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A wonderful walk in the Lake District today, but just before my pre-dinner nap (this holiday is LOVELY) a little thread about the requirement of “a PhD or equivalent” for the job that I’m SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO APPLY FOR with @AutisticaUK at @turinginst! turing.ac.uk/work-turing/re… 
Here’s a little screen grab of the section in the essential requirements of the job description:
I tweeted yesterday about the #FullStack requirements of this job.
It seems pretty silly to require web development skills AND a PhD! They aren’t usually taught together.
It seems pretty silly to require web development skills AND a PhD! They aren’t usually taught together.
(although maybe we SHOULD give academic credit for that work! Let’s call that another story for now 🙄😕😒)
Every PhD is different, and I got mine in the US (Go Bears! 🐻🐾) which is very different to the UK so the following opinions are mine only. Everyone else’s mileage will vary!
I think a PhD should teach you to be an independent thinker. I think you should have time and space to breathe and read and learn and digest the knowledge around you.
And I think the outcome of that is that you can generate NEW knowledge by the end.
I don’t think this means significant results. Nor expanding a theory. Nor a new method.
I think it means contributing to making the world a better place by adding useful information.
I don’t think this means significant results. Nor expanding a theory. Nor a new method.
I think it means contributing to making the world a better place by adding useful information.
Not all doctoral programmes provide that opportunity, but many do. And so the point of requiring a PhD for this job is that the post holder needs to be able to see or create a path to building that new knowledge.....and that’s one of the key outcomes of a PhD (in my opinion!)
BUT! You do not have to have a PhD to fulfil these requirements!!
You will need evidence of independent leadership (of a project or of a team), of looking for solutions to problems (sometimes of your own divising) and of communicating what you’ve learned and what you’ve created.
You will need evidence of independent leadership (of a project or of a team), of looking for solutions to problems (sometimes of your own divising) and of communicating what you’ve learned and what you’ve created.
There’s NO reason why you can’t have those skills from outside academia!
Please do not let the PhD requirement stop you from applying.
The post is probably not suitable for someone just out of undergrad....but never say never! Who know’s what path you’ve taken to get there!!
Please do not let the PhD requirement stop you from applying.
The post is probably not suitable for someone just out of undergrad....but never say never! Who know’s what path you’ve taken to get there!!
Stay tuned for a thread tomorrow about #OpenSource and the #Community we’ll need in the project.
(That’s definitely the BIGGEST focus for me. So much more so than the #FullStack skills or previous academic/job experience.)
(That’s definitely the BIGGEST focus for me. So much more so than the #FullStack skills or previous academic/job experience.)
And if you missed this thread before Christmas about why I am so excited to build this #participatory #CitizenScience project please check it out.
AND TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW about the job!!!
✨✨✨💞💞💞😍😍😍
AND TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW about the job!!!
✨✨✨💞💞💞😍😍😍
@threadreaderapp unroll please 🥳
