Nicole Patrie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Safety and Justice Studies at MacEwan University, and a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta, specializing in Adult Education. Nicole has been involved in prison education at all levels: as a teacher, administrator, and now researcher, for over 15 years. Her research focus is on the role of education and learning in the criminal justice system.

In this episode Nicole shares her own journey as a first generation PhD scholar.

We talk about a range of challenges from practical resources to self-confidence.

We discuss hidden support systems and the importance of accessing the help you need. Nicole encourages us all to ‘pay it forward’.

Nicole ends with an encouraging mantra that every PhD researcher needs to remember!

Contact details: website, email, social media

https://nicolepatrie.weebly.com/

patrien2@macewan.ca

@nicolepatrie.bsky.social

@patrie_nicole (twitter)

For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com

If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Vicky Laina is a learning scientist with a focus on educational technologies in mathematics teaching and learning. She designs and studies learning experiences where the use of technology can support epistemic transparency and collaborative thinking amongst youth, with the goal of helping students reimagine what doing mathematics can look and feel like. Vicky has lived, worked and studied in 5 different countries and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Austria.

In this episode we explore the challenges and benefits of being an international PhD student.

Vicky shares tips about the application process and funding options.

She also opens up about the logistical problems of international study and how she navigated them.

We reflect on the cultural differences that may impact on your work but also on how the experience of studying abroad can enrich your journey.

You can make contact with Vicky here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasilikilaina/

For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com

If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft

Gina Holmes has worked both in industry and academia - with over two decades of experience in Higher Education. As well as her own research experience she has worked with dozens of doctoral candidates and hundreds (maybe more) of Master’s students, supporting them to complete theses they are proud of and which enable them to move on in their career.

In this episode we discuss the relationship between the PhD researcher and the supervisor/supervisory team.

We explore the issues that may arise and how you might navigate them in a way that supports both your research process and your own mental health.

Gina shares advice about managing supervision meetings as well as inviting reflection on how the relationship between researcher and supervisor may evolve during the PhD journey.

You can find out more about Gina and her work at www.drginaholmes.com

Follow Gina on facebook or LinkedIn: www.facebook.com/drginaholmes and www.linkedin.com/in/drginaholmes

For a transcript of this episode go to www.thephdliferaft.com

If you would like to receive a useful weekly email from the PhD Life Raft you can sign up here for ‘Notes from the Life Raft’: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft