8 Planning the Experiments

A PhD is the start of the research careers, and these students are the backbone of Universities and research institutions. It is the opportunity for youthful energy and creativity to make global impact and train the future researchers to make a difference. However, the candidature can also be the period of confusion and regret because of lack of structure and understanding. Research Methods for Successful PhD is written to help the PhD students and other young researchers navigate their path through this phase that will give them a direction and purpose. It is a candid conversation and developed over the experience of supervising 30 research students and publishing 400 papers over 20 years. The book recognizes that every student is different and has unique circumstances. It teases out the fundamental questions that we forget to ask, the method of relating to the supervisor, discusses methods to improve communication skills and explains the how to get the work published.