Solo Session: What does it mean to be a PhD in the 21st Century?

PhD Lounge

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26d ago 34:31

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Thank you for tuning in to PhD Lounge, you'll become a Doctor of Philosophy by immersing yourself into the latest topics of the PhD Universe

In this solo session, I share a candid reflection on passing the viva, then map the four pillars of a modern PhD: funding, mental health, career strategy, and networking.

Practical stories, honest stats, and a nudge to build options beyond the thesis Viva highlights and next steps. Funding sources, tradeoffs, and timing. Mental health risks, supports, and pacing. Academic vs industry routes and optionality. Entrepreneurial mindset for uncertain markets. Networking as social capital, not transactions. Online presence for visibility and community. Choosing the PhD with eyes open.

Thank you all for tuning in, it's been a pleasure!

Hazell, C. M., Chapman, L., Valeix, S. F., Roberts, P., Niven, J. E., & Berry, C. (2020). Understanding the mental health of doctoral researchers: a mixed methods systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-synthesis. Systematic Reviews, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01443-1

Horwitz, I. M. (2025). The Entrepreneurial Scholar: A New Mindset for Success in Academia and Beyond. Princeton University Press.

Last, A. (2025). The ‘creative thesis’ in the academic ‘anxiety machine.’ Area. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.70007

Pham, T. (2025). What really contributes to employability of PhD graduates in uncertain labour markets? Globalisation Societies and Education, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2023.2192908

Satinsky, E. N., Kimura, T., Kiang, M. V., Abebe, R., Cunningham, S., Lee, H., Lin, X., Liu, C. H., Rudan, I., Sen, S., Tomlinson, M., Yaver, M., & Tsai, A. C. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analysis of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among Ph.D. students. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93687-7

Students and graduates,
Have a break from this session by hearing a late-night talk I had with Michael Gerharz, PhD, about the impact of communication in your PhD and in public.
Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!

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Chapters

1. Solo Session: What does it mean to be a PhD in the 21st Century? (00:00:00)

2. Host’s Viva And Big Milestone (00:07:05)

3. Future Plans And New Opportunities (00:10:49)

4. Solo Session Setup And Core Question (00:12:14)

5. The PhD’s Changing Role Today (00:13:52)

6. The Many Tracks Of A Modern PhD (00:24:04)

7. Funding Realities And Tradeoffs (00:27:38)

8. Mental Health And Staying The Course (00:30:30)

9. Careers, Uncertainty, And Entrepreneurship (00:32:59)

10. Networking As Long-Term Social Capital (00:35:39)

11. Weighing The Choice And Final Reflections (00:38:52)

12. Where To Listen And How To Connect (00:40:34)

28 episodes

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