Tips to survive higher degree (and finish on time) - Part I

#Disclaimer:

(1) This is totally based on my own experience doing higher degree among Japanese which whom you know, famous for their discipline.

(2) When talking about tips, it could be subjective. Different people survives differently. But, I'll share anyway. Maybe you can use one or two from my own experience.

Apparently, there are a lot in the list. I thought there'll be 5 the most. heh. So, I divided this entry into two parts. Here's the first one of..

Tips to survive higher degree and finish on time (with God's willing)

1) Always get your head in the game

From my observation, there are candidates who forgot their main purpose of doing higher degree at all. Talking from the position of a foreign students, some of us seems to have forgotten their priorities leaving their countries. But, who am I to judge? These people might have their own problems that made them shift focus especially given that higher degree is usually pursued by people with advanced age with more responsibilities. Some has families to care for, and some just caught up with financial problem that caused them to lose focus.

But, whatever the problem that you might encounter, always keep your head in the game. In conclusion, whatever you do name it having shower, cooking, sleeping, don't stop thinking about your research. lol xp. Like me, whenever I encounter predicaments in my research (don't worry, you'll encounter a lot of dead ends), I will always get the answer in the shower. Weird, but that's true. heh! 

2) Consistent

I can't explain to you how important it is being consistent in doing higher degree, especially if you are doing a full time research. To be consistent, you must force yourself to produce data in a frequency of at least one data per week. 5 days is long by the way, that you might be able to generate more than one data. When I said data, not all data is gonna be a positive data (that agrees with your hypotheses). In my short experience, negative data is also a data. They will come to a use to you in no time. So, always keep that data in your lab report neatly. But of course do not fool yourself to keep doing the same thing while you know it's gonna fail. I saw this was done a lot of time too, like you can't embrace the fact that your hypothesis is wrong.

Once in a while, you'll find yourself with nothing to do probably because you have done everything told by your supervisor. Take this time to try your own ideas. I'm sure all of you higher degree pursuers out there are all brilliant and have ideas of your own. So, take this opportunity to prove your theory/ideas. In fact, do not wait for the free time for you to do so. Always find time. Sorry, maybe not all are stubborn like me :p

In conclusion, try as many methods, theories as you can. Think about loopholes those examiners might sink you in! Don't create any, if you can!

3) Establish good relationship with colleagues/lab mates.

This might sound petty. But, trust me I've seen many brilliant candidates who can't perform due to 'unfavorable' social condition they are trapped in. In adverse conditions, you might be easily blackmailed by the other lab mates who happened to dislike you. I did not make this up. This really happened, you know. Yes, dramas also occur among educated people. Sad, huh?

How to establish good relationship with colleagues if you ask me? I can't answer that in one paragraph of course. But, what I can tell you in short here is to have more tolerance, always be the one who lend the helping hands without expecting people to notice your contribution. Also, respect and treat others like you want them to treat you. There will always a few a**holes wherever you are, but you know, for the sake of your sanity, try to look for their good sides. We are all humans, we all have the a**hole sides of us. It's just the matter of where it is usually distinctly pronounced. So, these a**holes in your labs just happened to be a**holes in the lab. Try to know them more, you will find better sides of them.

More importantly, you yourself, don't be an a**hole won't you?

4) Initiative

From my observation, some of the PhD candidates forgot that they are pretty much in charge of their research. Supervisor is there not to dictate everything you have to do everyday, every single steps. Some of them expect to be told everything they must do so that for anything wrong, they won't get the blame. That's just so wrong guys. But, that's what I see quite often.

Alhamdulillah my supervisor and mentors were such good teachers to me. We did have the moment of disagreement some times, but it was a healthy arguments. Of course I realized I was the students when arguments did arise. So, what I did was I reserved my arguments until I managed to prove my theory. This is a situation where you can experiment you own ideas. I learnt this by hard, really. In earlier days, I argued without evidence, and turned out I was wrong. The next time, I tried to prove my theory, I made sure I have evidence in hands.

