Thoughts on PhD Training
In 2022, I began teaching a seminar course for graduate students, sharing insights and lessons I had gathered throughout my academic journey. As the seminar unfolded, I realized that many of the ideas resonated not only with my students but also had the potential to benefit a broader audience. This realization led me to begin compiling my lecture notes, reflections, and guiding principles into a monograph—a personal exploration of what I’ve learned as both a PhD student and an advisor for the past 30 years.
To make these ideas more accessible and engaging, I also collaborated with ChatGPT to transform each major chapter and theme into a visual format. The result is a collection of 15 cartoon sets, each addressing a key topic in the PhD journey. These visual summaries are designed to be clickable and can be explored as a slideshow—ideal for quick reflection or classroom use. You can find them below.
However, after delivering these lectures, I faced unexpected criticism. Some students accused me of being insulting because I compared them with peers from institutions like MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. My intention was not to disparage, but to honestly point out the gap that exists—and to encourage students to recognize it as a motivator for growth. Unfortunately, this led to me being prohibited from teaching the course again.
Still, I believe in the value of these principles. So I decided to share my ideas here, through this website. I hope they will find an audience that engages with them openly and thoughtfully. As I often remind myself and others:
"Growth begins when you become aware of the distance between where you are and where others have gone—and let that awareness drive, not defeat, your determination." — Yiping Zhao
The following cartoon summaries are not meant to be a rigid manual, but rather a living conversation—a blend of storytelling, practical guidance, and reflection. Some of the ideas may feel timeless, while others might reflect earlier academic cultures. Regardless, I hope it encourages thought, sparks exploration, and offers support during your own journey through graduate school and beyond. Learning never ends, and my hope is that this work becomes a thoughtful and inspiring companion along the way.
If you have any suggestions and comments, please feel free to email me. I would love to improve my work.
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