This weeks PhDetails is another early-PhD interview with Tom Sinclair who works on modelling the effect of agrochemicals on freshwater ecosystems. I've known Tom for years since we did our BSc together although when he started a job with the Civil Service in the UK I thought he had left academia behind for good. I knew Tom always loved Biology and it seems that the draw of a break from the Civil Service and the prospect of using R again was too much and he has recently started a PhD at the University of Sheffield. For advice on how not to procrastinate and how to fully appreciate everyones favourite statistical analysis software here is Toms PhDetails...
Well let’s start of talking completely unscientific stuff. Favourite band/musical artist pre 1980?
I’m not exactly a massive music fan. Earth, wind and fire.
Favourite band/musical artist post 1980?
Erm, John Adams, the classical composer?
Favourite movie?
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. I am both a nerd and an environmentalist.
Where do you study and who are your supervisors?
Officially I am a University of Sheffield student, but I’m based at the University of York. My main supervisor is Lorraine Maltby in Sheffield, and I’m also supervised by Alistair Boxall in York and Richard Williams who works for the Centre of Hydrology and Ecology in Wallingford.
What year of your PhD are you in?
1st, so I’ve got a long way to go.
Who’s giving you the money – and for how long?
I’m funded by the ACCE doctoral training program for three and a half years. ACCE is a consortium of the universities of York, Sheffield and Liverpool, with funding ultimately from NERC (Natural Environment Research Council).
Do you have any publications?
None as of yet.
Did you do a masters - was it about?
No masters for me; I went straight into work as a regulatory ecotoxicologist for the UK Government. Strictly, I’m doing this PhD as a career break from the civil service.
What is the best fieldwork you have ever done and what made it great?
No fieldwork for me.
What was your motivation for doing a PhD?
I wanted to switch up work after being there for a few years and I wanted to get back into coding. I loved using R as an undergraduate, but didn’t have the opportunity since.
Do you have a scientific mentor who helped find the right PhD for you and get it?
Nope, I didn’t really know what I was doing. Everything’s worked out for the best, but having advice from other students or staff would’ve helped.
Did you have a dream PhD?
Definitely not.
What aspects of the academic environment were most important for you when looking for a PhD?
I don’t mind working independently, but I wanted a good office environment. Thankfully, I’ve been really lucky in both Sheffield and York.
How many PhDs did you apply for – what were you looking for?
I applied for three, and ended up withdrawing from two of them, so It’s a good job I ended up getting the one I’m currently on now. I was looking for a modelling project at least somewhat related to my job (in retrospect I now realise you can apply for projects way beyond your experience). I withdrew from one pretty quickly when I found out it was in Falmouth (a nice place, but not where I wanted to live for three years). The other I was originally going to take, but I found out the supervisor was withholding information from me, so that was an instant red flag. I’m just happy I went on to get the one I currently have; the project is interesting, my supervisors are great and there’s a good student-staff community at both Sheffield and York.
How has your PhD aligned with the expectations you had of it before you started?
I had no real idea of what I’d be doing exactly, I just knew I wanted to be mainly computer based. To that extent it’s met my expectations.
What one piece of advice would you give to a masters student applying to PhDs now that you have started one?
Your supervisor is really important, probably more so than the project. At the end of the day science is interesting, and you get to (somewhat) guide what you do with your PhD; so long as it isn’t a project you hate you’d be fine. A supervisor you hate is a different story. Take the time to check that you’d work well together, and ask their lab group and students what they’re like to work with.
What hours do you typically work?
Usually get in 7-8 and finish at 4-5, but it does depend. Some days I’ll have a slow start and cook a proper breakfast with good tea or coffee and stay a bit later, usually if I’ve got something going on in the evening at the uni. Having worked, one thing I realise about PhD is the insane amount of flexibility it provides, but you should use it wisely. You don’t have a boss; if you’re not being productive, you don’t have to pretend to work. Take a short walk, allow yourself to procrastinate for a bit, or leave it entirely and come back to it later when you’re refreshed. As long as you are staying at least one step ahead with work and not letting it bleed into home life, use the flexibility to your advantage.
What do you do when you’re not working – how do you balance it with your PhD?
I enjoy running, especially fell running. There is nothing better than getting to the top of a massive hill, taking in the views at the top and flying down the other side. Again, the flexibility of the PhD comes in handy; in winter I can take a break from work and go running during the limited daytime. I also cycle a bit, probably not enough. Hopefully a good Summer should help that out. At home I like baking and gardening, and I have a cat (I sound like I’m retired, I’m definitely not). Otherwise I’m reading, playing videogames or tabletop games, or taking mediocre photos with my SLR.
What is the most bodged piece of equipment you have had to use during fieldwork – did it work?
No fieldwork, so no bodged equipment. (Rishi: but Tom did mention he had plenty of bodged R code…he’s definitely not the only one)
What supervisor traits are important to you?
