My First Year as a PhD Student

When I first started journey as a PhD student, I thought I’d be running successful experiments every day while finding something groundbreaking every six months! By a year, I thought I could be close to publishing something and writing every day like an academic superhero! Spoiler: none of that happened.

The first year goes by quickly! Especially if you’re rotating through labs like I did. In this post, I’m sharing what I learned during my first year as a PhD student, especially as no one puts this stuff in a handbook. Whether you’re starting or still deciding if a PhD is right for you, here is a behind-the-scenes reality of PhD life!

1. Science is incredibly slow (But don’t worry it’s normal!)
2. Experiment fail. A lot. (Like seriously A LOT)
3. You Don’t Need to Know Everything in Year One
4. Supervisor Meetings Are Gold (Use Them Well)
5. Lab Life is Mentally (and Emotionally) Intense
6. Celebrate Small Wins in Your PhD Journey
7. Your Work Environment Affects Everything
8. The First Year is for building the Foundation

1) Science is incredibly slow (But don’t worry it’s normal!)

If you’re wondering why your PhD project feels like it’s moving at a snail’s pace, it’s not just you. In your undergrad or master’s, things often move quickly. You have a few months, so things move artificially accelerated. Everything is set up for you, and sometimes the results are already there. But in a PhD, that’s a long game. Everything takes longer than you think: ordering reagents, setting up protocols, getting approval, waiting for results (and waiting … and waiting …) delays are inevitable. Trust me, I know when things are out of your control, it can be beyond frustrating.

Doing research at a PhD level means learning patience, because science moves very slowly. But this doesn’t mean you’re behind; it means you’re doing it right!

2) Experiment fail. A lot. (Like seriously A LOT)

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my PhD so far? Experiments are constantly failing. Most of the time, it’s impossible to figure out why. You’ll have contamination. Staining doesn’t work. Protocols you followed perfectly… still don’t work. Not only is it frustrating, but it can also be incredibly discouraging.

But failed experiments are a part of research. They help you troubleshoot, refine your thinking, and adapt. No one’s research works the first time. So the key? Expect failure. Plan for it and build it into your timelines. Learning to treat your failed experiments as normal, not personal, is one of the best mindset shifts you can make!

3) You Don’t Need to Know Everything in Year One

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in your first year. You are surrounded by acronyms, new techniques, complex journal articles, and everyone seems to know more than you. But here’s what I learned: you’re not going to know everything in your first year, and no one expects you to. Most of your first year will involve learning. For example, new techniques, how to read papers critically, and how to communicate your work.

Remember, Google is your best friend. So are your lab mates. Asking ‘silly’ questions is often the fastest way to understand something. It’s okay to not know everything yet!

4) Supervisor Meetings Are Gold (Use Them Well)

Your supervisor can be your greatest resource if you use them strategically. If you don’t fully prepare for your meetings, you’ll show up not knowing what to ask, and you might even end up more confused.

Now, I treat supervisor meetings like a mini coaching session. I come prepared with:

• Recent results and a quick summary
• Questions I need clarity on
• Ideas I want feedback on 

Be honest about where you’re stuck. Your supervisor isn’t there to evaluate you but to guide you through your PhD. Regular, well-prepared meetings can save you weeks of confusion!

5) Lab Life is Mentally (and Emotionally) Intense

The emotional side of a PhD is no joke. One week, every experiment is working, and your life is on track. The next, nothing is working (and you have no idea why), and you question your career, intelligence, and whole existence.

Lab work is not only technical, but also emotionally taxing. You are often juggling it with data analysis, literature review, writing, personal life, and maybe even teaching. It’s a lot.

Learning to manage that emotional rollercoaster (and protect your energy) is key. Take breaks. Rest. Talk to other students. Have a non-academic outlet. Your mental health matters more than your output.

6) Celebrate Small Wins in Your PhD Journey

One of the most important things I’ve learned is to celebrate the small wins. It’s not every day you’ll achieve a big flashy milestone, so learn to notice and appreciate the small wins.

• You optimised a protocol? That’s huge
• You presented your work at a lab meeting? Growth!
• You actually understood that dense review article? Iconic.

A PhD is full of small wins, but these often get overlooked. Don’t let them pass by unnoticed. It’s about time we recognize that progress builds confidence and momentum!

7) Your Work Environment Affects Everything

A chaotic bench or cluttered desk + chaotic brain. Trust me. One of the biggest lessons I learned (the hard way) was to learn to set up a system that supports me. That includes:

• Keeping a clear, updated lab notebook
• Naming files in a way that will make sense 3 months later
• Using productivity tools like OneNote or Notion to track tasks

You don’t need the most perfect desk setup suitable for Pinterest; however, your space and systems should work for you, not against you.

8) The First Year is for building the Foundation

It’s tempting to compare yourself to a more senior PhD student or even postdocs. But the reality is, your first year is for building: learning new techniques, mastering public speaking, figuring out what your project actually is, getting familiar with the literature, and setting up your systems. It’s not about publishing ASAP or impressing everyone in your department; it’s about laying the groundwork for the next 3+ years of your academic journey.

Final Thoughts

My first year as a PhD student has taught me many things: exciting, frustrating, surprising, and sometimes overwhelming. But overall, it’s been a lesson in patience, persistence, and perseverance. If you are in your first year too, breathe; you don’t have to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up, keep learning, and keep giving yourself grace.