As a PhD candidates, you must not cease to update your knowledge in you area of study by reading countless of publications. If you really read a lot, you will find yourself knows so little every time. That's what seeking knowledge made us feel. Whenever you read papers, you will find yourself trying to relate the reports with what you are doing. So, it is good if you can do something that can give more support to your findings based on your readings. You can always present the ideas during your weekly meeting and see how your supervisor will react. If I were to be your supervisor, I will be very impressed at how you manage to expand the ideas on your own. That also shows that you understand what you are doing and manage to interpret the data more maturely.

5) Resourceful

Get to know more people. Everyone must know something. Whenever you have time for chatting, try to initiate some conversation that involves yours and their works. Get to know what they are doing and who knows one day they might be the go to person when you are at a dead end. Just remember you can't know everything. They can be anyone not necessarily in the area of your study.

6) Be updated

Like I told you in no. 4, always be updated in the area of your study. How'd you do that? (i) never stop reading journals, (ii) make effort to attend as many journal clubs (if there aren't any, initiate it yourself), (iii) attend conferences and meetings (not just 'attend', attend as many session as you can, understand as many posters as you can). It was from those places new ideas may come and answers are found.

Besides, at a conference you will find the companies which supplies scientific instruments will open their booth. I always find it fascinating to go around and get wowed by the new instruments. Also, it' is at these booths I will get the answers straight from the experts. I remember one time I was struggling using the new confocal microscope in our laboratory. As I work with clinicians, we use it strictly as trained, which was very basic. So of course when you have to use if often, you'll find yourself stumbled with so many problems. Then it happened I had to attend a conference where the company was also there. I was so happy meeting them and learned straight from the expert who could speak english very well (a bonus!).

7) Work in a team

In my department where I was placed, the culture is to work in a team. There are basically four groups doing 4 different themes. I was finally got invited to join the anti-cancer group. That time I was emotionally challenged due to long distance marriage (I was just married for a month). So, I just went ahead with the invitation and I think that was one of the best subconsciously-made decision I've ever made. I cannot be more thankful of the people in my group. They are not just the best teachers but they are like my family. I'll get back to you about them in different entry.

Despite of the needs for you to sometimes agree to disagree, there are more advantages when you have more than one brain to get things done. Like marriage, we complete each other. Everyone has their own role to play and I have people to share my worries, sadness, happiness with. It was such a good thing to have provided that everyone must know their responsibilities and plays their role well.

Having a team allows you to sometimes let off your worries whenever you need it especially when it's time for you to leave your work for a significantly longer time. For instance, in a situation when I had to travel to KL for holiday, my teammates will take over my work for a while, and vice versa. Usually, I was the one who was absent a lot of times.hehe. But, I know they are okay:)

There are more advantages of working in a team. Maybe I will make an entry on that particular topic one day.

8) Attend meetings

Try as hard as you can to attend meetings and organize meetings. Attend meeting organize by other students (to present their progress or sharing journals) will benefit you in a lot of ways. You will get easy knowledge (it is always easy if there's people telling you what the paper is about. You don't need to scratch your head trying to understand the complexity of the study in which most of the them are).

Try to organize your own seminar if you can, especially to report on your findings. Of course when you do this, you will allow yourself and your findings to be scrutinize in a lot of ways. Don't feel down if that happened, instead be excited because it is indeed the best way to improve yourself. Critics, it's better from them colleagues, than from the examiners. Just remember, you cannot know everything. This is the time when you can hope your colleagues to give you some insights especially if you happened to be at a dead end. Seminar also a good exercise for you to get used to the conferences and your viva.

The point here is, just attend the meetings. You will surely benefit something from it!

9) Build and preserve a good reputation among colleagues

Build a good reputation as soon as possible. To gain respect, you must earn it. Therefore, to pretend stupid or being ignorance will not help you survive. I see a lot of us trying to pretend like they don't know (or they just don't have the confidence) thinking that they will be spared if anything goes wrong. Gain their respects by showing them how much you know, the confidence in you and the effort you can put in. But, remember to also balance it with loads of humbleness. How'd you feel to meet a person with intelligence but so annoying at how they show it? So, please don't be one of them brilliance with such a pain in the ass. Knowledge supposed to make us more humble, not the other way around.

