Ever downloaded a paper, highlighted half of it, then forgotten why you saved it?

In this episode of How to PhD, Arun and Julia share practical ways to read critically, organise your literature and make your reading useful when it’s time to write. We explore how to question a paper’s methods and conclusions, recognise its limitations and identify what it contributes to your own research.

From reading papers in three passes to writing meaningful notes and creating a simple tagging system, we discuss techniques to help you understand, remember and find what matters. We also explain how connecting papers can help you spot disagreements, emerging themes and potential research gaps.

Whether you’re starting your PhD or already facing an overflowing PDF collection, this episode will help you take control of your literature.

How do you know when you’ve done enough for your PhD?

Research rarely feels truly finished- every answer seems to uncover another question. In this episode, we explore how to recognise when your thesis contains enough evidence, makes a clear contribution and tells a coherent story.

We’ll share three practical tests for judging whether your research is complete, explain how to agree a realistic finish line with your supervisors, and help you separate what is essential before submission from what can wait for future research. We also tackle the perfection trap and why doing more work does not always produce a stronger thesis.

If you’re struggling to stop researching, start writing or finally submit, this episode will help you decide when enough really is enough.

Is it possible to thrive, not just survive, as a PhD parent? Julia speaks with Phil Gordon about balancing doctoral research, professional work and teaching while becoming a dad. Phil shares honest reflections on how life changed when his son arrived, the pressures he encountered and the support that made a difference. Packed with practical tips on managing time, sharing responsibilities, adjusting expectations and protecting your energy, this episode is for anyone starting, or considering starting, a family during their PhD.