I’ll admit I’ve never thought about this being problematic language. I’ve always taken it to mean “enthusiastic” about the topic. I don’t particularly care what grades a student got or how well they were trained to sit an exam and regurgitate answers. I want a PhD student who cares about the topic.
I agree with your latter sentiment. The question here is, “how do you actually find that out…?”. Is asking for someone to be “highly motivated” really the best way to do it? Also: there’s lots of studies and tool related to gender-coded language and the EDI barriers it poses…
Normally it’s by talking to them and asking why they’re interested in a PhD in general and this one specifically. I think I’m still struggling to see how this is gender-coded or EDI unfriendly though? (Genuinely asking so I can do better in future as I thought I was aware of stuff like this)
I mean in academia that’s virtually a given! (But I get your point). Still, focusing on them being interested and caring about the topic rather than their ability feels like it steps around that as much as it can.
A PhD is training. I just want someone who cares. I’ll train them in the science (and the programming, stats, public speaking, whatever). The job is hard work, underpaid and can be a rollercoaster of stress and emotions. The thing that’ll get them though that is a passion about the topic.
I've seen a PDRA post where it was so important the candidates had a first (or if you really must, a 2:1), in their first degree that you simply couldn't apply if you didn't.
You've nailed it. I was probably "highly motivated" and "enthusiastic" once. Now i'm absolutely buzzing for my uni email address to be nuked from orbit on the 1st December and I cannot wait. It means it's finally over.
100% this! It’s been said to friends of mine after my PhD “it’s a shame Lucy just didn’t have the passion for physics”. Yeah I did before I started and I still love talking about particle physics…
I'm literally 4 months out from confirmation of award and I couldn't tell you what of the PhD process utterly hollows you out and irreversibly changes you. Is it the overwork, or the fact stipend << minimum wage.
And the worst bit is, I know from PhD pals in the US, that the underpaid, overworked and underappreciated isn't just a UK thing, the US is just as bad (if not worse). Like in the UK, we are at least all unionised - up the UCU!
Congrats on surviving! There’s such a strong “we only want the best” attitude that is so inherently ableist + everything else. Having eyes rolled at me because I wanted to work from home (basically requesting reasonable accommodations) was SO demoralising.
Perks of doing a (eventually computational) PhD in a pannyD. I had to work from home, it was very late in my PhD before we could do "desk work" in the office. By that point, so many PhD students registered in my department, there weren't enough desks for us all.
But just how else will we know if they can do science well unless we get them to say on paper that they are highly motivated..?
Me: are you highly motivated?
Them: yes
Me: you’re hired
I actually would do this. I'm a (very) capable student and decent educator but given the state of the West and Western education in general I can only muster up perfunctory motivation
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I remember applying for PhD projects and it was all pretty demotivating at the time too.
Even though they’re supposedly smart, some academia are fucking stupid.
Me: are you highly motivated?
Them: yes
Me: you’re hired
Or is that a euphemism for „be ready to receive less supervision and more pressure than acceptable“?