HANDING IN MY PhD THESIS! | A week as a PhD student #27

Simon Clark
21 Jan 201822:46
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this vlog, the creator shares the intense and emotional journey of their final week as a PhD student. From submitting their thesis and correcting last-minute errors to celebrating with friends and the office tradition of vodka shots, it's a candid look at the culmination of years of hard work. The video captures the creator's transition from academic stress to a well-deserved sense of accomplishment and relief, as they prepare for the next chapter of their life, including a trip to New York sponsored by YouTube.

Takeaways
  • πŸŽ“ The vlogger has completed their PhD and is reflecting on the process in a vlog format.
  • πŸ“Ή The vlog captures the final week of the vlogger's PhD journey, including challenges and the final submission.
  • πŸ” The vlogger experienced technical difficulties with their camera's microphone, affecting the quality of the vlog footage.
  • πŸ“š The vlogger's thesis is in atmospheric physics, focusing on the interaction between the stratosphere and troposphere.
  • πŸ“ˆ A significant part of the vlog discusses the process of correcting and replotting data to fix issues in the thesis' predictions.
  • πŸ•ŠοΈ The vlogger felt a sense of relief and accomplishment after submitting the corrected thesis to their supervisors.
  • πŸŽ‰ The vlogger celebrated the completion of their PhD by shaving their beard, attending an office Christmas party, and going out for drinks with friends.
  • πŸ“š The vlogger had to print and bind two copies of their thesis for the examiners, which was a nerve-wracking process.
  • πŸš‚ The vlogger traveled to Cambridge to spend a relaxing weekend with their girlfriend, Pixel Girl, after the intense period of thesis work.
  • πŸ“š The vlogger acknowledges that they are not yet a doctor, as they still have to pass their viva, a defense of their research.
  • πŸ’Œ The vlog ends with a heartfelt thank you to the audience and the vlogger's support system, emphasizing the sense of community and encouragement they received.
Q & A
  • What significant event occurred at the end of the narrator's final week as a PhD student?

    -The narrator submitted their completed thesis, marking the end of their PhD journey.

  • Why was the narrator unable to offload the footage from their camera for about a month?

    -The narrator was extremely busy finishing their PhD and moving out of their home, which prevented them from offloading the footage in a timely manner.

  • What problem did the narrator encounter with their thesis plots?

    -The plots were not smooth as expected; they appeared erratic and incorrect, which was a significant issue given the thesis was almost due for submission.

  • What was the narrator's hypothesis regarding the issue with their thesis plots?

    -The narrator hypothesized that the problem was due to incorrect data conversion from pressure coordinates to height coordinates.

  • What did the narrator do to fix the issue with their thesis plots?

    -They recalculated and re-plotted the data, ensuring it was correctly converted from pressure coordinates to height coordinates.

  • What was the narrator's reaction after successfully fixing the thesis plots?

    -The narrator felt relieved and satisfied, as the corrected plots now appeared smooth and accurate.

  • What was the narrator's next step after finalizing their thesis?

    -They printed and bound two copies of the thesis for submission to their examiners.

  • Why did the narrator participate in a photo shoot on campus after submitting their thesis?

    -The narrator wanted to commemorate the significant event and share the moment on social media.

  • What did the narrator do after submitting their thesis?

    -They went to the office to celebrate with colleagues, participated in an office tradition of drinking vodka shots, and then enjoyed a well-deserved chill weekend.

  • What is the narrator's relationship with Pixel Girl, and what did they do together after the thesis submission?

    -Pixel Girl is a close friend of the narrator. They spent time together in Cambridge, enjoying a relaxed weekend and visiting a Vietnamese noodle soup restaurant.

  • What is the narrator's next academic milestone after submitting their thesis?

    -The narrator must complete their viva, which is a defense of their research in an exam with two world-leading academics.

  • What was the narrator's emotional state after submitting their thesis?

    -The narrator felt a mix of relief, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment, but also acknowledged that they were not yet a doctor until after their viva.

Outlines
00:00
πŸŽ“ Final Week of PhD Journey

The speaker reflects on their final week as a PhD student, highlighting the typical vlogging process and the challenges they faced during this period. They were extremely busy finishing their PhD and moving out of their home, which resulted in a month's delay in reviewing their footage due to a malfunctioning microphone. Despite the setback, they are eager to share their story with their subscribers who have been anticipating this moment for years.

05:14
πŸ” Resolving Thesis Plot Anomalies

The speaker describes the process of correcting anomalies in their thesis plots related to atmospheric physics. They hypothesize that the issue might be due to improper data conversion from pressure to height coordinates. After a stressful period and a test run on a smaller dataset, they confirm their hypothesis, leading to a significant improvement in the plot's appearance. This resolution allowed them to finalize their thesis, which was approved by their supervisors.

