PhD topic:

The effect of early life stress on emotional responding: A biological investigation into the effects of stress on fear circuitry and behaviour during development. (Behavioural Neuroscience).

Stage:

First year.

Degree/s completed:

B. Psychology Hons (Class 1).

Why do a PhD?

During her Honours year Bridget enjoyed the intellectual freedom and creativity that was involved in research, and made the decision to pursue a career in research by starting a PhD. Bridget believes that neuroscience has much to offer clinical treatments and research on psychological disorders. Thus, her choice to undertake clinical masters was based upon a desire to facilitate ‘cross-talk’ between research in the clinical and neuroscience domains. Bridget hopes to use her clinical training both as a clinician and as a researcher.

Skills and knowledge acquired as a result of doing a PhD:

Advantages of doing a PhD:

“Doing a PhD means that you are constantly in a stimulating environment, surrounded by interesting people, technology, and ideas”. Bridget believes that the most valuable thing about doing a PhD is being in, and having access to, such a stimulating environment – “I feel so lucky to be in an environment where learning new and exciting things is a daily occurrence”. Bridget also feels privileged that, through her research, she can contribute to knowledge in the field.

In the PhD program there are many opportunities for international travel to conferences; Bridget looks forward to sharing her research with the world. She thinks that sharing ideas with some of the great researchers in the field will be hugely rewarding.

Sources of motivation and inspiration:

Bridget is motivated by a thirst for information, her curiosity to find out how our brain works and how it interacts with the environment drives her enthusiasm for research. Bridget finds her inspiration in the people that she works with – “I am surrounded by people who love what they do, it is so nice to get up in the morning and be excited about work and to be around people who are also excited”.

Balance of work and personal life:

Bridget says that a PhD involves a lot of time and energy, so it is important to take time out. Spending time with friends and family is important to Bridget, as is exercise, recreational reading and sleep. Bridget believes that the best way to balance her work and personal life is to reward hard work with valuable personal time.

Maintenance of skills and professional knowledge:

Bridget currently maintains her skills and professional knowledge largely through reading – “I read all the time, as much as I possibly can”. She also tries to read broadly, to help her think ‘outside of the box’. Bridget also takes the time to talk to people from many different fields – “I have found out so many interesting and helpful things through talking to people”. Bridget hopes to attend and present at many conferences, and also to attend regular professional development workshops during the course of her PhD and onwards in the future.

Career goals and strategies:

Bridget hopes to use her clinical skills to inform basic, biological research that might have direct clinical implications. She would also like to combine her research with working as a clinician – she has a particular interest in the treatment of trauma memories, anxiety, depression, and behavioural disorders in young children. After completing her PhD, Bridget hopes to attain a post-doctoral position at an overseas university where she can expand her technical and research skills, and her knowledge base.

Final words of advice:

“Doing a PhD requires a lot of time, hard work and commitment. If you are not 100% motivated by your area then you are going to find it very difficult to keep on track. Make sure that you are really passionate about what you are researching before you get started”.

“Although it is often hard, you need to be able to detach yourself from your research. There will be times when things are not going as planned, I believe that the ability to work through these tough times without getting too emotionally invested is a quality that will help you persevere”.

“Have fun! There are probably very few opportunities in life when one is surrounded by such opportunity for knowledge and development – take advantage of it”.

PhD topic:

The own-race bias in face recognition (Cognitive Psychology, with a bit of Social and Forensic Psychology thrown in there for fun!)

Stage:

Third year (of a 4-year degree)

Degree/s completed:

B.Psychology Hons (Class 1) and the University Medal (2006)

Why do a PhD?

Kirin chose to do a PhD because she felt there was more to explore in the topic she covered in her Honours thesis. She also hopes to incorporate both practitioner and research work into her career, and so saw the combined degree as the perfect preparation. Because her research topic is largely based in cognitive and social psychology, this work combined with her Forensic Masters allows her to be exposed to a much broader range of research and potential job opportunities. Kirin also felt a PhD will give her an ‘edge’ over other Masters graduates and demonstrate her ability to effectively perform in more managerial and supervisory roles.

Skills and knowledge acquired as a result of doing a PhD:

Kirin believes these skills are universal enough to be useful in any field she may choose to work in.

Advantages of doing a PhD:

Doing a PhD, being an internationally-recognised qualification, opens many doors for international employment, which is something Kirin is particularly interested in. Kirin also enjoys the many opportunities for stimulating debate that doing a PhD provides: the chance to present at conferences, engage in collaborative research, and to simply “hold your own” in conversations with the leading researchers in your field (talking with the “big names” can be hugely satisfying). Finally Kirin enjoys the autonomous work a PhD allows you to do, and the freedom (but also support) it provides to experiment with new ways of conducting research.

