Conducting doctoral studies is interesting and intriguing. It is also challenging, and an engagement of several years. Research may not proceed well, and funding may cease leading to a need to obtain another job. Therefore, it is important to proactively take care of your well being. The major stress factors according to an extensive (n=6000) international survey done by Nature are uncertainty of career prospects as well as difficulty to maintain a work–life balance.
Tools to support wellbeing
Social support from the supervisors and other members of academic community, intentional limitation of working hours as well stress management methods have been found as effective ways to prevent a burn out.
Therefore, take care of yourself:
- reserve time for family and friends, hobbies, relaxation and sleep
- exercise, learn more about UEF sport services
- find a supporting academic society (e.g. Doctoral Student Association or ISYY Student Organisation)
You can also strengthen and maintain your well-being at work by completing the hands-on exercises of the Wellbeing at work for grant-funded researchers- workbook by TJS Opintokeskus.
Also, check student psychology Maria Törnroos’ tips for stress and time management in her blog PhD pathfinder.
Support for difficult situations at work
Violations against the responsible conduct of research include research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, misappropriation) and disregard for the responsible conduct of research (e.g. denigrating the role of other researchers in publications, manipulating authorship, self-plagiarism, or careless reporting of research results).
If there is reason to suspect a violation of the responsible conduct of research, the allegations of research misconduct must be investigated in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK). The investigation is a three-tier process: 1) a written notification, 2) a preliminary investigation and 3) an actual investigation. In the University of Eastern Finland, any allegations of misconduct are reported to the Rector, who is responsible for decision-making throughout the process.
If you need assistance or guidance, you can contact the UEF's research ethics advisers (in Heimo, requires UEF login).
Conflict situations include, for example, personality clashes, issues related to tasks or management, or issues related to supervision. For solving those, so called low threshold principle is primarily applied:
- Supervisee (or supervisor) will contact the coordinator of the doctoral programme to book a meeting/an appointment.
- The situation will be explored in a confidential discussion with the head and the coordinator (or other suitable person) of the doctoral programme
- Who are the parties to the conflict?
- How should the situation change in order for the conflict to be resolved?
- The actions to attempt to resolve the situations will be defined.
- A memo will be written.
- A time/An appointment to follow up on the situation will be agreed on.
If the conflict is not resolved, it will be transferred to the head of the department / the dean.
Other working community situations include, for example, inappropriate feedback, suspected indoor air quality problem, or sexual harassment.
UEF Compasses (in Heimo, requires UEF login) have been created to provide guidelines for these situations.
Support for difficulties in personal life
- Crises in personal life
- Campus pastors
- Crisis helpline in Arabic and English: 09 2525 0113, Mon-Tue at 11-15, Wed at 13-16 and 17-21, Tue at 10-15.
- North Carelian Crisis Center and Kuopio Crisis Center
- Doctoral researchers with an employment relationship with the UEF, are entitled to services of occupational psychologist with a referral from an occupational nurse or an occupational physician. Learn more about occupational health services in Heimo (requires login with UEF credentials).
- Mental health and substance abuse
- Mental hub online service
- Life skills
- Nyyti Ry: Learn life skills