PhinisheD! Alumni
PhD in Field Microbiology
Defended: April 2026, USA
Topic: The PhoP regulator is involved in carbon utilisation and metabolite secretion in Pectobacterium brasiliense
PhinisheD! Advice: "Do not work in isolation. Working with others helps keep you motivated."
PhD in Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering
Defended: April 2026, USA
Topic: Experimental and Computational Investigation of High-Pressure Steam Interaction with Ceramic Materials up to 1400°
PhinisheD! Advice: "First and foremost, prioritize yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable and take a step back if needed. Protect your time, your energy, and your goals, because no one else will do it for you. Remember that a PhD is just one part of your life, not your entire identity. It’s easy to get consumed by it, but it’s important to invest in your health, relationships, and experiences so you come out of it without regrets."
PhD in History
Defended: March 2026, UK
Topic: Indians on the Line: Everyday Histories of Race, Class and Empire in the Telegraphic Service, 1920-1950
PhinisheD! Advice: "Don’t be afraid of asking for help. The Phd is a lonely journey if you decide to undertake it alone, but it can be so much more rewarding, healthier, happier and more successful if you accept that you need your team on your side, everyday, every night to get it done."
PhD in Cell Biology
Defended: February 2026, UK
Topic: Visualising low-abundance molecules using HaloTag in fission yeast
PhinisheD! Advice: "For me, setting aside some time to actually write (with the Phinished group) worked wonders. No matter what else you want to do, have some dedicated time just to put words on the page. Any figures, edits, analysis can wait. Also, use a reference manager, preferably zotero."
Dr. Silvia Dell'Aere
PhD in Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Defended: February 2026, Italy
Topic: Assessment of Relevant Molecular Targets with Therapeutic Significance in Canine Neoplasms
PhinisheD! Advice: "A PhD is long and demanding, but it should not consume your identity. Protect your time, set boundaries, and be selective with commitments that truly support your goals. Build relationships and network, while staying aware of institutional dynamics. Communicate proactively with your supervisor and share imperfect drafts early to improve through feedback. Stay organized: track projects, decisions, and materials, and back up data securely. Most importantly, recognize the mental strain a PhD can create and consider professional support if needed. Success depends not only on research ability, but on managing priorities, structure, and wellbeing."
PhD in Neuroscience
Defended: February 2026, Denmark
Topic: Dysregulated MicroRNAs in Human IPSC-Derived Dorsal Forebrain Organoids Modeling Schizophrenia: Insights into Neurodevelopmental Disruption
PhinisheD! Advice: "A PhD can test your confidence more than your intelligence. I had a rough path during mine, but it taught me something important: research problems are often bigger than us at first.
If the problem isn’t solved yet, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it simply means the story is still unfolding. If you’re struggling right now, you’re not alone. Keep going, sometimes persistence is the most powerful skill a researcher can have."
PhD in Geosensing Systems Engineering & Sciences
Defended: January 2026, USA
Topic: A Comprehensive Spatial Analysis of Stream Boundary and Geomorphological Change Detection: McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
PhinisheD! Advice: "Neglecting yourself leads to burnout. Fresh air, movement, and supportive self-talk keep your mind healthy enough to finish. Self-punishment doesn’t create motivation; it teaches avoidance. Replace avoidance with safety. Add positive reinforcement and shape your environment so progress feels supportive rather than threatening. A healthier ecosystem rebuilds confidence and sustainable productivity faster than trying to think your way out of years of self-criticism."
PhD in Physics and Mathematics
Defended: December 2025, Spain
Topic: Three Remote Sensing Algorithms for Precipitation Retrievals: Satellite Estimates, Storm Tracking, and Drop Size Distribution Modeling from Ground-Based Radars
PhinisheD! Advice:
"A little bit each day adds up to a whole thesis. Progress is slow, but it's happening even if you don't realize it. It's better to do a mediocre job than not to do it at all. Don't let perfectionism hold you back. Accept that you're a student, you're learning, and you're going to make mistakes. The sooner you internalize this, the better. Don't lose sight of the fact that you are more than your academic performance."
PhD in Computing and Education Technology
Defended: June 2025, USA
Topic: Mapping Cultural Signatures: A Cross-national Study of K–12 Student Math Game Design and Computational Thinking Education
PhinisheD! Advice: "A Ph.D. trains you to think with rigor under uncertainty. Progress rarely feels linear; that is the work. Write consistently, revise fearlessly, and treat criticism as refinement, not rejection. Protect your intellectual curiosity and your well-being with equal seriousness. The dissertation is not your final word, it is your initiation into lifelong scholarly responsibility."