Fulfilling the Potential of Your Doctoral Experience: (Success in Research)

Do you want to thrive in your doctoral research? Do you want to do more than just survive? If so this is the book for you. Focused on empowering the doctoral researcher, it is packed with advice on how to make the best of opportunities and enjoy your research experience while dealing with challenges. Whether you need to find sources of constructive feedback, are facing an unexpected disturbance to your project, or have ambitions beyond your academic goals, this book provides practical, flexible tips for conducting effective research and engaging with the complex world of academia, including how to: Maintain momentum through each stage of the research process Make the most of available resources, training, and support Explore new technologies, networks, and dissemination strategies Maximize the value of assessment Use this project as a springboard into further research and career opportunities Acknowledging that every doctoral experience is unique, this book goes beyond a script for success and instead offers a full studio of flexible, creative tools and adaptable action points that equip you to compose your own distinctive story of research success. About the series The Success in Research series, from Cindy Becker and Pam Denicolo, provides short, authoritative and accessible guides on key areas of professional and research development. Avoiding jargon and cutting to the chase of what you really need to know, these practical and supportive books cover a range of areas from presenting research to achieving impact, and from publishing journal articles to developing proposals. They are essential reading for any student or researcher interested in developing their skills and broadening their professional and methodological knowledge in an academic context.

Table of Contents:
Prologue: Who will benefit from the book and why Part I: Engaging with the process Chapter 1: What is the point of a doctorate in the 21st century? Chapter 2: How can you make a good start? Chapter 3: How can you develop your role as an evolving researcher? Part II: Success is in the detail Chapter 4: What makes a good research story? Chapter 5: What are the potential resources and opportunities and how can they best be utilised? Chapter 6: How can relationships be developed to gain constructive feedback and support? Chapter 7: How can you prepare for successful formal reviews during the doctorate? Chapter 8: What are the criteria and how can you prepare to do well in the final assessment? Part III: Progressing with confidence Chapter 9: What is impact and how can it enhance future opportunities? Chapter 10: How can you make the most of your experience at a personal level? Chapter 11: How can you make the most of your experience for your professional career? Chapter 12: What are the key features for transitioning into a new role? Appendix I: Non-verbal communication: a quick guide to some important signals Appendix II: A sample Gantt chart Appendix III: Summary diagram of the Researcher Development Framework Appendix IV: Advice on final assessment A & B Appendix V: Policy Information about Impact Appendix VI: Authors’ Doctoral Experiences Glossary

About the Author :
Working across a range of disciplines (Psychology, Health & Social Care and Pharmacy), Pam Denicolo, a Professor Emerita from the University of Reading,  a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and an Honorary Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, has wide-ranging experience both of using a range of research approaches and methods and of teaching how to use them well to a broad range of students and professionals world-wide. She has served on executive boards and committees of national and international learned societies and organisations devoted to research and teaching. She continues to publish widely student support materials, books, and journal articles on research because she remains passionately committed to mentoring and coaching newer researchers and academics. Dr Julie Reeves is a Researcher Developer/Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Southampton, and a Co-Investigator with a GCRF funded project, BRECcIA, leading the Capacity development work package. She has been involved in researcher development since 2002, working with the Civic Education Project in Belarus and Ukraine, and then as the Skills Training Manager, Faculty of Humanities, University of Manchester.  She was a key researcher and contributor to the Vitae ‘Researcher Development Statement and Framework’ and is a Vitae Researcher Developer Senior Fellow.  She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, a co-convenor of the Postgraduate Issues Network within the Society for Research into Higher Education, and currently facilitates the South East Researcher Developers network.  She is a co-editor of the SAGE Success in Research series with Pam Denicolo, Dawn Duke and Alison Yeung.  Dr Dawn Duke is Head of Programmes for the Africa Research Excellence Fund, a charity supporting the professional development of early career researchers in Africa. She has a PhD in neuroscience and years of experience teaching undergraduates and postgraduates research design, methodology and statistics.

Review :
In contrast to many other books on the doctoral experience this one is not a survival guide to the doctorate--it′s an enjoyment guide. Full of advice and activities, the book guides you pro-actively through the doctoral journey with an emphasis on personal development and with an eye to the future. This book is essential reading for anyone undertaking a doctorate. It navigates all stages of doctoral study, suggesting strategies and negotiating stances while emphasizing personal development and future career paths.  The authors’ extensive experience of supporting doctoral students shines through every page.