Career-Development Timeline for PhD Students (Early Predoctoral Training)

The PhD timeline is unique to each student and program. However, most programs follow the same basic format. Below is an outline of the basic landmarks most PhD students must reach and tips for achieving them successfully.

 Stages:  Early Predoctoral (Year 1-2) Training Late Doctoral (Year 3-5) Training Postdoctoral Training  

  • Find a great advisor. Your relationship with your advisor is the single most important aspect of graduate school. An excellent advisor will not only motivate you, but will also foster your sense of independence and critical thinking, and will be your advocate throughout your career. Prepare questions to ask a potential mentor ahead of time. 
  • Choose a Lab. Key considerations when choosing a lab:
    • Accepting new PhD students: If you wish to select a particular rotation lab as your dissertation lab, first check that it is actually taking new PhD students.
    • Current lab team/composition: If you are new to research, join a lab that already has multiple grad students or postdocs; preferably both. These are the people you will learn the most from re: experimental procedures and troubleshooting. PI’s are good about answering scientific questions, but most have not worked in a lab for years and cannot help as much with techniques. If you are more experienced you may be able to work more independently, but realize that this comes with risk early in your research career.
    • Timetable: What is the timetable for your proposed project?
    • Funding: Where will the funding come from? (This is an important topic, but needs to be handled with some diplomacy. Students should ask if the lab has sufficient funding to support a grad student. In addition, will the lab support your participation in scientific meetings locally, nationally, or internationally?
     
  • Excel in your classes. Most PhD programs begin by establishing a core competency among students, which will be tested later during comprehensive (either oral or written) qualifying exams. Learning the material covered in your classes will pay dividends down the road.
  • Know the graduation requirements (format of qualifying/comprehensive exams, composition of the research committee, etc.) of your particular program. Work with your advisor to make sure you have addressed each of them.
  • Prepare a formal proposal of your thesis research including a clear hypothesis, techniques, necessary training, and anticipated timeframe to completion. Many programs require a formal proposal in the second year of your research, but if yours does not, draft a plan with the help from your mentor. The general practice is to follow the NIH R01 format.
  • Practice giving scientific talks. It is important for scientists to possess the ability to communicate their ideas effectively. You should present your research at least once a year and present journal club articles at least once a year. During your presentation you need to not only present your data, but also provide the proper background and context for the listener to understand the broader impact and significance of your work. If you are unsure of where to begin, presenting someone else's work at a journal club is a good place to start.
  • Attend the ASH annual meeting. You will get the most out of the meeting if you have results to present, but remember that the ASH annual meeting also offers a plethora of opportunities to network (e.g.,trainee lounge, trainee day, etc.) that you can take advantage of even if you do not have data to present.

Stages: Early Predoctoral (Year 1-2) Training Late Doctoral (Year 3-5) Training Postdoctoral Training  

back to top