Starting a PhD can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re juggling research, writing, and everything in between. In this post, I share 6 practical tips that helped me manage my thesis from the very beginning of my PhD. These are the lessons I wish someone had shared with me—and the habits that helped me finish strong.
My PhD Experience
10 Tips For Writing Your Thesis
Writing a thesis can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this post, I share 10 practical tips that helped me (and many others) stay organized, focused, and sane through the process. From protecting dedicated writing time and leveraging tools like Mendeley, to letting go of perfection and embracing progress, these strategies are designed to help Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students complete their work efficiently without losing sleep—or their minds.
My PhD journey: final lessons
It was 11:59 pm. A few hours earlier, I laid on my bed to get some sleep, but sleep eluded me. I had a lot on my mind – so much that I fought hard to hold back the hot… Read More ›
Five things you should know about doing a PhD in Africa
Undertaking a PhD programme in Africa has been one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life. In my previous post, I narrated my rationale for settling for my programme of choice. Also, based on my… Read More ›
My “African” PhD Journey
A while ago, I received a message from a very concerned well-wisher. He wondered why I chose to pursue a PhD in Africa – and in Ghana of all places (those were his exact words). He added that I was… Read More ›
Dealing with feelings of inadequacy during your research career
Do you know how to drive a manual car?” He asked. “If you do, you will understand this illustration vividly. If you want to accelerate, you start with ‘half clutch’, then you slowly release your legs from the clutch and… Read More ›
My PhD Journey 3: Lessons Learnt So Far
To be very honest with you, deciding whether or not to post these lessons was a real struggle for me. I had to search deeply within myself to find reasons to post. Inspired by the award I got during the… Read More ›
My PhD Journey 2: Lessons Learnt So Far
“Do you know how to drive a manual car?” He asked. “If you do, you would understand this illustration vividly: if you want to accelerate, you start with ‘half clutch’, then you slowly release your legs from the clutch and… Read More ›
Legacy…
Just a few weeks after I resumed at the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Ghana, I took a tour of all the laboratories present in the facility. During this tour, I noticed a commemorative… Read More ›
Writing research proposals: Some hints
Writing a research proposal is always a daunting task, especially for a beginner. However, it is a skill that is vital for anyone aspiring to pursue a career in research. In the past twelve months, I have written at least… Read More ›
My PhD Journey: Lessons Learnt So Far
I commenced my PhD programme in Molecular and Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), the University of Ghana in August last year. WACCBIP is a world-class research centre where… Read More ›
Writing a compelling statement of purpose
The statement of purpose is a critical requirement for many graduate applications; it must be clearly and thoughtfully written to highlight your uniqueness. One of the most frequently asked questions by intending graduate students is “how do I write a… Read More ›
The search for Ph.D. opportunities: Some helpful tips
The search for fully funded opportunities for a PhD could be very competitive and challenging, especially for someone just starting the journey. With tons of highly qualified graduates and limited job opportunities, a PhD seems to be the “path of… Read More ›