What has the lockdown taught PGRs and what skills have they developed?

We asked PGRs to reflect on skills they have developed during the pandemic. Many had taken the opportunity while away from the lab to develop practical skills that were directly related to their projects, including: image analysis, bioinformatics, coding and data analysis, literature searching and writing skills for their theses, review articles and research papers.

The move to working in a virtual setting has also delivered opportunities for development, including attending online training events, learning how to work efficiently in novel environments and how to navigate online meetings via Zoom. Giving research and poster presentations in a virtual setting is a skill almost all PGRs have developed. Further, one respondent described the opportunity to  develop their data management skills and to further collaborate with their industrial partners as being invaluable.

We also asked our PGR respondents to tell us which personal skills they felt they had developed over the course of the pandemic. Common themes included organisational skills, resilience and time management. One of our post-doctoral PGRs told us that they had gained a better awareness of how best to use their time, which has helped them set more realistic goals for the future. A third year PhD student said:

“Time management is a skill that I think most PhD students have because we have to manage our own research projects, but I have definitely refined this skill during the lockdown – managing a schedule of experiments in the lab is a different skill to managing your time during lockdown, because there was no structure to lockdown, there was very little guidance on how to navigate a pandemic, and for a long time there wasn’t really an end point in sight.”

Conor is a second year PhD student at the University of York. In this video he shares his tips on how he manages his time and work-life balance during the COVID-19 pandemic, from planning ahead to objective-based goals, in order to avoid the trap of saying: "Okay, I’ll just work for longer.”


Self-reliance and self-motivation were also described as being of particular importance. Some respondents told us that at the start of the lockdown they would easily get distracted while working from home, and that even now this is a skill they are still refining. To help with this, many described the benefits of scheduling their time and planning ahead.


What skills areas do PGRs still feel they need support?


We asked PGRs if there are any skills they feel they still need support with as they continue to steer their research projects through the ongoing pandemic. Some reported practical skills, including data analysis and laboratory-based skills that may have been lost during the time away from the office and lab. Others told us they would like to receive more feedback on their writing skills as they approach the write-up period of their PhDs. One second year PhD student shared with us: I will need guidance from my supervisor and collaborators regarding participant recruitment to focus groups and clinical trials – it is very unclear how the pandemic will affect recruitment, and this is generating a lot of uncertainty.”

Other PGRs said they would like more help with personal skills, particularly time management which they described as an ongoing battle, and support with staying optimistic about the future of their projects. One fourth year PhD student who is starting to think about their career post-PhD told us: I need help in making contacts and networking in order to find my next position, especially given the cancellation of the conferences I was due to attend this year. This is something that I feel my supervisor could be more helpful with.”

Finally, as the pandemic continues, working from home continues to be a part of most of our lives in some form or another. Most of the PGRs we spoke to are still expected to work from home when not in the lab. One of our Post-Doctoral PGRs said they would like their supervisors and/or research institute to provide tools or tips for working effectively from home, and how to make it more manageable, and how to switch off from work mode when your work and living spaces are the same, and without feeling guilty.”


What has the COVID-19 pandemic taught PGRs about themselves?


We asked PGRs to share with us anything they had learnt about themselves since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many PhD students have found that they miss the lab environment and being with their colleagues.

Fourth year PhD Student: “I have realised that there are more important things in life than work, that I don’t like sitting at my desk all day, and I like seeing my colleagues.”

Third year PhD student: I have learnt that writing up can be enjoyable (despite what everyone else has told me), and that I don’t mind working independently but I do need someone to be there to offer support should I need it. I’ve also learnt that I  really like yoga and that there is a limit to how many zoom quizzes my brain can handle in one week.”

Second year PhD student: I’ve learnt that I don’t like to sit at my desk all day, but very happy to work from home migrating from location to location. I miss seeing all my lab members and look forward to returning to work a couple days a week while also having some days working from home. I’ve found I rely a lot on socialising with friends in order to stay motivated at work and keep my mood up. Finding ways to socialise during lockdown has been vital and my housemates have been a blessing.”

 Second year PhD student: I have learnt that I greatly benefit from taking a break in the middle of the work day whether this be time out to eat lunch or to go for a walk. It has been quite difficult to find a work-life balance whilst working from home during lockdown as it is too tempting to continue working late into the night if there is work to be done. I have found it is really important to take regular breaks to give my eyes a rest and to clear my mind so that I do not become overworked.”

Others commented that taking a break is important when working from home and looking after your wellbeing can improve your view of the future.

First year PhD Student: In the middle period of lockdown, I was feeling quite low about all things PhD and my project, even though my work was good. I felt like it was all pointless, so I started looking for other jobs which would allow me to take my career in a different direction. However, I have learnt how to self-motivate and look at things positively with regards to my project and PhD life; this has meant that these negative feelings towards my PhD have subsided (for now!).”

This piece was authored by Grace Cowen, a final year PhD student at the University of York. Grace interned with the Academy from October-December 2020. Working with a small group of PGRs at range of stages, this article is one of a linked series exploring the challenges the coronavirus pandemic poses on the their research their personal well-being. We would like to thank all of the PGRs who agreed to take part in this project, and hope that the experiences discussed below will be useful for both PGRs and their supervisors.  You can read the other pieces below.

PGRs and their projects

Mental health and wellbeing for PGRs 

 

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