Building reputation is easy. But to preserve it is another hard work. It is no use if you had it for so long but got ruined due to one mistake. But worry not, if you have built a good reputation for so long, it will be easier for people to tolerate your mistakes in the future. Just make sure you did more good jobs rather than mistakes.

10) Be fearless

-Fearless to have a two-ways communication with your superiors (but remember to be polite at the same time).
-Fearless to express your minds (with evidence, bukan cakap kosong).
-Fearless to be independent, taking charge of your own study.

Resolution

If you are asking me for a life's tips, one of it, is definitely to have a new year's resolution.

I've been in a situation when the end of year is approaching but I can't seem to find anything to be happy about for that particular year. Then, when I figured that I didn't have any resolution, anything, any dream, any ambition that I highlighted in the beginning of that year. It is okay to have so many resolutions, and accomplished only some of it. At least you know your potential and have the reason to love yourself more at the end of the day. 

Anyway, for this year, I have a few resolutions that's quite clear in my mind. Giving now I am not working full-time, I would like to achieve some of the things that I always wish I could do if I have the leisure of time. 

Here are some of resolutions that I'd share here, with you:

1) Learn nihon-go more seriously. At least I can get involve in communications.

2) Establish the 'Kuliah Saintis Kecil' blog more seriously so if can benefits the target readers the way I intended to.

3) Do more amalan sunat. 

4) and most of all, be the best mother and a better wife.

So, what's yours?

Direction for PhD pursuers

What you can do with your doctorate degree?

In Malaysia, I saw two kinds of situations. 

(1) Those who aren't yet bound to any institution.

(2) Those who has established a permanent position in an institution. For example: Government servant.

Meanwhile, there are three avenues for PhD holder to go:

(1) Academia

(2) Industry/ commercial
(3) Research

Situation (1) - less secured with freedom

I am in situation (1) in which I wasn't bound to any institution while pursuing my higher degree. There are pros and cons when you choose this pathway. If you like security (you have a secured job once you finish PhD), I advise you that this road is quite risky. It's not the road not to be taken, I'd just say it has its risk. But, in my case, this is a rather desired situation because of my other half. So, all and all, everything is according to plan for us. Despite of that, I still have some worry as to how I would end up when I come back for good later. I would love to be in academia, teaching our younger generation, but all the stories I heard at the moment are not a good ones. I hope by the time I come home, situation will be better.

When I further my masters study, there were a few from my batch (all are Chinese and among the top students) also doing their higher degree. Most of them skip the masters degree and went straight for PhD. I heard that their target is not to be in academia, instead, they'd like to work in industry. No doubt, working in the industry will pay them better.

Lastly, PhD holders can always opt to be a post-doctorate researcher. This position is not popular in Malaysia as in Japan or other developed countries. Take Japan for example, they have several research institute which required researchers to run it. I will explain about the options they have here in the later entries. In Malaysia, the position is now limited only in research universities and is still offered in a very limited numbers. Despite of that, I think it is a good start.  Some said that those who opted for post-doc researcher are those who are still figuring out what to do with their doctorate degree. In my observation however, post-doctorate degree is pursued by someone who is very passionate about their work and need some more time to work on it full time without the need to teach or doing any administrative work (that usually the case for those who choose to be in academia). In the case like myself, it is the best job I could ask for in this foreign country with language barrier because it could be contract basis (as I'm not going to live here forever) and at the same time I could upgrade my CV with exquisite pay.

No matter where you decided to be, all avenues required you to do research. When I finish my Masters degree, my brain was so tired dealing with research and I doubt myself if I could do it some more. Now, research has been my strength and my favorite. In Malay proverb this situation is exactly like the "alah bisa tegal biasa". Now, my mind has transformed in a way I could never imagined I could be. This is only after 3 years of PhD course. I think I'll be a lot more wiser if the training continues.

