How to Write a PhD in Biological Sciences

PART 1 RIGHT FROM THE VERY START

1 Introduction

2 So you are doing a PhD?

3 Reconciling yourself to doing things you've been avoiding

4 Communicating by email

5 The scientific project and scientific living

6 Keeping track of your mental health

PART 2 GET WRITING

7 How to get started with writing

8 How to write a hypothesis

9 Being aware that you can get it wrong

10 What happens if you don't have a hypothesis?

11 What's the big idea?

12 Writing a paragraph

13 Construct a logical argument in your writing

14 Storytelling in science?

15 Why do you need to cite?

16 Literature databases

17 Reference managers

18 What software should I use to write my PhD?

19 What to do when faced with a paywall?

20 Scientific names and taxonomic authorities

21 Writing style

22 Retaining your own voice when writing

23 Writing concisely

24 Writing a PhD if English is not your first language

25 Making sure that you don't plagiarise

26 Academic phrasebank

27 Why critical reading is crucial for improving your writing

28 What is needed for your research proposal?

29 Making a presentation from your chapter, paper or proposal

30 Starting out transparent

31 Generating funding for your PhD research

32 Fear of submitting written work

33 Why use a formula to structure each chapter or paper?

34 Data Management

PART 3 THE FORMULA OF A CHAPTER

35 Writing the sections that make up your data chapter

36 Title page

37 The Abstract

38 The Introduction

39 The Materials and Methods

40 The Results

41 The Discussion

42 The Acknowledgements

43 The References

44 Tables

45 Figures

46 Who did what?

47 Supplementary Material

PART 4 COMPLETING THE THESIS

48 Now that you have finished your data chapters

49 How to introduce your PhD chapters

50 How to conclude your PhD

51 Formatting your thesis

52 The obligation to publish your work