Dr. Yankam Brenda, a Cameroonian and PhD holder from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), presented a paper on „Robustness of Orthogonal Uniform Composite Designs against Missing Data”, giving us some interesting insights on how to deal with missing data in statistical models.
After that, Prof. Eleanor Wozei from Uganda Christian University, Member of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), and the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda (ICGU) delivered an inspiring talk on “What to do with your research after your PhD – Career Paths as a Postdoc”. She reminded us that a PhD may launch you into academic independence in your field but it also leaves you in a rarified environment with specific codified language. To tackle the challenges of career planning it is therefore necessary to identify your own transferable skills, broaden them and recalibrate your language to get back in touch with the world outside your field. Prof. Wozei also urged us to allow ourselves to take some time off after completing a thesis to reconnect with friends and family, find out where we stand and where we would like to head next: “Build a balance in your system wherever you go after your PhD”.
Over 30 participants from four continents, including the participants of this year’s IDEA Summer School, attended and engaged with our expert to discuss the way forward for their academic careers. We can’t wait to continue this conversation on our community app!