Managing your PhD project

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Managing your PhD project

• 8 April 2008

Warwick Raverty
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Talk outline

• Introduction
• Setting the scene
• Steps to managing a successful project
• What I would do differently
• Questions?

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Getting started
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Setting the scene

• What would you do if you were faced with the
  following scenario
• You manage a large manufacturing facility making
  a single commodity product that is the market
  leader
• The facility you manage contributes 350M profit
  annually to the companies bottom line
• Suddenly and for no apparent reason the product
  quality deteriorates alarmingly
• Angry customers are calling daily threatening to
  go elsewhere and to sue you for consequential
  claims
• You have less than 48h to find a solution or you
  will be replaced!

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A possible solution!
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Does it apply to you?

• This is an extreme example of what confronts
  industry almost daily. It has similarities to
  what you as a PhD student may face - why so?
• You have a daunting project that you are expected
  to manage efficiently and effectively
• The project may be part of a larger program that
  is dependent on external funds for ongoing
  support
• There is a time limitation - 3 years
• There is a cost involved - success or failure
• Your supervisor may become the angry customer

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The Dilbert solution
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Managing a successful project

• With your PhD thesis or any technical challenge
• Understand the problem in its widest sense
• Do your homework read the literature
• Set specific objectives and dates
• Plan the work program
• Allocate timelines and milestones
• Recognise and assess the risks continuously

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Understand the problem/challenge

• Break it down to a single sentence
• The aim of the task (or my thesis) is .
• Stick you answer above your desk and edit it
  regularly

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Do your homework

• Take a holistic approach
• Search the literature for relevant sources
• Locate and access data bases
• Talk to people who can help
• Read, read and read particularly New Scientist
  you are attempting a doctorate in philosophy,
  not just chemistry
• Above all, do not reinvent the wheel

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Plan the work program

• Design experimental protocols
• Develop experimental procedures
• Organise or undertake field trips
• Keep detailed laboratory notebook
• Present at seminars and conferences
• Practise your English expression write thesis
  chapters as you go writing will identify GAPS
  to fill in.
• Write papers for publication

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Set timelines and milestones

• Although RD can be unpredictable, you can still
  set up a time management plan in say 6 monthly
  periods

Specify actual dates if you can
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Prepare a Gantt chart MS Project
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or an Excel spreadsheet
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Recognise the risks

• Understand that not all experiments or approaches
  will be successful
• Keep a balance between work more likely to
  succeed and that which has high inherent risk
• Remember reward is usually linked to effort The
  harder you work, the luckier you get!
• Stress and depression are major risks

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Stress depression

• Understand yourself tendency to depression is
  inherited if you come from a family with
  depression be aware of the symptoms
• Sleep deprivation is a good trigger for
  depression
• Develop a few trusting relationships people
  with whom you can share problems
• Dont self medicate SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
  EARLY
• BEING STRESSED OR DEPRESSED IS NOT SOMETHING TO
  BE ASHAMED OF
• Develop an interest in human psychology read
  about it it could even help your love life!

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Above all, try to maintain a sense of humour and
balance
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What I would do differently

• Exert more effort in the planning phase
• Be absolutely ruthless in managing time
• Work hard early the 50/30/20 and not the
  20/30/50 rule
• Write (papers or chapters) when in the mood
• Stay motivated at all times, most people need to
  do soul work to stay motivated

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Questions?