What an unusual PhD journey taught me – Rodrigo Gonzalez Alvarez

The next session is going to be special! Rodrigo Gonzalez Alvarez defended his dissertation in February, and had a very untypical PhD trajectory. He is so kind to reflect with us in an intimate and interactive session on the challenges he faced during his PhD, and what drove him to make some radical and daring decisions. This session will be especially interesting to PhD students who are looking to learn and share about their own PhD journey, and Bachelor and Master students who are interested in pursuing a PhD. However, anyone is welcome to participate, and is invited to reflect on their own motivators, drives and passions related to academia. 

We all know and have heard that doing a PhD is hard. Becoming an independent researcher while maintaining a good work-life balance is not an easy task. Beyond the regular adversities associated with doing a PhD, I faced an added stressor, halfway on my PhD path, I decided to quit and start anew. Two years into my PhD I took the decision of abandoning my research project, my supervisors and faculty, and beginning a new PhD project.

Some of us have wondered if we have what it takes to make a PhD. But do we reflect on what type of PhD we mean? My two PhDs were completely different from each other. How did I realise that my previous PhD project was not meant for me? What was the role of the research topic and my personal relation to it? What was the role of the supervisors and team, and my relationships with them? And of particular interest to this group, what was the relevance of the research methodologies and epistemic approaches?

Radically changing my PhD felt like a major setback at some point. However, it helped me to become more aware of some important barriers and facilitators along our PhD journey.

Join this interactive session to discuss our PhDs struggles and joys.