being a union member), as their tag line suggests: “Just like the Thesis Whisperer – but with more money.”

From PhD to Life

This dissertation blog covers topics that help phd students prepare for and transition into life after academia..

Even if you’re not quite ph(inishe)d yet, From PhD to Life will definitely give you something to look forward to – and tips to help you plan practically for it. I particularly like the light, conversational style – it’s a nice break from academia-speak.

Writing for Research

In this research blog, professor patrick dunleavy writes about academia, offering some higher-level insight into the processes and culture of higher education institutions..

Writing for Research  does offer some basic writing and research advice, but what really helps it stand out from other sites is the focus on how academia ticks. There are posts on everything from university organization (why exactly is an academic discipline called a “discipline”?) to open-access and fair reviewing practices – really interesting stuff, in other words.

Tress Academic

Aimed at beginners and dedicated to simplifying things and getting you through the job, this site provides various resources for researchers and phd students..

Not every dissertation student is interested in a lifetime devotes to academia – some just want to get on and get done. Tress Academic offers easy-to-digest advice posts broken down into manageable steps, as well as useful worksheets, checklists, and free training videos. Again, this one has a commercial feel, but it’s still got a wealth of useful material if you need to get the job done quickly.

Supervising PhDs

This is a community research blog from various professors and academics. topics cover doctoral supervision relationships and pedagogies..

Admittedly, a lot of the really useful stuff on Supervising PhDs is aimed at professors and supervisors. However, there’s nothing to say you can’t gift some of the useful checklists, guides, and articles to your supervisor the next time they’re being particularly frustrating…

Need More Help?

Dissertation blogs and forums not your thing? Instead of relying on online communities, get personable and personalized help with dissertation coaching services .

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PhDStudent Blogs

The phdstudent blog network chronicles life in academia today through the eyes of students faculty, and researchers., meet our bloggers here  and  we are  calling for contributors, browse the blogs or search below..

Mental Health & Grad School

Graduate school can be a lot, even for a neurotypical person. It can often push you to what feels like the brink of insanity as you juggle deadlines, work, and everything else that it takes to survive. But what happens when you enter graduate school if you are already struggling to survive a fight against […]

Productive Procrastination

Doing a Ph.D. is a daunting task. Graduate students have to be self-motivated and self-governing. In the instance I lose motivation to keep working on my research, I like to engage in tasks that are not taxing on the mind but will get my motor running. Here is a list of things you could do […]

Staying Focused

You got into graduate school – congratulations! You worked hard to get here. Now be prepared to work harder. Even with the most laid-back professors, the course work will feel overwhelming. You may be taking multiple courses at once, working one or five jobs, or have family that needs you. Every assignment will feel like […]

The Right Time for Grad School

When you are juggling coursework, a social life, and finances in your undergrad, you are only trying to survive to the finish line: graduation. You don’t want to stop and think about the terrifying unknown of post-graduation, yet that’s the question everyone asks: “What are you going to do after graduation? Work? Grad school?” There […]

Job Searching for Postgrads

You have decided you want to do a postgraduate degree, but you are wondering about how it may affect your career choices. Alternatively, perhaps you have graduated, and you are wondering exactly how useful that degree you have will actually be. Whilst a postgraduate degree can be great for landing you jobs, it is not a guarantee. In order to succeed in the world of postgraduate jobs, you need to be dedicated.

References and Citations: Part 3—More Referencing Styles

As we previously discussed in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, there are several styles of referencing.  As a recap: all reference styles tend to include similar elements: the title, author, and date, but they have different formatting conventions (i.e., the order of the elements, capitalization, etc.).  Often times, dissertation committees will ask […]

References and Citations: Part 2—Referencing Styles

There are several styles of referencing.  Different referencing and citation styles have developed to address the specific needs of disciplines.  All reference styles tend to include similar elements, such as the title, author, and date, but they have different formatting conventions (i.e., the order of the elements, capitalization, etc.) to those familiar with that specific […]

Everything You Need to Know About References and Citations: Part 1

When you conduct your research, it is important to record the details of all the information you find to provide accurate references, and to assist you or the reviewers to locate the information again later.  Many styles are used for citation referencing.  When you are given thesis or dissertation guidelines, check which style of referencing […]

Returning To Graduate School after Hiatus

Are you contemplating furthering your education but think too late to return to school?  Many potential students see a long hiatus from school as an obstacle to furthering their education.  You always planned to complete that master’s or doctoral degree, but life happens—career, family, obligations.  Things have changed and you’re ready to take that next […]

Recommendation Letters: Who to Ask, How to Ask, and When

If you are facing graduate school applications, it’s time to get serious about requesting references for your letters of recommendation.  Usually grades and test scores factor are most influential in a graduate school application; however, many applicants don’t realize that letters of recommendation can be the deciding factor in the admission process.  As a continuation […]

Start 2018 Off Strong: Self-Care in the New Year

It’s the end of December, meaning it’s almost time to take down the holiday decorations and get back to the grind.  What is your reaction when New Year’s comes around?  Do you see it as a fresh start, or as just another passing year?  Whether you look forward to New Year’s or would rather not […]

Pros and Cons of Getting a Master’s before a Doctorate, Part 2: The Pros and Cons of a Master’s Degree

Is the time and money of a master’s worth it? If you are considering going to graduate school, you are most likely pondering which degree to get. There are pros and cons to earning a master’s degree before pursuing a doctorate. Master’s degrees are more career-oriented and doctoral degrees focus more on research. If all […]

10 Moments all Grad Students Know: Featuring illustrations from Jorge Cham’s PhD Comics illustrations

Every grad student faces the pains and struggles that only we can understand. Sure, our lives may look beautiful to professionals in the real world or undergraduates; but what the outside world does not know is that is there is college, and then there is grad school. College is fun. Grad school is hard. Read […]

Pros and Cons of Getting a Master’s Before a DoctoratePart 1: What’s the Difference?