Not controlling and allows you to work as an independent researcher, but equally can push you to work hard, ask the interesting and difficult questions and nudge you in the right direction if needs be. All of this while being interested in both your work and your wellbeing.
What do you think are the worst supervisor traits?
Sees you nothing more than a pot of grant money, a mill of papers with their name on and a means of advancing their career. Science is a names game, and some people play it ruthlessly.
In one sentence what is your PhD about?
I’m modelling the landscape level effect of agrochemicals on freshwater ecosystems under the influence of global drivers (eg. climate change, population growth, behaviour and policy change).
What has been your academic highlight of the last year?
Getting the supercomputers up and running with my R code. Tasks that would have taken weeks being done in hours is awesome, especially as I can be doing something else in the meantime.
Which academic idol/scientist have you met?
None come to mind.
Which academic idol/scientist would you most like to meet?
Hadley Wickham or Jenny Bryan. They’re not biologists, I just really like R
Do you have a favourite paper?
I don‘t think I do.
If a genie could grant you one wish to help with your PhD what would you wish for?
Some kind of psychic computer that could type what I mean down, navigate windows and webpages and jot thoughts down in real-time. Too often I lose track when correcting mistakes, navigating folders, browsing the web or not keeping pace with my thoughts when typing.
What would be your dream job?
Something computery. Maybe.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Honestly, who knows. Five years ago, I’d have never thought I’d be doing a PhD. I don’t really have a plan of where I’m going or what I’ll be doing, but I’ll be doing something, taking opportunities and enjoying life along the way.
One word to sum up your future in academia
Unknown
What do you want to achieve outside of academia in the coming year?
I’d like to pick up learning German again after a year off.
What essential tool hardware/software could you not do your PhD without?
Have I mentioned I use R? (Rishi: Please someone from R sponsor Tom as an official R statistician I don't think you'll regret it - get in touch)
Who has been your academic role model/inspiration and why?
Can’t say I have one. Probably comes with not being in academia for a while.
Where is somewhere specific you would like to work in the future?
Somewhere german speaking, preferably with a few hills or mountains nearby.
Do you have a favourite organism?
Brassica oleracia, this scrubby, coastal plant with leathery leaves has through selective breeding been transformed into an insane number of crops (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, spring greens, kohlrabi and more).
How do you avoid procrastinating?
It depends how and why you’re procrastinating. Sometimes procrastination is a sign you should be taking a break from work and entirely forget about it, other times you’ve just got to grit your teeth, call yourself out for it and keep working. A to-do list that you constantly update helps you get back on track if you lose focus, and having a series of deadlines, preferably set by other people so you can’t cop out on them, means you’ll always have something to work towards.
(When I was in uni I drew a creepy eye straight out of 1984 that asked if you’re working. I set it to appear every time you opened a new tab. It worked quite well; maybe I should bring it back…)
What motivates you in your day to day PhD life?
On the broad scale, finding something interesting, advancing our knowledge and hopefully in some small way contributing to the betterment of nature and humanity. On the finer level, if I’m in the zone and working my way through a complex coding problem (not just a series of incomprehensible errors, but something to be solved), completing the puzzle is an amazing feeling, and is a pretty good motivation.
How often do you meet with your supervisor(s)?
Once a fortnight with my main supervisor, and around once a month with all my supervisors, whether in person or via skype. I meet less frequently with them all if I not working in their specialism, and more often if I am or I’ve got a relevant deadline coming up.
Are there any social interactions/meetings which have enhanced your PhD experience e.g. social seminars/group meetings?
Professional, scientific, social media accounts are a way to raise your profile, keep on top of the latest research and eventually help get you a job. Linkedin for non-academia, ResearchGate for academia and Twitter for a more informal way of sharing interesting research. I find Twitter particularly good as it doesn’t have that same formal pressure as the other two, and getting in contact with other people seems more relaxed. Follow Rishi and this blog @PhDetails, I’m @TomMSinc.
If you could change one thing about your group/department structure what would it be (serious e.g. more student representation or silly e.g. meetings outside)?
In York, I think it could do with a stronger departmental post-grad structure, whether as a society, a facebook page or more student-led events. This is something that Sheffield does really well, and should be emulated across other universities. In Sheffield, I’d just like a source of potable water in/near my office rather than going downstairs for it (I’m quite lazy).
What major issue in your subject area is yet to be addressed – why is it important and why isn’t anyone addressing it?
Tank mixtures for pesticides. Pretty much all crops have multiple pesticides applied to them targeting different organisms, but the regulation of them only considers the effects of each individual product. Everyone knows that this is occurring, but measuring and regulating the effects on ecosystems is currently too complex. Each farmer applies different combinations, at different times, under different weather conditions to their varying farms, and the output of multiple farms joins to affect multiple ecosystems, that also vary, have recovery and food web and community shifts. This is a challenge that can’t be solved without more computing power and software than currently developed, which requires a finer understanding of how these different systems respond and interact.
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