Using Your Ph.D. Experience as a Catalyst for Change

Many students are interested in a Ph.D. and go on to do postdoctoral work because they are fascinated by research and are driven to contribute something new to the body of knowledge in their chosen fields of study. However, those who manage to finish their Ph.D.s or postdoctoral stints come out with a mixed bag of experiences. While few would deny the technical expertise that is acquired, many feel that the nontechnical experiences (social, financial, work culture, and institutional support) leave much to be desired. This is the case with most academic institutions all over the world. The better ones are those that manage to provide a relatively better overall experience and are generally among the top schools in their respective countries.