Are you ready for graduate school? As a potential applicant to graduate school, you have quite a few decisions ahead of you. If you are considering a graduate degree, you might wonder what the differences are between the Master’s and Doctorate, or which one is right for you. When you enroll in a graduate degree […]

You Got Rejected…Now What?

The process of applying to graduate programs of your choice can be arduous.  Usually, the first step is to find programs and potential mentors/advisors in the program who are best suited for your research interests and career goals.  Then, time and money are spent on applications, getting transcripts, GRE test scores and reports, and trips […]

How to Deal with Grad School Competition

It is no secret that pursuing a graduate degree is emotionally, psychologically, and physically exhausting. Graduate school can be the first time students truly experience the deep frustrations of a competitive learning environment. Graduate students can come face to face with a deep, pervasive anxiety that seeps into everyday life, a constant questioning of capability, […]

What No One Told Me about Graduate School

What I wish I knew There are things no one will tell you about your first year of graduate school, and the Internet is full of postgraduate “advice” from former and current grad students warning people to stay out of graduate school. Some advice: If someone tells you what they wish they would have done […]

Kim’s Journey to Find her Purpose

Deciding to return to college after twenty years or more was a decision that did not come easy. I had a full-time job, three kids, a husband, I was contemplating becoming a dog owner, but not really thinking about returning to school to pursue my PhD. I am an avid learner, but from an early […]

Karina’s Path to Grad School

My name is Karina.  I am in my second year of doctoral studies and enjoying the learning process.  Being in graduate school has been my dream from the first months of college.  There were many college professors who challenged me to grow and think outside of my immediate culture.  Some of them started controversial class […]

Your First Conference: Part 2

DURING THE CONFERENCE What should I bring to my presentation? First, always double check your room location.  Sometimes room locations change or floor plans can be confusing, so try to physically visit the room if possible. Second, almost all rooms are set up with projectors and screens, but you will need to bring your own […]

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PhDLife Blog

Sharing PhD experiences across the University of Warwick and beyond

Working as a teaching assistant

To gain some valuable teaching experience in higher education institutions in the UK, most doctoral students will choose to be teaching assistants (GTA). I am one of them. This blog is about my personal experience of being a teaching assistant and some tips on this role. By Ivy Zhuo Overall, I have contributed to the... Continue Reading →

Writing-Up Diaries: The Final Push

Since her last instalment in November, Ellie is on her final push to the end of the thesis road. Read about what she’s been getting up to below. By Ellie King Since I last published a blog, it feels like my thesis has come on leaps and bounds and that I am, dare I say... Continue Reading →

It’s not about the thesis, it’s about you

The process of achieving a PhD can represent different things for different people. In this week’s blog, Riss shares their thoughts on what connects these different meanings and what achieving a PhD means to her. By Riss Muller. Having hit the midway point of my PhD, I’ve found myself reflecting on how my PhD experience... Continue Reading →

Writing a book review

Many doctoral students, like me, start their publications with a book review. However, this is not to say that a book review is easy or requires no skills at all. Instead, it plays a vital role in training our skills in academic writing and boosting our confidence in academic publications. In this blog, Ivy shares... Continue Reading →

Planning 101: How to Make Your Plans Work

Have you ever started a new planner, but then abandoned it for good? Maybe you’ve never planned anything, but suddenly want to try? In any case, Daria has some tips and tricks about finding the best ways to organise your daily life without pressure. By Daria Akhapkina Goal First and foremost, you need to know... Continue Reading →

Tough Grass: Grounding through Nature

Grounding has become a buzzword in wellbeing talks, but what exactly does it mean and how can it help you personally? In this week’s blog, Daria talks about finding peace and power in nature. By Daria Akhapkina The end of the term is approaching, the days get darker, the deadlines get tighter, and the stress... Continue Reading →

Writing-Up Diaries: November

Following on from her previous posts, blog editor Ellie documents her writing up journey for November. By Ellie King. I can’t believe I’m already writing about November. I know we say it every year, but this year has really gone quickly. It feels only yesterday that I was starting to write my thesis back in... Continue Reading →

Handling Rejection as a PhD Student

The PhD experience can often be full of rejection. Rejection for funding, rejection from conferences, rejection from academic journals. Today Iona explores how rejection can be understood from a developmental perspective by looking at attachment theory and how this can then be applied to dealing with rejection throughout our PhDs. By Iona Craig. Rejection is... Continue Reading →

So here comes the annual review

The annual review happens usually at the end of 2nd year of our PhD study or in some cases, at the end of the 3rd year. This review serves for two purposes: to ensure you are progressing as planned, and as an opportunity to gather feedback and guidance on your work. In this week’s blog,... Continue Reading →

Writing-up Diaries: October

In the latest instalment of her writing-up diaries, blog editor Ellie shares what she got up to in October. By Ellie King Last month, I was working on my discussion chapter and tidying up some of my work after supervisor comments. This month I turned to the chapter I’d been dreading the most: the Literature... Continue Reading →

Organising a Conference

As part of your PhD, you may attend a number of conferences to meet with researchers, network, and hear about new research. But have you ever organised one? PhD Life blogger Ivy has, and she shares her experiences in this week’s blog. By Ivy Zhuo. This was a one-day conference event- a conference on language,... Continue Reading →

