The pursuit of a PhD is the crown of academic achievement. But the journey to earning those three letters after your name is often a bumpy one paved with challenges and pitfalls. In this post, I’ll shed light on some common issues and struggles PhD students face during their research. Finding a Suitable Research Topic Zeroing in on a research topic is the first big hurdle. With so many possibilities, deciding on a focused research question that is original yet achievable within your timeline and resources is easier said than done! Don’t fall into the trap of choosing an overtly broad or extremely niche topic. Find a meaningful gap in existing literature that aligns with your interests and academic background. Taming the Literature Review Beast You’ve chosen a topic. Now begins the mammoth task of digesting all significant literature around it. Accessing papers, analyzing them comprehensively, synthesizing connections, and articulating a critical review is taxing. Set adequat...