A Love&Hurt Relationship from Nature-nj7677-549a.pdf
Summary
Nature's 2017 PhD survey shows PhDs' mainly problems are maintaining work-life balance, career path, finacial issues, uncertainty about the value of PhD and so on. Over a quater of respondents have some mental health prolems such as uncertain about their future which are not easy to solve. The survey result also revealed a tense bridge between the student's success and a well-matched PhD mentor. Finally, even though PhD students have many problems during their pursuit of studies, they are determined as ever to purse research careers.
In the survey, 44% of respondents would change adviser (23%) and change area of study (21%) when being asked "What would you do differently right now if you were starting your programme?"
Somehow, about half of respondents were regret with their previous decisions.
36% of respondents believed that they were lack of career guidance from their metor.
Mentorship benefits more to respondents’ overall satisfaction with their PhD programme than did any other factor. Specifically, guidance from an adviser proved to be the top determinant.
When I was told that most students work over 40 hours per week, I summarized my work hours, mine was less than 30! I am shamed when I get this data. 50% of PhDs work over 50 hours, 27% of PhDs work over 60 hours!!!