A workspace guide for easily distracted people

In this week’s post Daria shares her thoughts on the workspaces around the campus and how easy it is to keep focus while trying to study there. By Daria Akhapkina. As an easily distracted person myself, once I get too used to a study space, I can’t work there anymore as it doesn’t stimulate my... Continue Reading →

Being a mature student at Warwick

In this week's blog, Greta and Arokia share their practical insights for navigating academia as a mature student. It is the result of many conversations of what it means to return to academia as (international) full-time students who had been working (and still work!). By Greta and Arokia. Mature students are an integral part of... Continue Reading →

Writing Up Diaries: September

As summer comes to a close and we settle back in to another academic year, blog editor Ellie is documenting her road to thesis submission in March 2024 with a series of writing-up diaries. By Ellie King Summer was a busy period for me, with my head down over July and August to get going... Continue Reading →

Applying for Grants

This week, blogger Ivy shares her experiences of applying for and receiving a funding grant for organising a conference. By Ivy Zhuo. As well as having core funding for our PhD research activities, we may come across other funding opportunities as part of our time at Warwick. These grants come in carious shapes and sizes... Continue Reading →

The MRC in 50 Objects

Warwick’s Modern Records Centre is turning 50 this year, and to celebrate it’s put on an exhibition celebrating fifty of its best items from the collection, chosen by staff, friends, researchers, and supporters. Blog editor Ellie explores. By Ellie King ‘The MRC in 50 Objects’ was launched on Tuesday 12th September and is currently on... Continue Reading →

Transitioning from an MA to a PhD

Often PhD students complete their master’s degree before moving into doctoral studies. This might be an exciting but anxiety-inducing period. Greta shares how she’s readying herself for the start of the PhD by providing three actionable tips.  By Greta Timaite. This academic year I am officially starting my PhD. As part of my ESRC funding,... Continue Reading →

Ten things to do with a Ten Week term

As we say Welcome to Warwick to another group of students for another year, blog editor Ellie introduces you to the PhD Life blog and the Community Engagement team in the Library. By Ellie King. Week One: Take the Library tour You can pick up a self-guided library tour by the Library entrance. Image: University... Continue Reading →

My experiences at a summer school

PhD life is more than just sitting still reading and writing research. It could involve much more than that.  In this week’s blog, Ivy shares her summer school experiences. By Ivy Zhuo. What summer schools did I attend? Summer schools for research students are usually offered by some higher education institutions, particularly universities. However, it... Continue Reading →

Writing-Up Diaries: August

Blog editor Ellie is currently in the process of writing up her thesis, after four years of research. Read how she got on in August below. By Ellie King. August was a time for some holiday for me, which means theatre trips! Image: Ellie King Since my first instalment of the writing-up diaries in July... Continue Reading →

Showing families around the UK

As an international PhD student in the UK, one of the common experiences we may encounter is to have families visiting us in this foreign land where we are living and studying. In this week’s blog, Ivy shares her experience of showing her families around the UK. By Ivy Zhuo. Since living and studying in... Continue Reading →

More than food: what are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are a mental health illness that can impact anyone and have been on the rise since lockdown. In this article Iona discusses what eating disorders actually are, how they stem much deeper than being about food, and some pointers of where help can be accessed if you feel you or someone around you... Continue Reading →

Managing your personal expectations

Setting out for a PhD can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. In this post, Daria identifies some common ideas on your research journey that may be hard to accept before you start but make perfect sense as soon as you get to it. By Daria Akhapkina. Looking back, I had many expectations... Continue Reading →

Writing-up diaries: July

In the first of a series, blog editor Ellie takes us on her journey of writing up her thesis in preparation for hand-in in March 2024. By Ellie King I began my PhD in October 2019. Since then, I’ve been through a pandemic, a year off in industry, an internship, various conferences and seminars, and... Continue Reading →

Dealing with homesickness

As we head into the summer vacation period, you may feel yourself yearning for the usual family comforts that you'd normally get at university. But being a researcher means you spend less time at home. This week, blogger Gunisha recounts her experiences of feeling homesick as an international student at university and shares some advice... Continue Reading →

Guardian of the past: Working as an archivist

Warwick is home to the Modern Records Centre archive, and in this week's blog archivist Melissa discusses life as an archivist and what a career in archives may look like for you. By Melissa Prior. Traditionally Archivists have been seen or have seen themselves as guardians of the past, protecting valuable historical material from the... Continue Reading →

Four books to read to change your mindset this summer

Small mindset changes can have a big impact on overall day-day living. Iona has brought together the four books she has come across that have the most useful, researched based tips to improve mindset and experience success during your time at university. Over summer is a great time to give one or two of them... Continue Reading →

Warwick’s Human Library

A few weeks ago, Iona attended one of Warwick's Human Library events. In today’s blog she writes about her experiences at the event, what she learned, and why this is really an event worth going to. By Iona Craig. Prejudice refers to a positive or negative attitude towards a certain group that is applied to... Continue Reading →

Summer is for balance, not overwork

Summer break needs to be super productive, right? No. In this week’s blog post Greta talks about the importance to find balance in the face of feeling pressured to do as much as possible.  By Greta Timaite. Summer can be a strange period for students: no lectures to attend, essay deadlines to meet, or exams... Continue Reading →

You’re allowed to take holidays

As we come to the end of term and the undergraduate students vacate for the summer, blog editor Ellie talks about the importance of taking holidays and adding breaks into your day. By Ellie King. We’re slowly coming to the end of the academic year, and you may have noticed other students finishing their exams,... Continue Reading →

