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The culmination of the Ph.D. is supposed to be the creation of an independent and self-sufficient scientist who can continue to contribute to the scientific enterprise.

Your best weapon is focused, methodical, patient effort.

"I thought, if these people are saying they can go to these places, maybe I can too." -- Lawrence Williams

Starting the conference well-prepared and maintaining a proper balance between presentations and coffee breaks can make your conference experience a source of inspiration.

It's worthwhile to throw a party every now and then. Apart from the fun involved, it is a great way to celebrate your success and acknowledge your co-workers.

"Earning a Ph.D. is not a vocational qualification anymore. It equips people to go into all sectors of society."

“Used properly, this tool will encourage you, and your lab mates, to operate outside your normal mode of thinking.”

"I sometimes think of it as doing a little 'armchair anthropology,' asking what it's like in this lab, and can I thrive here?" --Chris Golde

It's a safe bet that some people in your lab are a lot different from you. A first step in getting along with your lab mates (or anyone, for that matter) is acknowledging that they may be hard-wired to approach problems in a certain way.

"A mentor has many characteristics but must first and foremost care about your professional development and have an interest in guiding younger scientists as they move through their careers."

"I like to move very fast and take a lot of risks compared to the traditional Swedish way."

--Mohammed Homman

Value these moments of interaction with your supervisor. … If you are well-prepared, progress-review meetings will make a magnificent contribution to achieving your main goal, the completion of your research projects.

Lenggenhager helped develop an experimental concept aimed at recreating out-of-body experiences in healthy subjects as a way to study distorted self-consciousness.

You may discover that lab technicians or the person ordering supplies can profoundly affect the course of your research and the quality of your experience, so be sure to give everyone the respect that they deserve.

The last year of your Ph.D. is distinctly different from the ones that have come before it, because you'll focus primarily on transforming your hard work into thesis chapters.

"It's like the television show
The Apprentice: If you see someone for 6 weeks, you are a lot more convinced that they are the right fit for your company than if they turn up for an hourlong interview." --Rebecca Dowsett, University of Nottingham

Like any big undertaking, writing a thesis is easier if you break it down into smaller steps.