10:28
πŸ“š The Thesis Submission Experience

The speaker narrates the experience of submitting their thesis, from the final checks to the printing and binding process. They express a mix of excitement and nervousness as they prepare to submit their work. After submitting, they feel a sense of relief and accomplishment, celebrating with a cake and a photo shoot on campus. They also share their plans to attend an office Christmas party and their anticipation of returning to a sense of normalcy.

15:28
πŸšΆβ€β™‚οΈ Transitioning Back to Normal Life

Following the thesis submission, the speaker focuses on resuming regular life activities. They indulge in leisurely pursuits such as visiting a bookshop and a university shop, catching up on emails and social media, and reconnecting with friends. They also mention their upcoming trip to New York sponsored by YouTube, marking a new chapter in their life post-PhD.

20:32
πŸ™Œ Gratitude and Future Outlook

In the final paragraph, the speaker expresses gratitude to their audience for their unwavering support throughout their PhD journey. They acknowledge the motivational role of their viewers and thank them for being part of their 'YouTube family.' They also give a special shout-out to Pixel Girl for her significant support. The speaker looks forward to more vlogs, aiming for two videos per week, and invites viewers to subscribe for future content.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘PhD
A PhD, short for Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest academic degree awarded by universities in most fields of study. In the context of this video, the creator is discussing their final week as a PhD student, which is a significant milestone in their academic journey. The script mentions various aspects of the PhD process, such as submitting the thesis and the final meeting with the supervisor.
πŸ’‘Vlog
A vlog, short for video blog, is a form of blogging where the creator shares personal experiences or stories through video. The script describes the process of creating a vlog, including filming, editing, and posting content. The creator uses vlogging as a means to document their journey and share their experiences with their audience.
πŸ’‘Thesis
A thesis is a document submitted in partial fulfillment of a degree, and it presents original research or a scholarly project. In the video, the creator is finishing their PhD by submitting a thesis, which is the culmination of their research in atmospheric physics. The process of finalizing and submitting the thesis is a central theme of the video.
πŸ’‘Atmospheric Physics
Atmospheric physics is a branch of physics that studies the physical and dynamical processes in the atmosphere. The creator's thesis is in this field, focusing on the interaction between the middle atmosphere (stratosphere) and the troposphere. The script provides a brief overview of the research topic, which is integral to the creator's academic work.
πŸ’‘Supervisor
In the context of academic research, a supervisor is a senior academic who guides and mentors a student's research project. The script mentions the creator's main supervisor, who reads and annotates the thesis, providing crucial feedback before the final submission.
πŸ’‘Viva
A viva, short for viva voce, is an oral examination for a higher degree, where the candidate defends their thesis. The creator mentions that they still have to undergo a viva, which is a key part of the PhD process and a prerequisite for being awarded the degree.
πŸ’‘Time-lapse
A time-lapse is a video technique where time is compressed, showing hours or days of footage in a short period. The script describes the creator using time-lapse footage in their vlogs to show the progression of their work and daily activities.
πŸ’‘Academic Journal
An academic journal is a periodical publication that contains scholarly articles and research in a specific field. The script mentions a tradition in the creator's office where successful submissions to academic journals are celebrated, indicating the importance of publishing research in the academic community.
πŸ’‘Vodka
In the script, vodka is mentioned as part of an office tradition to celebrate successful submissions to academic journals. The creator partakes in this tradition by taking two shots of vodka after submitting their thesis, symbolizing a significant achievement in their academic career.
πŸ’‘YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing platform where users can upload, share, and view content. The creator mentions that YouTube bought them a plane ticket to go to New York, indicating that they are a content creator who has built a following and received support from the platform.
πŸ’‘Graduation
Graduation is the act of receiving a diploma or academic degree, often marked by a ceremony. The script describes the creator's anticipation of graduation, which is a significant life event and the culmination of their educational journey.
Highlights

Final week as a PhD student and the process of vlogging during this busy time.

The challenge of editing vlogs while juggling the demands of finishing a PhD and moving house.

Unexpected microphone issues during vlogging due to an incident in a previous vlog.

The significance of the final meeting with the main supervisor to discuss thesis corrections.

The crucial problem with two plots in the thesis that appeared to be incorrect.

Explanation of the thesis topic: atmospheric physics and the interaction between the stratosphere and troposphere.

The hypothesis about the cause of the plot discrepancies due to incorrect data conversion.

The stressful wait to see if the hypothesis about the plot issues was correct.

The relief and satisfaction of correcting the thesis plots and getting approval from supervisors.

The process of preparing the thesis for submission, including printing and binding.

Emotional moment of submitting the thesis and the feeling of accomplishment.

Celebratory actions post-thesis submission, including a photo shoot and social media update.

The importance of the viva, the final exam to defend the research for the PhD title.

Gratitude expressed to the audience for their support throughout the PhD journey.

Special thanks to Pixel Girl for her support and the office tradition of celebrating successful submissions.

Plans for the future, including more frequent vlogging now that the thesis is submitted.

The author's anticipation of going to New York for a week, sponsored by YouTube.

Transcripts
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