By Nicola Faramarzi, University of Westminster
Applying for a PhD can be tough. It is unlike other types of job applications and often candidates are not prepared for or aware of the desired formalities involved. Particularly for lab-based PhDs, sending a generic CV and personal statement just will not do.
By Caroline Wood, University of Sheffield
It’s a bit ironic really that my PhD topic ended up being the parasitic plant Striga gesnerioides. This notorious weed cannot survive without a host, so as soon as it germinates it attaches itself to the roots of a susceptible victim. A plant rather similar, then, to the mental illness I have been struggling with for over six years now.
By Ruth Nottingham, University of Nottingham,
UK
Professional development is probably the last thing on your mind when you are a busy PhD student juggling multiple experiments, but taking the time to reflect on your skill set and how to enhance it can pay off enormously in the long run.
By Gabriele Butkute, Science Policy Officer, Biochemical Society
While there rarely is a calm time in science policy, the last year has been particularly busy with the EU membership referendum, several consultations and bills, such as the HE & Research Bill, and now the General Election.
By Matthew Nolan, University of Oxford
The decision to begin a PhD is probably one of the biggest you’ll ever make in your career. A significant step up in both scope and expectation from undergrad, the prospect can at first seem a little daunting.
By Ian O’Neill, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
Over the past two decades the research into the ‘microbiome’ has increased substantially and has revealed that there are complex ecosystems of microbes living on or within us from birth.
By Caroline Wood, University of Sheffield
Climate change, drought, and insect pests – surely these are the greatest threats to food security? It may surprise you, but in certain regions it is actually other plants which are the farmer’s worst fear.