Recruiting your Participants

One of the biggest concerns at the very early stage of our PhD journey is to complete participant recruitment. How are we going to reach out to our potential participants when we already have a clear target demographic group of people in mind? It seems easy to identify but so hard to approach them and... Continue Reading →

How Work Experience shaped my PhD

Students are often faced with a dilemma: should I pursue another degree or take a break to gain work experience? There is no simple answer, but in this week’s blog post Greta reflects on how work experience shaped her approach to PhD.   By Greta Timaite. Are you about to graduate and wondering if you should... Continue Reading →

Achieving work-life balance when you have a mental health condition

Everyone knows how important a work-life balance is, but it can be especially hard to achieve for neurodivergent students. In this week’s post, Daria shares some advice on how to balance your life when your mental state sets extra requirements. By Daria Akhapkina. One of the hardest things I’ve experienced as someone struggling with their... Continue Reading →

Finding your community: the importance of networking

Where do you begin with new connections, and, most importantly, why do you need them in the first place? In her new blog post Daria tells you about the possibilities of networking and the opportunities to get started. By Daria Akhapkina. Sometimes doing a PhD sure seems like a lone journey. It’s so easy to... Continue Reading →

Home from home: Postgraduate Community Engagement Artwork Competition Winners

Recently, the Community Engagement Team at the Library, who look after the postgraduate study spaces of the PG Hub and the Wolfson Research Exchange, ran an art competition to brighten up those spaces and encourage students to reflect on Warwick as their home from home. In today's blog post, blog editor Ellie looks at some... Continue Reading →

Software for qualitative study

PhD study usually involves huge sets of data, and the command of some software makes it less painful to deal with this matter. In this blog, Ivy introduces three types of software to improve your academic output. By Ivy Zhuo. Transcription generating tools Transcribing is indeed a challenging task for a lot of qualitative researchers... Continue Reading →

Working as a Research Assistant

Being a research assistant (RA) is not an unusual experience for research students. It is a great opportunity to learn how a research project is operated, allowing us to gain experience relevant to our CV and potential future funding applications.  It is also one of the best ways to support ourselves financially or to earn... Continue Reading →

Benefiting from Open Science as a research student

Open science help researchers make their work more accessible to the public. This also means that students can use research to support their own learning! In this blog post Greta discusses how open science can benefit data science learners and how to take advantage of the best data and code sharing practices.  By Greta Timaite.... Continue Reading →

Life as a Warwick Research Student

Warwick is home to around 12,000 postgraduate students, and many of these are researchers. Studying for a doctorate of some kind, Warwick’s research students contribute to the vibrant research culture at the university, whilst having a strong community of their own. Balancing commitments of supervisions, writing conference papers, and teaching, research life can be busy,... Continue Reading →

Finding your place as an international PhD Student

Doing your PhD as an international student can sometimes feel a bit scary and overwhelming. In this post, Daria discusses several ways of fighting the common fears of not fitting in or being left out.  By Daria Akhapkina Settling in a new environment is hard, especially coming from a completely different academic and cultural background.... Continue Reading →

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Aaron's PhD Journey

Navigating the phd in urban design and planning.

My Ph.D. journey begins (Part 1)!

It started in the philippines….

My journey to earn a Ph.D. degree began around 2017 when I decided that it was time for me to pursue a doctorate. It was about 5 years since I last left the country to complete my Master of Science in Practising Sustainable Development at Royal Holloway, University of London (read about it here: Today, two years ago I began a wonderful journey. : Bemuse. (aaronlecciones.com) !) and I felt that if I were to ever find time in my life now to do a terminal degree the time would be now. I was getting very busy with a lot of things, especially career-wise and I had to make that decision to either do it later or now – and I thought it better to disrupt my current life and career trajectory in exchange for having much better knowledge when I come back (since anyway, nothing is going anywhere, all the opportunity is still there when I come back). I applied to several schools but unfortunately it was unsuccessful since I didn’t get any funding and I couldn’t afford the entire costs for studying outside the country. I was, however, determined to find a way – be it studying in Europe (where I heard costs would be more manageable) or by taking out a loan if I had to study in the USA. Having already studied in Europe for my masters, I was intent on taking my Ph.D. in the United States of America – besides, I told myself, I’d love to live in the most advanced country in the world for a time. The experience from that would surely change me for the better when I came back home and helped the country grow! I did used to live in the States when I was younger. My family lived in Rockville, Maryland for a few years while my dad trained at the National Institutes of Health . I told myself, I can make this happen. I just need more time.

But as we all know, time is hard to come by when you’re a little bit older. Especially when your career has picked up somewhat, you are getting more settled in life, and importantly, many large life milestones that you have targeted seem to be converging together. So, I waited and continued my life – there was a lot to do at work, planning to build my house, and many others things. Before I knew it, it was already 2019 and I told myself, wow, I really need to seriously figure this out. But of course, we all know what happened in 2020! The COVID pandemic really messed things up but at the same time gave me some space to sort things out. At around that same time my mentor, Assistant Professor Carla Jimena , reached out to me for the third year in a row, that I should apply to Fulbright. Ma’am Carla, as we fondly call her, was the head of the Department of Social Development Services at the College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Banos when I was teaching there as an Assistant Professor. I capitulated, despite knowing how tough it was to get into that scholarship program, since I confess, was desperate! It’s hard to raise the millions of pesos needed to even begin to think of studying a postgraduate degree in the United States as an international student. So, in early 2021, I applied for the very prestigious Fulbright Scholarship .

