Starting a new PhD: What is a PhD

Ooo this is my first blog post written entirely in my iPad – be sure to forgive me any typos. The typing isn’t too bad in landscape mode – anywaaaaaay . . .

It’s been a while since my last blog post and this has been because I’ve been spending soo much time with Gari (my lovely boyfriend) and anytime I’ve not been with him I’ve been in Uni, growing cells and reading journal articles. So please forgive me!!

I just thought I’d tap out a quick series of blog posts to let you know about what it’s like to start a PhD.

I have just started my PhD at the Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics at King’s College London (University of the Year according to the guardian or the times according to the head of the graduate school).p

First i should probably explain what a PhD actually is. It’s normally a three year research degree which starts off as an MPhil degree course and after 9 months or so you submit a report and have a viva (like a scary interview on your work and the field of interest) which if you pass then allows you to progress onto a PhD program. PhDs are usually 3 years long with an additional year before you HAVE to submit your thesis. A thesis is essentially an extended piece of academic work which contributes something new to the field and proves that you can carry out research in the proper manner.

4 year PhDs come in a number of flavours. The first is a 4 year PhD with a rotational first year where you conduct a short project with 2 or 3 supervisors before finalising on one specific project and supervisor which you then do a 3 year PhD with. Here you get an additional year to submit your thesis as the first rotational year isn’t counted. Also sometimes you may get awarded an MRes following the rotational year depending on institution and programme.

My kind of 4 year PhD is arguably the best kind. I get a full stipend (funding for living expenses) in addition to having my bench fees payed (for reagents etc) for 4 full years. The advantage is that most PhD students tend to have to self fund and take on part time jobs after their third year as they have no money to perform experiments and have yet had chance to ‘write up’ their thesis. So I’ll get paid to sit at home and type out my thesis up until the point i submit it (which can be no later than 4 years from when i registered with the university. And that’s the downside, although i could do experiments right up until the last month in the 4 year programme, i MUST submit by the same date as any 3-year PhD who enrolled at the same time as me.

All in all i haven’t got a bad deal out of this ^_^

If you are failing badly, or things aren’t working out, you can leave the degree with an MPhil after the first year. Oh and I should probably clear up that once you have a PhD you are a proper Dr!! Medics are only honorary Drs =P hehe

That’s a brief overview of a PhD – throughout the PhD you submit various reports and have meetings and such but it is all just trying to make sure that you will be able to submit your thesis on time and that you will pass.

I hope this has been of use. Next time I’ll write more personally about MY PhD and his my first couple of weeks have gone. See ya!!!

 

Life Update: Going South

Well, it would be an understatement to say that a lot has happened since I last posted on here. I’ve moved to London, had so many amazing night outs, trips to the theatre and bought so many nice things it’s hard to know where to start updating you from. So, I’ll start at the beginning.

Due to my uncle becoming unavailable to drive me, and my life, down from Birmingham I had to rely on my Mom to take me and what she could of my life in her little Nissan Micra. The drive wasn’t as bad as I had imagined, she didn’t really shout or get angry, and I got some Krispy Kremes and a large latte from a yummy service station. But then, we hit the M4 (I think) and it started pissing down, and spray kicking off from the HGVs reduced visibility massively and it all felt very tense. Still, we managed to get across the river and to Clapham alive!! I was only to take the basics with me in the car, and couldn’t fit in my TV or many of my books or any of my DVDs, so they shall be coming down in a weeks time (I hope) and then I can REALLY settle in.

Where I’m living is pretty nice, bar a few problems with my room which I hope to be able to iron out in the next couple of months. It’s only a short tube ride or bus trip from central London and close to a handful of people who I know. Clapham also has a pretty decent selection of bars and cafes which makes me happy and poorer. And then there’s Clapham Common, which is pretty big and an ideal spot for a morning walk in the summer I imagine.

On my second night in London I was lucky enough to go to the Barbican to see the 25th Anniversary production of Les Miserables. Just prior to the performance I was fortunate enough to be able to go up to a 28th floor apartment at the centre and the views (and wind) were simply awesome. You could see right into the city and across the river to where Guy’s and the Shard is being built.

The theatre it was in was like a giant spaceship! Doors closing automatically and a ginormous golden safety curtain!! Worth going to the Barbican just to experience it hehe

The show itself was AMAZING!! I won’t go into detail because others have done a far better job of reviewing it than I could ever dream of doing *cough* Gari Davies *cough*. John Owen-Jones was amazing, I actually cried at several points not due to the storyline, but due to how amazing and moving the singing was.

If you EVER get a chance to see this version of it, I really suggest you do so. I think it’s going on a world tour after the 25th anniversary concert at the O2 tonight (which I am watching being streamed to a cinema).

I’ve also been to see Avenue Q at last!!! JUST before it ends its current run in London. I was crying with laughter during that show, it really was worth seeing for all the extra jokes they throw in between songs, and for the crowds reaction. Again, if you have a sense of humour at all you need to see Avenue Q when it tours soon!!

OH, and I HAVE to mention the most amazing thing happened this weekend. I went to meet Gari and he told me that Richard O’Brien, the living legend himself, would be supporting The Frantastics (country/rock music cover band) at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. I jumped at the chance!! Richard via The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has been a major point in my life, especially when I was a teenager. I simply had to see him in person!

Upon entry in the gay bar we were given a band, and a choice of handkerchiefs, Gari chose a dark blue on as it would go with what he was wearing, and I chose a red one because I love the colour red! We didn’t think much of it, even when the drag queen passed comment on my choice, and we went and ordered a drink. Only at that point did we bother to think ‘Wait, we’re in Vauxhall, in a gay club, with handkerchiefs . . . FUCK’. So we googled the handkerchief colour code to find out what our selections meant. Apparently my choice indicates someone who loves fisting. . . well, upon finding this out, I buried the cloth deep in my jeans pocket, just in case.

After The Frantastics had performed their first half of their set, some guy brushed past the back of me on his way into the toilet, Gari looked stunned, I asked him what was wrong, he replied ‘OMFG as if Richard O’Brien just nudged past you’. I was dumb struck for a second, and then woke up hehe I was very excited now =D

After a couple more drinks the Frantastics came back on, and were later joined by Richard, who not only played his harmonica <3 but also performed the Time Warp!!! Gari and I jumped at the chance of doing the Time Warp with Richard O'Brien so we got our groove on and strutted what we had practised in out bedrooms and in clubs since we were kids Richard was apparently looking at us while we were doing it, not sure why hehe You can read more about that night here.

I’ve been meeting up with lots of people socially as well, but I won’t detail every meeting i’ve had. Needless to say, if i’ve met up with you in the past week, I think you’re awesome =D

OH, and I somehow accidentally managed to buy myself an iPad – whoops. It’s freaking awesome, but I’ll do a short review of it soon after I’ve used it at Uni more.

Speaking of Uni, it’s the first day of my PhD tomorrow and I’m really excited – I have really bad skin ATM so I hope that that doesn’t mar the day. But YAAAY!! The start of the next four year of my life. My performance over these years will determine the rest of my life, whether I go into academia, or branch out, or change track totally. Either way I think I’ve firmly established myself in London now, and I’m looking forward to building on what I have and solidifying new friendships, whilst travelling to Manchester and Birmingham to maintain older ones.

I do hope I haven’t bored you with this long post, congratulations on finishing reading it! *gives gold star*

With love from London,

Karl x