rick reis rgdbstanfordedu way finish dissertation forward progress face uncertainty fortunately secret weapon guide confusion improve writing help spend time wisely comes form peers tomorrows professorsm email newsletter httpctlstanfordedutomprofpostingshtml sponsored stanford university center teaching learning httpctlstanfordedu comments httpampstoolsmitedutomprofblog folks posting looks establishing peer support groups dissertation writers michael kiparsky national science foundation graduate research fellow energy resources group university california berkeley appeared column catalyst career advise scientists wednesday august 8 2007 issue chronicle higher education httpchroniclecomjobsnews2007082007080801ccareershtml copyright 2007 chronicle higher education reprinted permission regards rick reis rgdbstanfordedu next facultyta teaching teams tomorrows research 1437 words peer support phd students finish dissertation expected move toward distant goals concrete milestones many instinct go alone grinding isolation however unlikely produce highestquality work efficiently may ask choice graduate students support system thin getting time busy professors ostensibly provide main guidance easy even accessible makes sense use time efficiently may expect review polished products engage crucial conversations rather assist everyday decisions way finish dissertation forward progress face uncertainty fortunately secret weapon guide confusion improve writing help spend time wisely comes form peers creating dissertationsupport group made fellow doctoral students enhance productivity begin find one two colleagues stage research meet week goal furthering one anothers progress regular group people committed trading services one another pay hugely collective improvement many areas faster progress insights peers invaluable developing ideas writing audience practice presentations brainstorming sessions helpful well lets face students time cheap compared precious faculty hours maximize meetings professors preprocessing support group first stages decision research question consistent regular input help break stagnant periods harness productive ones tue 05 aug 2008 233029 0800 tp msg 853 peer support phd students