My Fulbright journey begins…

I was out doing work the entire day as it was the first day of classes and as usual during the pandemic, there were so many adjustments to be made for the upcoming academic year. Never ending meetings, curriculum revisions, timetable modifications, reports to be made, and more that I missed an important text that day. September 20th, the next day at seven in the morning I read it and responded – the Director of the Philippine-American Educational Foundation called me right after and told me that he wanted to personally tell all the successful applicants about the outcome of their Fulbright Scholarships. I was the last call he made since I was completely oblivious with work the day before and didn’t immediately respond. I was so excited but at the same time dreadful! I had to now face the possible future that I would be gone for 5 years! And this was quite difficult since by the end of 2021, I was already planning to start construction of my house, I just accepted a very large consultancy project, still had some architecture projects ongoing, and I was still Director for Extensions Services at the College of Architecture . Thinking of all the preparation that had to be done and completing all the currently ongoing work made me queasy. Despite a successful application, I still had to get into a Ph.D. program a good university before the scholarship could be finalized and only after then I could make preparations for leaving. From September to December of 2021 my cohort of Fulbright-CHED scholars went through a series of seminars that helped us in the process of applying to different Ph.D. programs. From January to March of 2022, I received two acceptance letters, two rejections, and one waitlist. By April, I had registered for matriculation into the University of Washington, Seattle, and by May of 2022, I had signed my Fulbright contract after having chosen the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Lucky for me June till August was the summer months in the academic calendar in the Philippines which faculty allotted for admin, research, and public service work. That summer of 2022, though, I was busy packing my entire life’s worth of things into boxes. I would be giving up the place I was staying since I would not be able to build my house in time before I left. Packing more than ten years of your life into about 25 or so very large boxes is hard – physically and mentally. Being a stickler for organization, I wanted to pack similar things together, have physical lists printed for each box’s contents and digital records through lists and photographs. I got it done but not 100%, I left a few boxes open for the last things that would be packed and transferred to my mom’s place. Thank God for family who did the rest! Meanwhile, knowing I would be gone for a long time, I went to the beach for a quick vacation with some friends! Of course, where else would I be but in the sunny warm sands in the tropical beaches with cool crystal clear azure waters of Boracay and El Nido ?

I also had a vacation with my family, and I made sure to spend lots of time with them as I would be away for such a long time. Every moment that I could (which is usually all time anyways), I stayed with my niece and nephew, my sisters, my brother-in-laws, and my mom and dad. This was honestly the hardest part of the preparations but knowing that in five years I would be back and that I could visit every year made preparing to leave a lot easier. I also had to meet with all my coworkers and my boss at the University of the Philippines, meet with partners and collaborators in the different work I do from projects at Credesign , and the DENR-NCR , to the SCPW , and especially with the Office of Senator Cynthia A. Villar .

Before leaving the Philippine Fulbright Commission, PAEF, held a reception for all the scholars of the 2022 cohort at the Garden Ballroom of the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. This ballroom has good memories for me since this was also where my sister had her debut and that was a lot of fun and positive vibes!

And, just like that, I had to leave a lot of what I was doing – from work at the university, to projects with the SCPW, and lots of unfinished work at the Las Piñas – Parañaque Wetland Park.

The day to leave for the USA arrives.

In the morning of September 12, with all what I could pack in my three check-in luggage, my carry-on and my personal bag, I was off to the airport accompanied by my family. This was a special day since it was also the same day I left for the United Kingdom to take my masters a good 11 years prior. To get to this point involved a lot of planning and praying. A lot of ups and downs – and a lot of help from family. At the airport I felt so uneasy, like I wish I didn’t have to go but at the same time I knew this was something I wanted. I always get sentimental with good-byes!

With a somewhat heavy heart, I said good bye to my mom and three sisters – Yayi, Aisa, and Sara.

And this journey continues in Seattle, Washington…

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• 12 March 2024

Bring PhD assessment into the twenty-first century

You have full access to this article via your institution.

Innovation in PhD education has not reached how doctoral degrees are assessed. Credit: Dan Dunkley/Science Photo Library

Research and teaching in today’s universities are unrecognizable compared with what they were in the early nineteenth century, when Germany and later France gave the world the modern research doctorate. And yet significant aspects of the process of acquiring and assessing a doctorate have remained remarkably constant. A minimum of three years of independent study mentored by a single individual culminates in the production of the doctoral thesis — often a magisterial, book-length piece of work that is assessed in an oral examination by a few senior academic researchers. In an age in which there is much research-informed innovation in teaching and learning, the assessment of the doctoral thesis represents a curious throwback that is seemingly impervious to meaningful reform.

But reform is needed. Some doctoral candidates perceive the current assessment system to lack transparency, and examiners report concerns of falling standards ( G. Houston A Study of the PhD Examination: Process, Attributes and Outcomes . PhD thesis, Oxford Univ.; 2018 ). Making the qualification more structured would help — and, equally importantly, would bring the assessment of PhD education in line with education across the board. PhD candidates with experience of modern assessment methods will become better researchers, wherever they work. Indeed, most will not be working in universities: the majority of PhD holders find employment outside academia.

