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  • CAREER FEATURE

27 things we wish we’d known when we started our PhDs

Nature’s survey of PhD candidates reveals hard-won wisdom on choosing supervisors, managing mental health and surviving academic culture.
By
  1. Linda Nordling

    1. Linda Nordling is a freelance journalist in Cape Town, South Africa.

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Conceptual illustration showing a graduate guiding their younger self towards a PhD.

Illustration: Antonio Rodríguez

Starting a PhD can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. Although universities offer orientation programmes and supervisors provide research guidance, some of the most valuable lessons come from those who’ve walked the path before.

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Nature 646, 501-502 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03229-8

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

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