This week, I passed my probation review!
I am now feeling a bit more relaxed. It was so nice that my supervisor announced that I had passed, and my colleagues congratulated me!
The review meeting was more like a discussion from various perspectives, including the views of the external examiner. I mainly discussed my research with the panel, and he asked a few general questions (they were similar to some that were on my list of possible questions) and many specific questions which I had not thought about.
Overall, all the topics in the discussion we had were very helpful, and it was not a problem that I was not able to answer straight away some technical questions which I had not looked at. The panel gave me many suggestions on references and other important aspects of data analysis.
I really thank Luca, because for the last EIGHT days we rehearsed for this meeting, and I was able to be confident on the day!
Now, my advice to any PhD student facing a first-year probation review is to:
- Print all your probation documents and read them very carefully, until you know them very well. My eight-month work became a 100-page paper, including a full version of ethics applications. Having the result of your work on paper will definitely give you confidence!
- Make sure that you can explain the methodological frameworks you use.
- Bring water, pens and a notepad, and during the meeting be ready to receive any feedback from the examiner.
I started thinking about my next tasks: fixing and reinforcing the points that the panel emphasised, writing Chapter 2, and completing some training sessions on methodologies. I have also started taking an Italian language course. And my birthday is coming in a week!
My goals for Week 41:
- Map out the prospective participants and the amount of data
- Expand the outline description of Chapter 2
- Enjoy my birthday!
Celebrating my completion of the probation period
I have just realised that I have published 150 posts on this blog. As readers may easily realise, English is not my native language. I started posting my records of local life and studies on my blog in English when I moved to Europe three years ago. Expressing my feelings in my second language is sometimes difficult because of a lack of knowledge of the multiple connotations behind the vocabulary. My writing identity would be closer to my first language. But I really enjoy learning and absorbing all aspects of the life here, and the use of language as well!