Collection: Career resources for PhD students

It’s not that PhD training is completely stuck in the nineteenth century. Today’s doctoral candidates can choose from a range of pathways. Professional doctorates, often used in engineering, are jointly supervised by an employer and an academic, and are aimed at solving industry-based problems. Another innovation is PhD by publication, in which, instead of a final thesis on one or more research questions, the criterion for an award is a minimum number of papers published or accepted for publication. In some countries, doctoral students are increasingly being trained in cohorts, with the aim of providing a less isolating experience than that offered by the conventional supervisor–student relationship. PhD candidates are also encouraged to acquire transferable skills — for example, in data analysis, public engagement, project management or business, economics and finance. The value of such training would be even greater if these skills were to be formally assessed alongside a dissertation rather than seen as optional.

And yet, most PhDs are still assessed after the production of a final dissertation, according to a format that, at its core, has not changed for at least half a century, as speakers and delegates noted at an event in London last month on PhD assessment, organized by the Society for Research in Higher Educatio n. Innovations in assessment that are common at other levels of education are struggling to find their way into the conventional doctoral programme.

Take the concept of learning objectives. Intended to aid consistency, fairness and transparency, learning objectives are a summary of what a student is expected to know and how they will be assessed, and are given at the start of a course of study. Part of the ambition is also to help tutors to keep track of their students’ learning and take remedial action before it is too late.

PhD training is no longer fit for purpose — it needs reform now

Formative assessment is another practice that has yet to find its way into PhD assessment consistently. Here, a tutor evaluates a student’s progress at the mid-point of a course and gives feedback or guidance on what students need to do to improve ahead of their final, or summative, assessment. It is not that these methods are absent from modern PhDs; a conscientious supervisor will not leave candidates to sink or swim until the last day. But at many institutions, such approaches are not required of PhD supervisors.

Part of the difficulty is that PhD training is carried out in research departments by people who do not need to have teaching qualifications or awareness of innovations based on education research. Supervisors shouldn’t just be experts in their field, they should also know how best to convey that subject knowledge — along with knowledge of research methods — to their students.

It is probably not possible for universities to require all doctoral supervisors to have teaching qualifications. But there are smaller changes that can be made. At a minimum, doctoral supervisors should take the time to engage with the research that exists in the field of PhD education, and how it can apply to their interactions with students.

There can be no one-size-fits-all solution to improving how a PhD is assessed, because different subjects often have bespoke needs and practices ( P. Denicolo Qual. Assur. Educ. 11 , 84–91; 2003 ). But supervisors and representatives of individual subject communities must continue to discuss what is most appropriate for their disciplines.

All things considered, there is benefit to adopting a more structured approach to PhD assessment. It is high time that PhD education caught up with changes that are now mainstream at most other levels of education. That must start with a closer partnership between education researchers, PhD supervisors and organizers of doctoral-training programmes in universities. This partnership will benefit everyone — PhD supervisors and doctoral students coming into the research workforce, whether in universities or elsewhere.

Education and training in research has entered many secondary schools, along with undergraduate teaching, which is a good thing. In the spirit of mutual learning, research doctoral supervisors, too, will benefit by going back to school.

Nature 627 , 244 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00718-0

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How to Find a PhD Topic

Don’t panic if you don’t know how to find a PhD topic. This is a struggle that afflicts many people, and even though you might feel like you are behind, or need to move faster, the reality is that you can and should spend some time working out your thesis.

Still, it’s difficult to advance through your studies if you feel like you are directionless, and it wouldn’t hurt to get a better idea of your PhD topic early on. Every centimeter of your academic path will assist you in your career goals, whether that’s as a scientist, a teacher, or just figuring out how to find a job in academia .

Thesis writing services could help you get ready to write your work, but expert tips will be good preparation, too. In this article, we present a step-by-step approach to how to find a PhD topic so that you can confidently pursue your academic studies.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 6 min read

Requirements for a phd topic.

Key to a PhD topic is the fact that you are contributing new knowledge to the current body of knowledge within your given field. It can be difficult to know what “knowledge” is, just as it can be tricky to discern what is a good, original “contribution,” and that search can be frustrating.

To test whether your idea is worthy, try to answer some questions about it:

d.     Once more, this comes down to articulation: can you explain how you will achieve the results you hope to achieve? "}]">

At the core of every great PhD topic is research, and lots of it. Your first task – and it is monumental – is to read extensively in your field. Any field is replete with information – tons of research and writings of those who have gone before – and this workload alone can feel voluminous. How do you cope?

Your thesis advisor is your first resource here, and they will make recommendations of materials that you should read. Proceeding from that point is a matter of curiosity. Give yourself over to being curious. Read an article and let yourself become fascinated enough to ask questions. Any key words or phrases which come up in that article – read up on those as well. Search out the sources and citations yourself and read through those. Follow the “rabbit trail” to glean the best knowledge about your chosen subject.

Try to stay current. Studying the ancient, venerable masters is a great way to learn, but if you\u2019re looking for how to find a PhD topic, you\u2019ll need to know what people are saying now, which means keeping largely to the latest papers, the latest research, and the latest opinions. ","label":"Another Tip","title":"Another Tip"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

After all your research, reading, conversation, and contemplation, you are ready to pinpoint what’s missing. Remember: your topic needs to be an original contribution, which means that it cannot be too close to existing research or theses.

It can be difficult to see what isn’t there. Like searching for a lost item that you cannot quite picture, describing a void or gap is never a simple task.

