When I tell people about my job as a graduate student, they tell me “They couldn’t be working on the same thing for four years!”.
It’s like doing a doctorate, working on a specific task for four years straight. I think this is one of the most common misconceptions about PhDs. Although it is true that I have been working on one thing for four years: my thesis and my defense, there is one thing that I am not working on at all.
Teaching students is a challenge for researchers
Teaching requires different skills, from creating a lesson plan, directing students, working with administrators and the student council is enough. While researchers are busy building their academic reputation by publishing, fundraising and demonstrating the impact of their research, teaching-related activities (often overlooked) are a powerful way to demonstrate the development of research.
Academic teaching activities provide skills such as effective oral communication, leadership skills, self-reflection to adapt and refine techniques, and time management to balance teaching and doctoral study. However, researchers are limited in their independent research work and self-management, making it difficult for them to improve these skills.
What is a good scholarship for a doctoral student?
The average annual allowance in the United States is between about $23,000 and $33,000 per year. As a graduate student, none of these scholarships will make you rich, but you can survive.
The highest PhD scholarships most students can get are between 30,000 and 33,000 USD. Interestingly, scholarships vary by discipline. The highest scholarships are usually found in disciplines where it is more difficult to get a PhD or to get PhD positions.
Competitions and scholarships
Although many doctoral students do not consider these income opportunities, there are still university competitions, startup hackathons and events where scholarships can be won. In many cases, private companies looking to hire employees, universities looking to engage their students, or startup organizers looking to bring people together to tackle existing challenges offer cash prizes offer to attract more participants. It’s a great opportunity not only to meet people, but also to have fun. Here is a list of competitions that may interest you: Student competitions
Parallel work is not surprising. However, there is often the opportunity to do something completely different during the PhD than what you are doing now. It’s a great way to be creative, connect with people, or even work on your sales skills. If you are looking for a part-time job, please do not hesitate to email us at: team@oa.mg