Dr. Richard Huysmans' Podcast

The steps for building a research group or lab are vague and unclear. For people with a great idea, hoping to build a business on it, there are coaches, start-up programs, business information sessions, incubators, co-working spaces, mentors, seminars, workshops, and more. Yet for research there is very little. In this blog I look at the business advice and translate that into advice for researchers. Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/how-to-build-a-research-group-2/

Have you turned your PhD topic or experiences into a small business? How did you do it? I was an entrepreneur before it was cool. Before being an innovator or being agile was a thing. I was an entrepreneur when it was called owning your own business. Being self-employed. For some, there’s an attraction to the idea of turning some or all of your PhD into your job. And that was what I did. Here, I talk about the steps that I think are necessary to go from PhD to business. Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/turning-your-research-into-your-business-3/

What are your tips for being more competitive and organised when it comes to writing a grant? Here are 6 from me: Prewrite. Know your funding sources. Prepare your application based on those funding sources and their preferences. Say “no” – Not all people, grants or situations are equally worthy. Plan ahead (a year calendar will help). Practice – You cannot improve without practice. Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/six-steps-to-a-more-competitive-and-organised-grant-application-3/

We are constantly told to self-reflect. But if you’re not in the practice of it, reflection can be really hard. In his book 20 Questions for Humans, Craig Harper helps readers do just that – answer 20 questions that will help them self-reflect. In this blog, I look at each question Craig poses and suggest the equivalent in the context of your PhD or research. Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/twenty-questions-for-humans-who-are-studying-a-phd-3/

Are you thinking about leaving academia but finding it hard? Why not write a good-bye letter? The transition from one sector to another is difficult. So is a change in job or a change in a career. But when you’ve had your heart set on a career – like many in academia – that transition is even harder. Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/why-you-should-write-a-good-bye-letter-to-academia-2/

Five transferable skills for all PhD students: Problem solving. Project management. Written communication. Oral communication. Presentation skills. Be careful when identifying your transferable skills from your PhD – not all are created equal. Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/five-skills-i-can-use-to-develop-my-career-beyond-my-phd-2/

So you’ve been told to find a mentor. Take these four steps: List the traits you’re looking for. Note who in your network has those traits. Meet with them. Confirm the relationship Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/how-to-get-a-mentor-2/

As an academic, at some point you’ll need to take your research social. If you like pictures, use Instagram. If you like writing, use LinkedIn. If you like video, use YouTube and then share. If you want to connect with other academics, use Twitter. If you want to engage with the general public then Facebook or Instagram will be better. LinkedIn will be best for getting industry partners.   How did you come to choose the social media channels you are on? Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/how-to-select-a-social-media-channel-2/

How do you identify transferable skills? One way is a time in motion study or a skills audit. Or, you can google “transferable skills” and see what the internet tells you. Here are five skills - tenacity, collaboration, comprehension, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and software use – and why I think they are transferable. Link to transcript: https://drrichardhuysmans.com/five-forgotten-transferable-skills-2/

PhD students have some of the poorest mental health of ANY professional – inside or outside research. Even worse, the turbulence associated with science and research careers does not make things easier. Thus, building resilience and copying strategies before you need them will be important to long-term health and success. Here are 6 strategies - note your thoughts, analyse your thoughts, be mindful, note good things in your life, have a balanced life, live in alignment with your values.