What A PhD Student At University Of Southern California Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Research Industry
Daria, a graduate student and research assistant, notes a significant difference between undergraduate lab experience and PhD work, explaining that "as an undergrad or a technician, you're doing a lot of what someone else tells you to do," while PhD work demands "more of the thinking behind the process." This highlights the critical shift from technical execution to independent research and analysis in the progression of a scientific career.
Graduate Studies, Research, Biology, Laboratory Skills, Critical Thinking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Daria Timonina
Graduate Student / Research Assistant
University of Southern California
University of Arizona / 2015
University of Southern California
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Research and Development (R&D)
Honors Student, Immigrant, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The transition from undergraduate lab work to PhD-level research involves a significant shift in responsibilities. Undergraduates often follow established protocols, while PhD students are expected to design experiments and interpret results independently.
2. Skills learned as an undergraduate lab technician are valuable, but they don't fully prepare one for the higher-level thinking and independent research required in a PhD program.
3. Success as a PhD student requires a blend of technical skills and critical thinking abilities; proficiency in one area doesn't guarantee success in the other.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
That's a good one. If you gain experience in a lab during undergrad, it's actually very different from pursuing a PhD.
You might think a biology PhD involves working in a biology lab, and I did work as a technician in a biology lab. However, as you advance, the roles and tasks change significantly.
As an undergrad or technician, you largely follow instructions and copy the movements someone shows you. It's generally easier, but very different from a PhD.
While those skills are necessary, as a PhD student, and especially if you continue in that path, you're expected to do more of the conceptual thinking behind the process. The reasoning behind the experiments and interpreting the results can be much more challenging. Someone who excels in one aspect may not necessarily enjoy or perform as well in the other.
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