1st Edition
How to Write a PhD in Biological Sciences A Guide for the Uninitiated
You don’t have to be a genius to write a PhD. Of course, it will always involve a lot of hard work and dedication, but the process of writing is a whole lot easier if you understand the basic ground rules.
This book is a guide through the dos and don’ts of writing a PhD. It will be your companion from the point when you decide to do a PhD, providing practical guidance to getting started, all the way through the nuts and bolts of the writing and editing process. It will also help you to get - and stay - in the right mental framework and establish good habits from the beginning, putting you in a commanding position later on. Examples are tailored to the biological sciences, offering a unique reference for PhD students in these disciplines.
Embarking on a PhD doesn’t need to be daunting, even if it’s your first experience working within academia. Each short section focuses on writing - considered by many to be the most difficult aspect of a PhD - and delves into a practical detail of one aspect, from the title to the supplementary material. Whether you’re a student just starting your studies, an early career researcher or a supervisor struggling to cope, the book provides the insider information you need to get ahead.
PART 1 RIGHT FROM THE VERY START
1 Introduction
2 So you are doing a PhD?
3 Reconciling yourself to doing things you’ve been avoiding
4 Communicating by email
5 The scientific project and scientific living
6 Keeping track of your mental health
PART 2 GET WRITING
7 How to get started with writing
8 How to write a hypothesis
9 Being aware that you can get it wrong
10 What happens if you don’t have a hypothesis?
11 What’s the big idea?
12 Writing a paragraph
13 Construct a logical argument in your writing
14 Storytelling in science?
15 Why do you need to cite?
16 Literature databases
17 Reference managers
18 What software should I use to write my PhD?
19 What to do when faced with a paywall?
20 Scientific names and taxonomic authorities
21 Writing style
22 Retaining your own voice when writing
23 Writing concisely
24 Writing a PhD if English is not your first language
25 Making sure that you don’t plagiarise
26 Academic phrasebank
27 Why critical reading is crucial for improving your writing
28 What is needed for your research proposal?
29 Making a presentation from your chapter, paper or proposal
30 Starting out transparent
31 Generating funding for your PhD research
32 Fear of submitting written work
33 Why use a formula to structure each chapter or paper?
34 Data Management
PART 3 THE FORMULA OF A CHAPTER
35 Writing the sections that make up your data chapter
36 Title page
37 The Abstract
38 The Introduction
39 The Materials and Methods
40 The Results
41 The Discussion
42 The Acknowledgements
43 The References
44 Tables
45 Figures
46 Who did what?
47 Supplementary Material
PART 4 COMPLETING THE THESIS
48 Now that you have finished your data chapters
49 How to introduce your PhD chapters
50 How to conclude your PhD
51 Formatting your thesis
52 The obligation to publish your work
Biography
John Measey is Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Stellenbosch University. He has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer reviewed scientific papers and book chapters, and five books. This includes How to write a PhD in Biological Sciences: a guide for the uninitiated, also published by CRC Press. He was the Editor-in-Chief of an ISI journal for 9 years, and currently serves as Associate Editor for 4 other journals. He has graduated more than 20 postgraduate students, and his blog on writing and publishing in biological sciences is read by thousands globally. British born and educated, he lives and works in the beautiful Western Cape, South Africa.