Sources of motivation and inspiration:

Kirin is motivated by the fact that many students she teaches and runs experiments with “actually find my research interesting!”. She really enjoys how her research can be applied to the ‘every day interactions between people’. She is also motivated by the many women who have achieved outstanding academic and governmental influence, as this is where she hopes her career progresses. Finally, Kirin enjoys watching the “story” of her PhD develop, and gets a kick out of when “an experiment you didn’t think would work comes out beautifully, or you get a set of results that you never expected – that’s always the most exciting”.

Balance of work and personal life:

Kirin says she can find it hard to maintain a good balance (“because I’m a perfectionist!”), but she likes to ‘de-stress’ by doing exercise every day, taking time out to cook, and salsa dancing.

Maintenance of skills and professional knowledge:

Kirin maintains her skills and professional knowledge by going to professional development workshops, subscribing to various journals, attending and presenting at conferences, and doing regular literature searches. She also enjoys talking with people who are working in the field and other researchers to keep informed of what new research is being developed.

Career goals and strategies:

Kirin hopes to work in a forensic setting. She would like to do treatment work initially, but hopes to combine this with research work, such as examining the effectiveness of treatment programs that are run in prisons. Long-term Kirin would like to play a role in policy development and program implementation, such that she gets to play a role in determining just where governmental money goes and what programs should be run. Ultimately Kirin wants to be doing work “where I am doing something different every day, and interacting with a wide range of people”.

Final words of advice:

“Make sure you leave at the end of each day knowing you have accomplished something (no matter how small). A PhD is best achieved through constant small steps.”

“Develop friendships with people who have nothing to do with your research or psychology – maintain a life outside of university.”

“Take every opportunity to develop skills, go to conferences, and get involved in research opportunities outside your own small area. It reminds you of everything going on outside your own lab, and just might enlighten you about a new way to approach an old (or frustrating) problem.”

“Never be afraid to ask for help, and take it whenever it is offered.”

PhD topic:

How our gambling psychology may be affected as part of the natural aging process.

Stage:

Second year

Degree/s completed:

MA Hons (Class 1), The University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Why do a PhD?

During Anna’s undergraduate career, she realised something that made her stand out from most of her peers... a liking for statistics! In her third year her academic mentor suggested using her intellect for research, and the PhD seed was planted. Soon after Anna began speaking to PhDs to get a feel for what the experience would involve, and realised that this was a way she could combine her thirst for numbers with her passion for understanding the human mind.

Skills and knowledge acquired as a result of doing a PhD:

Advantages of doing a PhD:

PhD research puts Anna on the cutting edge of science in a collaborative, supportive environment. To Anna, the mental stimulation gained from conceptualising and designing experiments, through to the exciting analysis stage never gets boring. Furthermore, presenting her research to others and writing scientific papers is immensely fulfilling. On another note, having a PhD is like having a ‘passport to the world’, opening up employment opportunities in countries that may otherwise be unavailable.

Sources of motivation and inspiration:

Anna is motivated by the sheer challenge that doing a PhD presents and by the feeling of accomplishment that awaits (hopefully!) when her thesis is handed in. Her inspiration is her supervisor who exemplifies having a successful career in academia, as well as being lots of fun and down to earth.

Balance of work and personal life:

This can get muddy for a PhD and unless clear boundaries and guidelines are in place, it can be difficult to know when to stop (and start again)! Anna has found a dialogue with which to speak about her research to people she meets socially, in a way that interests people. She finds this very helpful in hearing what her topic might mean to the general public, and ‘keeps it real’.

Maintenance of skills and professional knowledge:

Anna attends departmental seminars, professional development workshops and lectures and information sessions run by the Graduate Research School. She also travels to conferences in her field, has regular meetings with her supervisor and keeps abreast of current findings.

Career goals and strategies:

At this stage, Anna sees careers in academia, policy research, media and industry as viable options. The skills developed throughout the PhD process open up boundless possibilities.

Final words of advice:

“Take the plunge and explore your natural curiosity.”

“Make your contribution, add your one word to the master thesis of enlightenment”

PhD topic:

The relationship between parenting, parent-child interaction and conduct problems (e.g., aggression, oppositional behaviour) in children with callous-unemotional traits. (Clinical Child Psychology).

Stage:

Third year (of a four-year degree)

Degree/s completed:

B.A Psych Hons (Class 1)

Why do a PhD?

Dave chose to do a PhD for three main reasons; (i) the excitement of uncovering new scientific discoveries, (ii) to complement his training as a clinical psychologist specialising in child and adolescent psychopathology, and (iii) as an outlet for his creativity.