Some tips for searching the limits of the unknown:

• Curiosity is, once again, your friend. Apply the “who, what, where, when, why, and how?” questions to the latest publications in your field. These questions will yield the ideas that are still missing in each publication or paper.
• You also might ask, “what does that mean?” of any publication you read. For instance, you might read a paper on migration patterns in butterflies that accurately describes butterfly movements throughout the year. It might be extensive, examining different years, climates, and types of lepidoptera. But what do those migratory patterns mean? How might they be used for conservation purposes? Could you apply these data to anything else – bees, for instance – to learn their cycles and yearly patterns? By seeking out the implications or possibilities of a publication, you can find some interesting areas worth exploring.
• What’s the counterargument? You might read a fascinating article about an economic theory that sounds great. It might seem revolutionary – the best direction for the economy, in fact! But how do you know? Has anybody considered the opposite theory? Has anybody just decided they don’t like it? Or are there any extant critiques? Exploring opposing viewpoints might be a great way to further the field.

Are you ready for your thesis defense? Check out this infographic:

Narrowing Your Ideas and Remaining Flexible

Once you have allowed curiosity to reign supreme, acquired a list of potential areas to explore, and are brimming with knowledge and possibilities, it’s time to narrow the field. You can’t write eight theses, after all, so you must settle on one main PhD topic to fully explore.

It’s very important to remain flexible at this stage. Don’t rush into one topic that you’ll regret later.

The best tip to winnowing ideas while remaining flexible is to try each one out a little bit. Do a little free-form writing, come up with thought experiments and practical experiments that prove and disprove your idea, and maybe return to some of your favorite forums to bat the ideas around with peers.

By trying to elaborate and explore these ideas in writing, you will quickly find out which ones have weight, which spark your curiosity and interest, and which are dull, flat, or even shallow. You don’t want to accidentally pick a topic that only requires a couple of pages to explain, more or less, because you can’t build an academic paper out of that.

So, test out the ideas and topics and slowing whittle them down to only two or three big ideas that will support the weight of a full PhD topic.

Remember that when you are crafting your thesis, your thesis advisor is going to be involved, both at the proposal phase, and during their review of your thesis before your defense. So, plan for the long term, not the short term. It will take years to bring this about properly. Don’t rush, take your time, and make sure that whatever your topic is, it is something you can love for a long, potentially frustrating journey.

Keep in mind that, given your advisor’s involvement, you need to plan for extra time for review and discussion, as well as anticipate their reactions toward the end of your thesis journey. For example, your advisor might bring up an unforeseen element of your research before your defense, and you will need time to grapple with this advice and correct the thesis. In other words, plan for revision, even at the end of your studies.

Try to anticipate your advisor’s notes, but most importantly, give yourself the time and flexibility to respond properly and thoroughly.

What’s the difference between a Masters vs PhD? Which one should you pursue? Find out in this video:

Finalizing Your Thesis Topic

Curiosity remains your guide. What do you love? Which topic survives the scrutiny of a few test drafts or free-form musings, but also keeps you up at night in the best way?

That’s where you should begin your journey.

Then comes the task of crafting your thesis proposal, which consists of:

• An abstract
• A thesis statement
• The preliminary research you have done
• An explanation of why this topic is important and necessary – why it will be a meaningful contribution to your field
• How you will approach your subject, including any experiments or research you are intending to undertake in the pursuit of your thesis
• A literature review of existing material
• An estimation of your timeline, how you will proceed, and how long it will take
• The reach of this thesis and how it will affect fields beyond the immediate topic
• References and citations

The full process of how to find a PhD topic will never be simple or easy, but we hope these tips and steps that we have provided will make it feel more straightforward. Once you have accomplished them, you will be over the first hurdle, launching you toward your research, your writing, your thesis defense, and beyond to how to find a job after grad school .

You can refine it, change it, or modify it, but remember that any such modification will set your time frame for your PhD back. The greater the modification, the more work you will have ahead of you to “course correct” into the new topic.

Follow what excites you. Your academic career need not be a musty one; don’t pursue something that is dull or uninteresting. So, if you discover a new idea, incorporate it, or pursue it.

You might also find out, after embarking on your research, that somebody else is publishing something very similar. You might want to alter your thesis, or change it, if you find out that others are already working on your topic.

However, this is dependent on how deep into your research and/or thesis that you are. If you are a month out from completing your studies, put the new idea on the backbench and finish your work. There is definitely a time limit here.

If you have any doubts, share your qualms with your thesis advisor, who will be able to help you figure out if you have the time to expand or switch your topic.

Your descriptions should be very detailed. High academic standards apply to PhDs, and your notes and write-ups need to reflect this. Moreover, you are writing for academics, so there is no need to adapt your texts to use simpler language: give a full and complete description of your topic using current terminology in the field. Outline what you intend to accomplish and how you will fulfill your intentions.

The timeline will be different for every student, which is advice that should encourage you if you feel like you are behind your peers: everybody moves at their own pace.

Additionally, different research areas might require a longer contemplation period.

Finally, remember: your advisor needs to weigh in at both the beginning and the end of your thesis. Budget that time into your plan.

No field is exhaustible. There will always be more to learn. Can you arrive at the end of art? Of mathematics? Of history? It seems inconceivable that these areas will be depleted. While it might seem overwhelming – the idea of finding a truly original contribution – you will find one. It might take time, but if you remain curious and keep your mind open, you will arrive at the place you need to be.

As much as you want. They are tasked with helping you and will be glad to be of service. Any time you’re feeling stumped or want to bounce ideas off them, schedule an appointment, or visit during their office hours.

Do respect their time, however. If you’re monopolizing every moment they have, you might be there too much. Respecting boundaries and limits is necessary, but you should generally feel very free to ask for help; nobody faults you for asking.

No. You need to know generally what you are going to study and why, but you certainly don’t need thesis prep before applying to a graduate program. If you need any help with that, a PhD consultant can help you with your application.

