What to expect when you’re expecting… the End of your PhD

Keiran Suchak, Petar Hristov

University of Leeds

Introductions

Keiran Suchak

2010 – 2013 : BSc Physics, Imperial College London

2013 – 2014 : MSc Aerospace Dynamics, Cranfield University

2014 – 2015 : Aviation Observations Scientist, Met Office

2015 – 2016 : MSc Mathematics, University of Leeds

2016 – 2017 : Analyst/Developer, Ampere Analysis

2017 – 2022 : CDT Data Analytics and Society, University of Leeds

2020 : Data Science Fellow, Connect Places Catapult + Buckinghamshire County Council

2022 – Present : Research Fellow, University of Leeds

Petar Hristov

2011 – 2015 : BSc Computer Science, University of Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria)

2015 – 2016 : Co-founder + Web Developer, Phantomloops (Leeds)

2016 – 2017 : MSc Mathematics + Computer Science, University of Leeds

2017 – 2022 : PhD Topology for Large Scale Data Analysis, University of Leeds

2020 : Graduate Research Intern, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (California, US)

2022 – Present : Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Durham

Experiences

Coming to the end of the PhD

  • Writing up the PhD

  • Applying for jobs

  • Moving on

Writing up

PhD Writing Process

Writing up

PhD Writing Process

Applying for jobs

  • I was lucky, I guess

  • I just kinda’ fell into it…

  • I happened to be in the right place the right time

Moving on

  • Finishing the PhD

  • Starting a new job

  • What is it like working as a Postdoc?

Tips

Writing up

  • Start writing early

  • It doesn’t have to be perfect

  • It’s easier to edit documents than writing from scratch

Applying for jobs

  • What sort of job do you want to do?

  • Where do you find them?

  • How do you write a good application?

Applying for jobs

  • What sort of job do you want to do?

    • Think about what you want from your job

    • Think about why you want to do your job

  • Where do you find them?

    • Talk to supervisors

    • Talk to your peers

  • How do you write a good application?

    • Contact the PI

    • Review each other’s CVs

    • Check out the STAR method

    • Think about transferable skills

Moving on

  • Try to avoid overlap of writing up and new job

  • Think about how things are changing

  • Find a way to process the end of the PhD

  • Consider taking a break

  • Celebrate

Finishing your PhD, Starting a Postdoc