Situation (2) - Much more secured with delayed freedom

I consider situation (2) is a more popular choice among Malaysians that I know. One way to it is for you to get yourself a scholarship with bond with any higher institution, for example University of Malaya, National University of Malaysia, etc. As far as I concern, they have their yearly intake and the number of opening for each faculty may differ each year. The scholarship is called SLAB (Skim Latihan Academic Bumiputera) for Bumis or SLAI (Skim Latin Academic for IPTA) for the non-Bumis. Different universities named the scheme differently, e.g. 'Skim Tenaga Pengajar Muda' for UITM. For those who succeeded to get the scholarship, you will be required to finish your study in the time given and come back as soon as you received your scroll. You will be placed immediately in the faculty that accepted you and tadaaa...now you are a permanent staff. The good thing about this pathway are its security and the benefits that comes along with it, especially if you already have family. From my limited knowledge (as I'm not one of the lucky holder), the scheme will pay for you and your family sustenance, accommodation, flight tickets, other allowances (e.g. the cost of movers on your final day abroad-if you are paid to study abroad), etc.

However, the story has changed for the much older university now. From the university I came from, the PhD holders that came from the scheme are now either (i) become the permanent staff, or (ii) given a contract basis position for 2 years for them to reach some requirements before permanent appointment, or (iii) released from contract. I'm not sure now, but a few years ago, many of my friends who managed to finish their study were released from contract because there were simply no positions available at that time. It depends on the individual on how they would see this situation. They can be happy for the released and just go to other institution or they can be sad for everything is not according to plan. Of course these people already set their heart for academia, and most will find their place in other higher institutions.

Another way that is popular among Malaysians is by embarking higher degree when you already have an established position in the government. This is when you can utilize the benefit of 'cuti belajar'. I know a few friends who chose this pathway. They usually go into the government as soon as they finish their first degree. Application is usually made through SPA. Then after a few years, when they have established their position, they will ask for 'cuti belajar'. They can ask for scholarship for the education fees and at the same time still receiving their basic salary. Cool huh?! I think this way is more popular in older days when people usually pursued their higher degree at a more matured age. For government servants, higher degree could potentially contribute to the rise in salary or position. Another plus point if you decided to choose this pathway.

Why higher degree?

Well, let me start with my own story.

Before I enter university for my first degree, I never thought that I am capable of being in academia. When other people are writing 'lecturer' as one of their ambition, I have always said to myself, "I wish I have that confidence" to have a dream like that. But, Allah knows best.

"Not ready for industry"

I graduated from my first degree at the age 22.  I feel I was too young at that time. Just finishing the industrial training for 3 months, I felt so exhausted dealing with people at one of a private hospital where I was placed. I chose to do industrial training in the medical laboratory of Assunta Hospital. I don't know about other medical laboratory, but in Assunta, you are expected to know all of the areas, i.e. bacteriology, biochemistry, serology, hematology, etc. (just to name some). First thing in the morning, we have to collect all the request forms in our pigeon hole. The person who collected it, is responsible to distribute all the forms to different areas depending on the request. So, we don't have time to really refresh ourselves, rest a bit after morning commute whatsoever. We need to visit the patients, collect blood (or stool or mucus) and start analyzing the samples stat. The result usually will be out on the same day (except bacteriology, of course). Alhamdulillah, I was known as one of the best student to underwent training there. It was so exhausted for me to keep the momentum until the last day as I don't want the reputation that I slowly built collapsed just because of one mistake. I think keeping the momentum is the hardest of all. 

I learn from my short training that working is an entirely different story from studying. It does not just involved your knowledge in the area, but the hateful part is when you need to get involved in the office politics. Whether you like it or not, you are making history everyday. The longer you are at one place, the more history you'll make. And, have you ever heard people have wonderful life all the time? Misfortune happens all the time whether we like it or not. Whether we welcomes it or not. From my observations, the people I'm working with in the lab are all nice to me. But, they have history with each other which made situations awkward all the time. But, I think their situation is much better than what I've heard somewhere else. Maybe their fast pace working culture helps them to disregard their disappointment they had (probably) among each other. What I remember working there is, I only had just enough time to eat and pray during lunch hour, and I worked until the clock struck 5. I had no time to sit and breath during my training. We trainers, were given the easiest task and tolerated very well if we did any mistake. But, I have to say that I didn't feel physically exhausted, I think when the 3 months had finished, I was emotionally exhausted. It could probably because of I don't like the job, although I'm good at it.