Skills and knowledge acquired as a result of doing a PhD:

Advantages of doing a PhD:

Dave advocates that in clinical psychology, following a career in research can allow you to serve on the ‘frontline’ in the dissemination of therapeutic interventions to the community, because you are discovering new things about old problems. Furthermore, because of the opportunities to become involved in a global research community, Dave believes that a PhD opens doors to establishing links with people sharing a common interest and life-passion; which can enrich the quality of work and enjoyment in one’s career.

Sources of motivation and inspiration:

Primarily, Dave’s motivation comes from the hope that his research will help contribute to a better understanding into ways to assist children and their families facing difficulties. He also takes satisfaction in his research when he sees parts of it unfolding in real life.

Balance of work and personal life:

Dave likes to work according to his ‘natural rhythm’ – also taking time off when necessary to do things that matter more than work. For some students, doing a combined postgraduate degree will mean the loss of occasional weekends, but according to Dave, this is an easy sacrifice to make in the long-run. With that said, he makes sure he is always able to play his sport!

Maintenance of skills and professional knowledge:

Dave is fortunate enough to be part of a research team (at the Child Behaviour Research Clinic), which provides him with opportunities to keep up-to-date with the latest advancements in his area and to attend various workshops. In addition, the university provides Dave with opportunities to present his research findings at international conferences.

Career goals and strategies:

Dave hopes to one day collaboratively devise and trial new family-based treatments for children with behavioural problems, thereby allowing him to synergistically pursue the science and practise of clinical child psychology. Dave’s strategy is to focus on the most important aspect of research – the benefit to the community – this way he will “keep it real”.

Final words of advice:

“Pursue a project simply because you love it and it is fascinating – you need to be intrinsically motivated.”

“ Become involved in a research team – a PhD can be a lonely journey for some."

“Imagination is more important than knowledge” A. Einstein – a PhD is the process of creating new ideas based on previous knowledge.

Current place of employment:

NSW Commission for Children and Young People

Degree/s completed:

B.Sc. (Psych) Hons (Class 1)
Completed PhD in August 2000

PhD topic:

Social Psychology-Stereotypes of young people

Why do a PhD?

Melissa wanted a career in research, and therefore chose to complete a PhD in order to achieve her goal.

PhD area:

Melissa examined stereotypes of young people and the way those stereotypes influence the propensity of young people to engage in delinquent or criminal behaviour. Her research aim was to suggest strategies for juvenile crime prevention that involve members of the broader community, not simply young people themselves.
She chose this area of research because she considers herself to be a youth advocate and planned to work as a researcher of youth-related issues upon completion of her PhD.

Career/Study path:

Before beginning her PhD, Melissa completed a BSc (Psychology), and did an Honours research thesis that examined the factors that are associated with engagement in adolescent delinquent behaviour. She also worked as a research assistant on a qualitative study that examined the major influences on young people’s engagement in criminal activity.

Current place of employment:

Melissa has recently obtained a position as a Research Officer at the NSW Commission for Children and Young People. She is currently managing a research project into youth suicide, self-harm, and risk-taking behaviour.

Skills and knowledge acquired as a result of doing a PhD:

Advantages of doing a PhD:

“Doing a PhD is a necessity if you want a career in academia and a huge advantage if you want a career in research.”

Are there any disadvantages?

“Having a PhD can never really be a disadvantage.”

Sources of motivation and inspiration:

Melissa is deeply committed to her area of research. Consequently, her research topic provided her with a great source of motivation and inspiration.

“In my opinion, a strong belief in your research area is essential to get through a PhD.”

Balance of work and personal life:

Melissa treated her PhD like a job, by aiming to work from Monday to Friday, while having her evenings and weekends to herself. She managed to maintain this work practice for most of her candidature, but also notes that, like any job, there are busy periods where she was required to work some evenings and weekends.

Maintenance of skills and professional knowledge:

Melissa subscribes to the journal; Youth Studies Australia, which keeps her up to date with youth-related areas of research. She also attends several conferences each year.

She has also attended several statistical workshops (e.g. structural equations modeling, qualitative data analysis courses), which have provided her with useful skills for research applications.

Final words of advice:

“I think it is important to have some idea of where you see yourself in terms of your career. If you foresee a career in academia or research then a PhD is a good way to go. It is also important to know yourself in terms of work habits and personality. A PhD requires enormous amounts of self-motivation and discipline. If you lack these qualities, you will find it very difficult. In other words, it is important to realise that you are ultimately responsible for your success. Your supervisor will hopefully guide you, but it is your work and so you need to set yourself milestones and targets along the way.”

“I also think that the strategy of treating a PhD like a job is useful. That way, you have plenty of time for your personal life, which is extremely important if you are to survive a PhD.”

“Finally, it is also helpful to share your experiences and ideas with fellow PhD students. Apart from providing company and friendship in a sometimes very lonely environment, this helps to put the difficult times in perspective, as you realise that everyone goes through rough periods.”