The study of a doctorate is not one that every Tom, Dick, and Harry can pursue. It requires a combination of intelligence, dedication, and passion for the subject. These are the few qualities that distinguish a PhD student from other graduate students.
In his words, Barry Rountree, argues that a great PhD student sees the interesting questions that others have missed, has the creativity to come up with unexpected solutions, and has the intellect, technical chops, communication skills and maturity to demonstrate success to the wider community.
Pursuing a doctorate program in any field can be challenging but at the same time intriguing. It comes with some ups and downs and sometimes you may be tempted to quit. But remember, quitting is not an option when you remember what motivated you to start in the first instance.
Qualities of a Great PhD Student
A PhD program is designed to educate and select high-caliber academics. As such, a PhD student is required to have qualities and attitudes beyond just intelligence in their specific field. These key qualities include motivation, enthusiasm, verbal and written communication skills, creativity, and self-discipline.
A PhD comprises a large fraction of self-guided study, and it is therefore vital that PhD students have the ability to direct their own learning: to search out, gather, and evaluate information. Below is an expanded view of the qualities of a great PhD student.
#1. Intellectual Curiosity
Intellectual curiosity is one of the most essential characteristics of a doctoral student. It is an internal drive that compels an individual to explore, learn, and know more about a particular topic. It is an abiding interest in the 5W-H (who, what, when, which where, and how) that can fuel innovation and creativity. Intellectual curiosity focuses on questions that inspire an objective perspective and the exploration of new frontiers, rather than opinions, feelings, and individual experiences.
David Karger, a Professor at MIT EECS said “The primary purpose of PhD work is to advance human knowledge. Since you’re working at the edge of what we know, the material you’re working with is hard—you have to be smart enough to master it (intelligence). This is what qualifying exams are about. But intelligence is just a starting point. The first thing you actually have to do to advance human knowledge is to ask questions about why things are the way they are and how they could be made better (curiosity)”.
#2. Passion for Research
A great PhD student has a passion for, and is genuinely intrigued by, research. They ask questions and then ask follow-up questions to those questions that are beyond the obvious. They think critically and creatively about their research projects. They go well beyond the minimum in terms of effort and results. They are not simply jumping through academic hoops to get the piece of paper. They have always wanted to do research, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime for them.
Once the research has started, some of the initial excitement can start to wear off over time, particularly for longer-duration research projects. A great PhD student can rekindle interest in the research project if enthusiasm has started to wane. They are interested in, and want to discuss, their research even if it isn’t always the most interesting topic for the researcher.
#3. Resilience and Perseverance
Pursuing a PhD is not always smooth sailing. Like other postgraduate students, PhD students have to deal with hidden or visible challenges every day. They face very challenging times, and the struggle is quite real. Whether it is struggling with the quality of research, difficulties in dealing with different personalities, or life challenges, PhD students must keep on keeping on. Resilience and perseverance in the face of hardship make a great PhD student. Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from adversity, and giving up is not an option. The ability to resist temptations and stay focused makes a great PhD student.
A great PhD student is capable of bouncing back in the face of difficulties. Everyone has their own strategy to cope with challenges. It could be an interest in sports, simple philosophy, a belief in God, or a close circle of family and friends. Seeking help or sharing difficulties with mentors, colleagues, and friends can often be beneficial. Resilience is not determined solely by personality traits, but some traits are helpful. Having an internal locus of control and realistic optimism, or being organized and goal-oriented, can attract positive experiences and increase resilience.
#4. Discipline and Productivity
A successful PhD student should possess a proactive and disciplined approach to their work. While they need to stay focused on their tasks, it is also crucial for them to avoid staying busy for the sake of it. Instead, they should concentrate on tasks that directly contribute to their goals. It is not enough to simply put in a certain number of hours each day; rather, they must actively assess their progress and be willing to adjust their strategies if they are not making headway. In addition to traditional research skills, discipline and proactive productivity are essential qualities for outstanding PhD students.
#5. Effective Communication Skills
Strong communication skills are essential for PhD students carrying out their dissertation research. This includes being able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. It is expected that PhD students will share their work widely by participating in seminars and conferences, which is especially important for those in the early stages of their research. When presenting their work, students should be able to communicate their ideas clearly and in an engaging way to a diverse audience that may include experts, fellow students, and academics from other fields. It is important to simplify complex ideas and use language that is accessible to a wide range of people.
Written communication involves the construction of a research paper for publication. Writing a review paper is a good practice for an early-stage PhD candidate. It enhances the overview of the research area and practices writing skills. A great PhD student must master scientific skills such as conducting literature searches, understanding scientific methodology, and recognizing what constitutes a significant scientific advance. PhD candidates should be able to write manuscripts independently without the assistance and interference of a supervisor or senior student.
#6. Time Management and Organization
Organization and time management are skills that every student can develop, even if they don’t come naturally. First-year graduate students often find it challenging to balance research, classes, meetings, deadlines, personal time, and more. However, once they learn how to stay on top of their tasks, this balancing act becomes much easier. Successful PhD students view the process of earning their doctorate as a long-term endeavor, rather than a quick sprint. They excel in time management and possess strong organizational skills, setting their own deadlines, breaking their work into manageable segments with specific goals, and taking short breaks to recharge.
They also make sure to reward themselves when they reach their targets, which helps them achieve a state of intense focus and productivity. These students meticulously plan out each day, establishing routines and prioritizing tasks to maximize efficiency. They minimize distractions during work time by utilizing strategies such as a “Do Not Disturb” door tag and muting social media. Additionally, they establish systems for maintaining data and lab organization to ensure ethics, transparency, accessibility, reliability, rigor, and trust.
Many qualities characterize a superb PhD student, these include persistence, humility, passion for research, critical thinking, enthusiasm, and great communication skills. It’s not easy to find students with all of these qualities, but they must be present to some degree in all successful PhD candidates. Moreover, effective PhD students tend to be the best research colleagues, coauthors, and advisors. They become mentors who help build solid foundations for students and serve as friendly colleagues. They encourage receptiveness and foster positivity to strive for adaptable teamwork, which any top research group needs.
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