There is no easy answer to this question. Some theses programs allow for you to move quickly and condense your time frame. Should you try to get your doctorate faster? That’s up to you.

The positive is getting into the job market faster, but the negative side will mean an extremely hectic schedule.

The ultimate answer is to take an honest look at what you want for your future and what you are capable of taking on. Weighing out those two factors will give you your answer.

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IISER Mohali Invites Applications For Admissions To PhD Programmes

Iiser mohali phd admissions 2024: the deadline for application submission is april 14. the phd programme has a total of 110 available positions while the ms-phd course has 20 seats to be filled..

IISER Mohali PhD Admissions 2024: Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a screening test/interview.

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali (IISER Mohali) has invited applications for its PhD and Integrated PhD programmes. Interested and eligible candidates can apply by visiting the official website . The deadline for application submission is April 14.

PhD Programme

Admission under this programme will include Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences.

Eligibility:

Prospective candidates must possess a Masters/BTech/MBBS/MTech degree with a good academic record. Additionally, they should hold qualifications such as CSIR-UGC-JRF/ICMR-JRF/DBT-JRF/DBT-BINC/DST-INSPIRE/NBHM in the relevant field or other nationally recognized fellowships, including those from private or state agencies.

Individuals who have qualified in exams such as GATE/JEST/GPAT/ICAR-NET/NET-LS/NBHM but lack a fellowship will also be considered for admission.

Application portal for admission to PhD and Integrated PhD program at IISER Mohali is open till April 14, 2024. PhD. https://t.co/sQYF98w0KX Integrated PhD. https://t.co/RfsapfJro0 — IISER Mohali (@IiserMohali) March 24, 2024

A limited number of these candidates may receive fellowships from external project grants associated with faculty members. Furthermore, certain candidates may be eligible for a few fellowships offered by IISER Mohali.

Total available positions: 110 (General 51, OBC-NCL 27, SC 15, ST 7, EWS 10).

Application Process:

Interested and eligible candidates can apply via the official website at iisermohali.ac.in. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a screening test/interview at IISER, Mohali.

Integrated MS-PhD Programme August 2024

This PhD programme includes Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics subjects.

Eligibility Criteria:

The applicant should possess a Bachelor's degree in science and related areas with a good academic record (at least 60% aggregate or at least CGPI 6.0 on a scale of 10).

Additional Qualifications:

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Applicants who have successfully completed any of the following national-level qualifying examinations are advised to mention their achievements in their application form:

• NBHM Masters or PhD scholarship for Mathematics
• Rank in JEST examination for Physics
• DST INSPIRE fellowship or KVPY scholarship
• Rank in IIT JAM for the chosen specialisation
• Rank in GATE.

Short-listed candidates will be called for a screening test/interview at IISER Mohali.

The maximum number of seats to be filled is 20 (General: 10, OBC-NCL: 5, SC: 2, ST: 1, and Gen EWS: 2).

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• The Politics of Safety by Shannon King, PhD: Book Launch, April 5

The Politics of Safety  by Shannon King, PhD: Book Launch, April 5

(l-r) Dr. Shannon King and Dr. Kris Sealy

Dr. King's groundbreaking new work delves into the intricate dynamics of police accountability and the Black struggle for safety in one of America's most iconic cities.

On Friday, April 5, from 5-7 p.m., the Humanities Institute will host a book launch and Q&A with Shannon King, PhD, associate professor of history. His groundbreaking new book, The Politics of Safety: The Black Struggle for Police Accountability in La Guardia's New York (University of North Carolina Press) delves into the intricate dynamics of police accountability and the Black struggle for safety in one of America's most iconic cities. 

The book launch event will take place in the Kelley Center Presentation Room and is free and open to the public. 

Dr. King, a distinguished historian renowned for his expertise in the Black freedom struggle outside the South —particularly New York City during the first half of the 20th century — brings forth a compelling narrative that challenges traditional understandings of urban policing and community activism.

For much of the 20th and 21st centuries, Dr. King argues, public officials in major cities like New York perpetuated narratives of Black criminality to justify harsh policing tactics. Through meticulous research, Dr. King reveals how liberal mayors like Fiorello H. La Guardia skillfully employed strategies that criminalized uprisings and marginalized Black voices calling for police accountability.

In The Politics of Safety , Dr. King uncovers the complexities of Black activism for safety, highlighting how the withholding of police protection amounted to a form of violence against Black communities and a violation of their civil rights. By shifting the focus away from familiar narratives of riots, Dr. King places Black activism against harm at the forefront of the Black freedom struggle, demonstrating how Black neighborhoods became occupied territories in La Guardia's New York.

Joining Dr. King for the launch event will be Kris Sealy, PhD, formerly of Fairfield University and currently a professor of philosophy at Penn State University. Dr. Sealy, known for her expertise in social movements and community politics, will engage Dr. King in conversation and co-lead a Q&A session.

Dr. King's previous work, Whose Harlem Is This, Anyway? received widespread acclaim for its insightful exploration of Black life in New York City. As an esteemed historian and educator, Dr. King's teaching and research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including Black freedom struggle, urban history, gender studies, and racial capitalism. Through his scholarship, he continues to shed light on marginalized narratives and redefine our understanding of American history.

Additionally, Dr. King was one of the featured experts on the 2022 PBS Series Making Black America: Through the Grapevine , a four-part series hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Book Launch:  The Politics of Safety: The Black Struggle for Police Accountability in La Guardia's New York

Date: Friday, April 5, 2024 Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: Kelley Center Presentation Room

Additional Details:

The event is free and open to the public. Reception to follow.

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