"Knowing your capabilities"

While waiting for the graduation ceremony, I took time to think of what I like doing? Who am I?

One thing you must know about me is, I lost a father 2 days after I finished matriculation. He didn't even get to see that I managed to get into University of Malaya for my degree. Alhamdulillah I was placed by the almighty in the UM instead of other university. UM is near to my home and this way, I wouldn't have to spend so much money to migrate to other city. Money was an issue at that time that some of my relatives and neighbors were questioning why I still wanted to further study in a situation like that. I did part time job as tuition teacher almost every night and of course weekends. I managed to get some pocket money without ever asking my mother for it. Sometimes the accumulated fees exceeds my expectation, so I hand some to my mother. I have a 7 year old sister at that time who needs to go to school. Then I feel that my forte is teaching. But I know I can't be a school teacher. At that point of time, I started to put my aim higher. I'd like to be a lecturer. 

My qualification allowed me to dream further. But, I don't know where to start. When I graduated, it was only me. Many of my course mate had to extend due to many reasons that I don't have to mention here. So, that made me a little bit lost of what to do next. Then one day one of senior told me a lecturer is looking for a research assistant. I met with the said lecturer. He checked my qualifications, interviewed me a bit and I was instantly accepted. So, I worked as his assistant for a year before registering as a master student. Although I was then officially working, I still did part time jobs as tutor at my free time. In conclusion, I hardly had free time. Think back, I can't believe I was that strong. But, I assure you I had a wonderful life though.

So, if you ask me why I chose this pathway is because, I know I can be a good teacher. It is what I'm good at. I have so many visions of the kind of lecturer I want to be. All I'm asking is for an opportunity. InshAllah one day, when we finally settle in Malaysia. Now, I would just keep learning and learning to be better.

The point is folks, if you are thinking of doing higher degree, please ask yourself why you want to do it? I met so many people who lose focus when they realize higher degree does not make them rich. If you think about glamour and money, higher degree could probably give you that but that would be a long long way. It's not that I want to crush your dream, just a little reality check! 

Bismillahhirrahmannirohim..

Assalamualaikum dear readers, 

First of all, let me introduce myself.

My name is..it's a long one. But, I like to introduce myself as 'Wani'. It's a common name in Malaysia, but I like my name as it is. I can't imagine to be called something else.

Anyway, I'm at my early 30's and currently living in Hiroshima, Japan with the love of my life and a  baby daughter.

I'm specialized in molecular biology/medicine and majoring in cancer research, specifically anti-cancer research.

My passion is teaching, that's why I set my mind to do higher degree so that I can end up being an academician. Little did I know, time have changed and the road to be an academician is not as straightforward as I once told. However, I should let you know that this has not break my spirit to one day I could stand in a big lecture hall, and pour my knowledge out to the younger generation.

I obtained my PhD at a rather young age, in my late 20's. 

My journey in getting the doctorate is not the usual ones which we often heard from other Malaysians. Worry not, one day, I'll share the story with you. 

After completing my PhD, I worked for University of Malaya in Hiroshima University for a collaboration project as a post-doctoral researcher. An effort I made for our little family.

Now, my contract has finished and I decided to stay in Japan for a moment longer to raise my family.

Like I said, my passion is teaching. Although I'm not given the opportunity (yet) to give a lecture in a lecture hall, I don't want that to stop me from pursuing my dream, doing what I love to do.

Alhamdulillah for the era we are living in right now. 

I hope I can use this medium to share my knowledge, to teach a little thing or two.

So, folks, I guess I'll be seeing you here.

Welcome to my virtual lecture hall :)