Transitioning from an undergraduate degree into a PGR role is daunting for the best of us. For some it might be a new university or a new town, or maybe you’re like me just a year ago: packing your things to move to a different country and start your own PGR journey. While that change might be a bit intimidating at first, the things that make PGRs different from an undergraduate degree are also some of the things that are best about it!  

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When I think back to my undergraduate degree, “success” was easy to define. You had your exams, assignments and, at the end of it all, your final grade. It may be tempting and familiar to measure a PGR journey in a similar way: the number of papers you publish, the funding you get, your number of presentations at conferences and so on. While those things are great goals to strive for, PGRs are a lot more nuanced than that.

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One of the biggest differences is independence. Being a PGR is your first foray into being an independent researcher, and that means setting up your schedule and working day, and your short- and long-term plans. You might think the hardest part is going to be working on the cutting edge of science. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting yourself going!

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With that independence and management of your own workload comes creating (and maintaining) a work-life balance. It’s easy for the work to feel never-ending, but taking time away to hang out with friends, participate in society events or a sport, and just knowing when to shut the laptop and do the “life” part of “work-life balance” is just as important as the time you spend doing your research.

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Throughout your journey, however long yours may be, you will undoubtably experience the good: your research is progressing as you’d like, maybe you’re finding out something novel or preparing a manuscript. There will naturally also be the bad: things not going to plan, road bumps in your progression, rejections, or some tough-to-take feedback.

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Something people don’t mention a lot is the mundane. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so naturally there will be times where things feel a bit glacial. Finding ways to keep up the good fight and stay motivated when everything seems like an uphill climb is part of the journey. For me, that means remembering that research doesn’t mean banging your head against the wall for hours in the labs. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for productivity is stepping away and coming back fresh.

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And if things get really tough, you’re not alone. Your supervisors, fellow PGRs, colleagues, and wider academic network can all be a part of your support system. Research being a collaborative effort is not just a nice phrase people throw around, it’s the truth. The best skill you could develop before starting your PGR journey is the ability to communicate, collaborate, and solve problems with people from a range of different backgrounds. To be the best researcher you can be, you have to learn when to say, “I don’t know” and to ask for help.

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A PGR role is a big change, but it’s also an opportunity to learn how to work independently, contribute to a field you’re passionate about, and grow as a researcher and an individual. There will be highs, lows, and plenty of ordinary days in between, but that’s all part of the journey. Enjoy it while it lasts, and good luck!

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