Changing fields during a PhD

It is not uncommon for students to change disciplines, but when this change happens at the research level, things could get very difficult. I am currently a PhD student, but this is my second PhD journey.

I dropped out of my first PhD (in plant genetics) and after a short break, I enrolled for a PhD in malaria vector control, specifically mosquito functional genetics. This was a really tough phase when I had to deal with a lot of stress and focus on not losing confidence in myself as a researcher. I realized that I had to step up, take control of my life and start making some changes.

To begin with, I had to believe in myself. This was tough, but I had to work towards it and tell myself that I could do it. I had to stop comparing myself with others — this would make me less anxious when others succeeded and more confident when I did. I had to ensure that I didn’t let my PhD consume me. I started introducing things I liked to do in my routine, e.g., writing or going to the gym. I also learned to surround myself with people who truly inspired and motivated me.

I also realized that I needed to be patient with myself. I started setting small goals for myself and remembered to celebrate small victories. This experience has also taught me to be humble and thankful for the people who support me through thick and thin.

Without these critical life lessons, I would have had a far more difficult transition. This experience has taught me a lot and has made me stronger first as a person, but also as a researcher. Experience is definitely a great teacher and I trust that sharing mine will help you deal with your challenges and struggles as a researcher.

This story is an extract from on an article written by Elodie Ekoka, a PhD student at the Wits Research Institute for Malaria, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and guest author for Editage Insights. The full article is available here.