A real-life journey of a graduate researcher

‘A PhD is about advancing science and gaining expertise in a topic, but it is also quite personally and professionally transformative,’ says Dr Michelle Benstead, a Deakin PhD graduate and now senior lecturer in Deakin’s School of Psychology.

‘It builds skills in perseverance, problem-solving, critical thinking, written and oral communication, project management and relationship negotiation, all of which are transferable skills and applicable to many careers you may pursue.’

Those ideas of transformation, academic skill building and personal growth are at the heart of the PhD journey. And considering the average graduate researcher takes nearly four years to complete their PhD, it certainly is a journey.

Understanding what life is like as a graduate researcher isn’t always clear from course guides and handbooks. To truly get a sense of the personal and professional transformation that comes with a PhD, you need to hear about the whole experience. With Benstead to guide us, let’s explore what a real-life graduate research journey is actually like.

For Benstead, the life of a PhD student wasn’t always on the cards. As an undergraduate, she initially planned on becoming a registered clinical psychologist – a role that requires a master’s or doctorate. After completing her Honours, Benstead took an unplanned gap year, working at Deakin and completing an internship. It was during this year that the seed of pursuing a PhD was planted in her mind.

‘It was after a conversation I had with the chief investigator during my internship about helping reach children at a younger age to prevent their mental health from worsening prior to adolescence,’ Benstead says. ‘He asked me whether I would be interested in pursuing that idea as a PhD project. I was so pleased. I felt really passionate about the project.’

Benstead’s PhD research centred around a family-based program for children who were experiencing early signs of depression or anxiety. The idea was to provide parents and children with ways to navigate developmental changes, improve relationships and communication and help add problem-solving skills to the parents’ toolkit. In the end, the experience of the project could not have been a better fit for Benstead.

‘For me, because my project was meaningful, and I love learning, it felt like a great fit,’ she says. ‘I enjoyed the project management side of things and valued working with the families. It was very rewarding.’

With a professionalism that reflected her research goals, Benstead says she treated every day of her PhD like a full-time job. And, as you’d expect in most jobs, each day in the life of a PhD student could be quite different.

‘At times, I had to work after-hours,’ she says. ‘There were times when you were quieter, waiting on things like ethics approvals, and other times when there were deadlines, like when you submit your thesis. However, for the most part, you work with a rough timeline in mind.’

For Benstead, understanding and anticipating this variability is key for future graduate researchers. When each day in the life of a PhD student can be different, graduate researchers need to know how to manage themselves.

Benstead clearly cherished her time as a graduate researcher. While working towards her ultimate goal of completing her research, she says that there were plenty of rewards along the way.

‘When I reflect, a few things stand out to me as rewarding; interestingly, all of them relate to the relationships that were built,’ she says. ‘First, working with the families that were involved in the program was a highlight. It was wonderful to work with them, hear how the program provided them with insights and reflections, and see how that played out in their family.’

Benstead was also awarded a scholarship for her PhD – an Australian Rotary Health Scholarship, sponsored by Richmond Rotary and Motto Fashions – that provided financial support and other opportunities. She also points to the rewards of meeting academics and other graduate researchers.

‘The conversations were interesting and insightful,’ Benstead says. ‘I really felt like I had found like-minded people that I could relate to.’

Naturally, the journey included some challenges, too – although Benstead points out that these were not always typical for graduate researchers. The biggest, she says, came when her primary supervisor left the university and moved away after nine months of her candidature. Despite worrying about the future of her research project, everything turned out fine.

‘Thankfully, my associate supervisor developed a plan to engage an external partner, and I was able to run my program at their clinics, which proved mutually beneficial,’ Benstead says. 

Many people experience mental health challenges at some stage – and PhD students and graduate researchers are no different. As well as the external forces of life outside university, Benstead says that there are natural ups and downs that have the potential to affect mental health in PhD students.

‘It can feel so good when you have a win, such as an accepted conference abstract or meeting your recruitment target,’ she says. ‘Then there are disappointments, such as a journal rejecting the manuscript you have worked tirelessly on, or things not going to plan. It can feel overwhelming at times, but I guess that is the case with many jobs, too.’

As Benstead points out, though, free and confidential mental health support for PhD students is available at Deakin. She has some further advice, too.

‘Where possible, it is also good to reach out to your supervisors if you are struggling, as they might be able to help you navigate an alternative to get you through the situation,’ says Benstead. ‘You may intermit your studies, switch to part-time or take a much-needed break – these things are factored into your candidature and timelines.’

Take it from Benstead – whether you’re planning for a PhD or Master’s by research, it can be a life-changing journey with plenty of positives. If you’re thinking of becoming a graduate researcher, Benstead’s biggest advice is a classic: find what you love.

‘Finding a project you find meaningful, and a supervisory team that you feel will support you, is something I would encourage since it is a project you will need to show up for over several years,’ she says.