A PhD In Particle Phenomenology Daniel Roythorne University of Warwick

What shall I say? Who am I? What am I doing? What did I do beforehand? Why am I doing it? What's good/bad/hard/easy/..blah...blah? What would I change? Will it be worthwhile? What about afterwards? Who cares about my opinion?

IPPP (Durham) Theory Lectures SUSSP06 (St. Andrews) BUSSTEPP (Edinburgh) Read/Calculate Outreach Marking C++ Root/REAP (Re)Choose thesis focus Researcher in Residence? Conferences Examples Classes/Marking 1 st Year2 nd Year3 rd Year Seminars ?

GOOD Fun Pay is sufficient Challenge Working environment Good supervisions Outreach Undergrad. teaching Sharing ideas When it WORKS! Summer school Travel budget University life Popper is happy BAD Admin Key skills The FUTURE... - job security - working away Lack of progress Calendar watching Popper is UNhappy

Why do we do it? “path of least resistance” “very hard challenge” “get teeth into a problem” “become an expert” Romanticism / Childhood wonderment “to really KNOW something”... and why have others not?

“Key Skills” “mismatches between the skills of graduates and postgraduates and the skills required by employers” (Roberts) “insufficient access to training in interpersonal and communication skills, management and commercial awareness” (Roberts) “lack strong transferable skills” (Roberts)

“Key Skills” “I can read, write and use computers already thank you” (Anon.) “a waste of space whose advice we don't need” (Anon.) “students already acquire many of the transferable skills training that employers and Roberts required, such as computer skills, problem solving and versatility” (PPARC)

Extending PhD duration Roberts recommendation for 3.5 year average Fear of not finishing on time a principal disincentive to starting a PhD “particle theory particularly requiring 4 years” “limiting the opportunity to persue demanding rather than “safe” projects” “small departments in smaller institutions would be disadvantaged compared with larger institutions” Midlands universities collaborating on graduate teaching Video conferencing