PhD insights with Dr Violeta Berdejo-Espinola: Navigating your PhD effectively

Written by Dr Violeta Berdejo-Espinola


Starting a PhD is an incredible journey - one that, towards the end can feel both daunting and exciting. Having recently completed mine, I’ve transitioned into a Postdoctoral position at The University of Queensland, where I’m now working on maximising the use of non-English language for evidence-based conservation decisions and policy. For this, I use natural language processing (a subfield of artificial intelligence) and machine learning and also multilingual evidence synthesis. 

Reflecting on my time as a PhD student, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and grow in many ways. In this piece, I share insights from my journey - covering some of the challenges, growth, and valuable lessons I’ve gained. I hope that these reflections will provide current and future PhD students with practical tips and inspiration as they navigate their own paths.


Finding the right people

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how much the people you work with matter. Supervisors, collaborators, and peers can make a huge difference in your PhD experience. So it’s very important you choose them wisely. I’d recommend you do the following: 

Assess their reputation: Ask around in advance to understand what others say about potential supervisors or collaborators.

  • Ensure a good fit: Consider alignment in research interests, communication styles, and personalities. Finding a good supervisor extends beyond just the research area, it is ideal to also be aligned in how you work and your working styles. 
  • Navigate challenges: Not every relationship will be perfect, and conflicts with peers may occur. So, it’s crucial to seek advice when needed, for example, speaking to more experienced researchers like postdocs or your supervisor can be helpful. The university also will typically provide a range of groups or support networks for HDR students. Experiencing these situations will help us learn how to deal with difficult situations in the future.

Collaboration across disciplines

Some PhD programs can involve working with people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. This multidisciplinary environment can be incredibly enriching, but it can also have unique challenges to navigate it well. My key takeaways:

  • Communicate effectively: Explaining your ideas across disciplines can be tough and even more so as a non-native English speaker, but it’s essential for successful collaboration.
  • Leverage diverse knowledge and work with researchers from other universities or schools: Different disciplines bring unique perspectives and expertise, so embrace the opportunity to learn from others and to not fear exploring a bit outside the boundaries of your research. After my first study was published, a researcher from another school reached out to me to chat about my research. Although she comes from a very different background, we managed to intersect our interests and produce high quality research published in top-tier journals. I not only learned a lot from her, but also gained a great friendship. 
Image of informal settlements and the surrounding greenery taken in Asunción, Paraguay, the study area of one of Violeta's PhD chapters.

Photo credit: Violeta Berdejo-Espinola


Upskilling and freedom to explore

A PhD is a great opportunity to develop both practical and life skills. It’s not just about completing a thesis; it’s about personal and professional growth:

  • Technical skills: Take advantage of university resources to learn tools and techniques that will serve you in your career. 
  • Academic freedom: Use the flexibility of a PhD to explore your interests, try new things, and shape your future career. Align your projects with your goals to maximize growth. During my whole PhD, I had the opportunity to work as a research technician for a different project that I didn’t know much about, but I was deeply interested in the topic. I not only learned a lot in this project, but it also opened a lot of opportunities for me (my postdoc!) 

The power of discipline and balance

Discipline is the cornerstone of a successful PhD. Having a clear structure and managing your time well is critical:

  • Structured routine: I am an early riser so starting my day early and maintaining a consistent work ethic were key to my progress. Everyday I planned ahead the things I had to do the next day. At the end of every workday, I planned and visualised in my mind the things I would do the next day for each project. This way, I didn’t have to go through the decision-making process every morning when I got to the office - I already knew what to do. I sort of programmed myself the day before. 
  • Balance: Remember, your PhD is just one part of your life! Make time for exercise, hobbies, and other activities you enjoy because these make you feel good. Including these in your life will have a positive effect on your overall life and mental health! Doing a PhD is a marathon that one day is over but the other aspects of your life aren't!

Embrace the journey

Overall, doing a PhD is a chance to do what you love while upskilling for the future. So, my general tips are as follows:

  • Stick to your ideas: While advice is valuable, you’ll likely get a diverse array of opinions that are all excellent and insightful, so take some time to really think about what your research interests and passions are and try to stay true to that.
  • Seek opportunities: Upskill for free while you can! Whether it’s technical workshops, networking events, or projects that align with your goals, make the most of what your university offers.
  • Ask for help: Don’t hesitate to seek support when needed. Your peers, advisors, and university resources are there to help. 
     

Project members

Dr Violeta Berdejo-Espinola

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of the Environment
Amano Lab Group