博士说｜Nature：希望所有的“准博士生”在读博前都知道的20件事！
全国高校发展动态
全国高校发展动态
高校动态——博士说｜Nature：希望所有的“准博士生”在读博前都知道的20件事！
Lucy Taylor, 2008年在牛津大学动物学系博士毕业。她希望有一些事情可以让她在读博士之前就可以知道。因此，她把读博期间的建议写成了论文并发表在Nature上，以帮助那些新博士生们。以下为文章原文和翻译：
1. Maintain a healthy work–life balance by finding a routine that works for you. It’s better to develop a good balance and work steadily throughout your programme than to work intensively and burn out. Looking after yourself is key to success.
找到一种适合你的作息方式，保持工作和生活之间的平衡。最好在整个计划中都可以保持平衡稳定的工作状态，循序渐进，不要一直拼命工作，直到精疲力尽。照顾好自己是成功的关键因素。
2. Discuss expectations with your supervisor. Everyone works differently. Make sure you know your needs and communicate them to your supervisor early on, so you can work productively together.
和自己的导师讨论研究目标。每个人的工作方式都不相同。尽早明确自己的需求，并和导师充分沟通，这样你们才可以高效地合作。
3. Invest time in literature reviews. These reviews, both before and after data collection, help you to develop your research aims and conclusions.
花时间撰写文献综述。这些总数能帮你在数据收集前和数据收集后确立研究目的，形成研究结论。
4. Decide on your goals early. Look at your departmental guidelines and then establish clear PhD aims or questions on the basis of your thesis requirements. Goals can change later, but a clear plan will help you to maintain focus.
尽早确定目标。查看你所在学院的相关指南，然后根据论文要求确定明确的博士目标或问题。目标可以在后期更改，但清晰的计划有助于你保持专注。
5. “I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it” is the biggest lie you can tell yourself! Write down everything you do — even if it doesn’t work. This includes meeting notes, method details, code annotations, among other things.
“我不需要写下来，我记得住”，这是你对自己撒过最大的慌。好记性不如烂笔头。会议记录，方法细节，代码注释等都是可以做记录并整理的。
6. Organize your work and workspace. In particular, make sure to use meaningful labels, so you know what and where things are. Organizing early will save you time later on.
整理好工作和工作区。最好使用显眼的便签纸，这样可以很容易了解事情的内容和位置。越早整理，越能节省后期的时间。
7. It’s never too early to start writing your thesis. Write and show your work to your supervisor as you go — even if you don’t end up using your early work, it’s good practice and a way to get ideas organized in your head.
论文动笔越早越好。把工作内容写下来并拿给你的导师看，即使最后你并没有用到那些早期的工作内容，这个方法能让你的整个思路更加清晰。
8. Break your thesis down into SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals. You will be more productive if your to-do list reads “draft first paragraph of the results” rather than “write chapter 1”. Many small actions lead to one complete thesis.
将你的论文分解为SMART(specific具体的，measurable可衡量的，attainable可实现的，relevant相关的，timely及时的)目标。在任务清单上写“结束第一段的草稿”比“写第一章”更高效。一篇完整的论文来自一次次小行动的叠加。
9. The best thesis is a finished thesis. No matter how much time you spend perfecting your first draft, your work will come back covered in corrections, and you will go through more drafts before you submit your final version. Send your drafts to your supervisor sooner rather than later.
最好的论文是一篇完成的论文。无论你花多少时间完成你的初稿，你的论文都会以布满修改痕迹的形式再次回到你的手中。在你提交最终版本前还会反复打磨很多次。写完后，记得尽快将草稿发给你的导师。
10. Be honest with your supervisor. Let them know if you don’t understand something, if you’ve messed up an experiment or if they forgot to give you feedback. The more honest you are, the better your relationship will be. Helping your supervisor to help you is key.
和你的导师坦诚相待。如果你不理解某些事情，或者实验没做好，或者老师忘记给你反馈，请直接告诉导师，不需要有什么担心。诚实可以让你和你的导师的关系更紧密。让你的导师帮助你学习是最重要的方法。
11. Back up your work! You can avoid many tears by doing this at least weekly.
将你的研究备份！至少每周备份一次，这样可以避免很多的泪水。
12. Socialize with your lab group and other students. It’s a great way to discuss PhD experiences, get advice and help, improve your research and make friends.
与实验室的成员搞好关系。这是交流博士体验、获取建议帮助、完善研究、交朋友的绝佳机会。
13. Attend departmental seminars and lab-group meetings, even (or especially) when the topic is not your area of expertise. What you learn could change the direction of your research and career. Regular attendance will also be noticed.
参加系里的研讨会和实验室小组会议时，如果发现讨论话题不是你的专业领域也不要逃避。你在未知领域学到的东西也许可以改变你的研究课题和职业方向。定期出勤也会让你增加曝光率。
14. Present your research. This can be at lab-group meetings, conferences and so on. Presenting can be scary, but it gets easier as you practise, and it’s a fantastic way to network and get feedback at the same time.
向别人展示你的研究，可以在课题组会议、学术会议等场合。演讲可能很可怕，但反复训练可以让以后的汇报更加从容。同时，这是获得反馈的好方法。
15. Aim to publish your research. It might not work out, but drafting articles and submitting them to journals is a great way to learn new skills and enhance your CV.
一定要以发表你的研究结果为目标。虽然结果可能不尽人意，但撰写文章并提交给期刊是学习新技能和丰富简历的好方法。
16. Have a life outside work. Although your lab group is like your work family, it’s great for your mental health to be able to escape work. This could be through sport, clubs, hobbies, holidays or spending time with friends.
在工作之余也有自己的个人生活。虽然你的实验室团队就像你的家庭一样，但是短暂地离开工作对心理健康会有好处。你可以选择运动、泡吧、发展一项兴趣爱好，度假，或与朋友共度时光。
17. Don’t compare yourself with others. Your PhD is an opportunity to conduct original research that reveals new information. As such, all PhD programmes are different. You just need to do what works for you and your project.
不要拿自己和別人比较。博士学位的意义是带给你不断学习的机会。因此，所有博士课程都不同。你只需做好与你有关的博士课题就好。
18. The nature of research means that things will not always go according to plan. This does not mean you are a bad student. Keep calm, take a break and then carry on. Experiments that fail can still be written up as part of a successful PhD.
研究的本质意味着事情并不总是按照计划进行。但这并不意味着你是一个坏学生。保持冷静，喘口气然后继续前行。失败的实验仍然可以书写为成功的博士履历。
19. Never struggle on your own. Talk to other students and have frank discussions with your supervisor. There’s no shame in asking for help. You are not alone.
不要什么都自己扛。与其他学生沟通或与你的导师讨论。寻求帮助不可耻，你不是一个人在战斗。
20. Enjoy your PhD! It can be tough, and there will be days when you wish you had a ‘normal’ job, but PhDs are full of wonderful experiences and give you the opportunity to work on something that fascinates you. Celebrate your successes and enjoy yourself.
享受你的博士求学生涯！读博可能会很苦，有时候你会希望有一份“正常” 的工作，但读博充满了很多美妙的体验，让你有机会做你喜欢的事情。为自己的成功喝彩并享受这个旅程吧。
