Consider Postgrad Event

Obiecałam że napiszę po evencie i jeszcze tego nie zrobiłam. Tak, odbyło się. Teoretycznie udzielałam rad i mówiłam o tym jak jest na doktoracie (ja z nastawieniem na to jak to pogodzić z dziećmi), ale praktycznie to miałam ze 2 rozmowy z potencjalnie zainteresowanymi i więcej z tymi, którzy już doktorat robią. Moja krótka doktoratowo-dzieciowa biografia została wydrukowana w książeczce. Kopia tutaj.

NAME

Sylwia Czarnota

CURRENT COURSE

3 yr PhD in Biotechnology, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), School of Chemistry

PAST COURSES

BSc and MSc Chemistry both in Poland, one semester abroad in Limerick, Ireland (Erasmus student exchange)

MINI BIOGRAPHY

I was the first member of my family to have pursued higher education. But I didn’t think about PhD from the beginning. After my Master’s studies I worked as a teacher in primary school in Warsaw, capital of Poland. I got married, but living there was tough for us, especially in case of money. I worked 40h/week at school, weekends in Science Centre and I gave private lessons of chemistry. I was exhausted and decided that I want to change my life. PhD was a great opportunity to go abroad, develop other skills, learn and come back to “real” science, as science level in primary school wasn’t enough for me. I had few interviews in different places and Manchester was the best option. My husband was ready to go with me. I signed the contract in February, supposed to start in September, and then in March realised that I’m pregnant! To be honest, we didn’t really expect that. We wanted to have kids, but at that time, when we were in about to change our lives completely it was a shock. I was so worried, but I also wanted a baby. I’m not a person who will consider any other options. Finally, when I was around 8 weeks pregnant I sent an e-mail to all my future supervisors about the situation. And I was overjoyed when I got the response. They suggested that I can start earlier, in June, to do as much as possible before the birth and then go for maternity leave. It was great. It was better than I could imagine (love you, University of Manchester!). And that was what happened. I came to Manchester in May, started in June and my first boy was born in November, during my first year of PhD. On my third year my second boy was born. And it was really the best time in my life for having kids J

WHAT MADE WANT TO STUDY AT POSTGRADUATE LEVEL?

I wanted to do “real” science and it was a great opportunity to move abroad, to change my life, to get experience, develop my language skills and it is a great personal satisfaction.

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST POSITIVE EXPERIENCES?

First of all, I was so happy that my pregnancies were not barriers for myself and my supervisors. They gave me a lot of support. I met a lot of great people, I have many international friends, I used to have a mentor (thanks to mentoring programme Manchester Gold). I’ve been on many conferences, seminars, some summer schools which were a great opportunity for networking, but also for travelling (together with my family), getting confidence and developing my knowledge. I took part in many activities such as university open days, which I enjoyed.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES?

It was a challenge to find a good balance between work and family, but it is doable! Sometimes it was tough, but I don’t really have negative experiences connected with PhD studies. Maybe just one advice – be careful with your bikes in the city, mine has been stolen despite of a good lock!

DO YOU HAVE ANY FINANCE ADVICE?

I had the best scholarship ever. It was EU Marie Curie grant, a lot of money, that I was able to buy a house during PhD studies (OK, it’s 20-years mortgage, but anyway… ;-) ) So find a good grant if you can!

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF…

Getting up around 7am. Preparing breakfast and getting ready with kids (this can take varied time, depends on the day), taking the older one to kindergarten (plans, currently au pair is doing that), youngest is at home with au pair. Working. Usually from 9am till 5pm, but it’s flexible. Sometimes I’m finishing earlier and taking my work laptop home, to do something during the night. Sometimes I have to stay longer in the lab. But what I love is flexibility. I don't really have to be there at exact time, if kids need me, I can be longer with them. Many times I finished my conference posters/presentations at 3am at home, few times I’ve been in the lab on Saturday/Sunday, but I can give more time to my family if they need me during the week. And this is the beauty of PhD.

Personal Photo