Embrace Change and Challenge Assumptions
Want to navigate the PhD journey successfully? Embrace change and challenge assumptions.
It has been said that “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy”. Well, no PhD proposal survives contact with research!
If your PhD research objectives later diverge from your initial plans, communicate your reasons clearly to your supervisor. Embrace change with an independent and creative mindset.
My PhD research was initially based on longstanding, yet unverified, assumptions about the effects of climate change on wind patterns, energy balance, and ecosystem carbon exchange in the Hudson Bay peatlands of Canada.
After consulting my supervisor, I pushed to verify these assumptions first. Despite his initial hesitation, he fully supported my approach.
Our groundbreaking findings revealed an unexpected decline in offshore winds, with profound implications for peatland carbon storage. This pivot in our research focus led to three published journal articles.
Olalekan Balogun
The Professor from BirthThis underscores the importance of maintaining an independent and flexible perspective in pursuing your PhD research goals.
Does this resonate with you?
What qualities do you find essential for navigating a PhD?