Content-Warning: This episode discusses mental health and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to a trusted professional or support service in your area.

In several of our episodes, PhD students describe their research journey as "stressful," but what does that really mean? Is it the occasional surge in workload, or does it reflect deeper, systemic issues within academia? In this episode, we are joined by Hanna Krynska, now a postdoc at the Medical University of Warsaw. At the end of her PhD, Hanna experienced burnout and depression, which she bravely shared in a candid LinkedIn post a year later. She talks openly about the challenges she faced, including the crushing feeling of not doing enough, and shares what she would do differently if she could go back. This conversation is an honest exploration of the lows of academic life and may offer practical advice for those navigating similar struggles.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Start

(00:02:07) Where did you study and how did you find your PhD?

(00:04:26) What was your PhD about?

(00:10:07) Did you always want to do a PhD?

(00:12:14) Self-criticism in academia

(00:15:36) Content-Note: Suicidal Thoughts

(00:28:19) Your LinkedIn post that went viral

(00:36:18) In hindsight, was there are moment were you realised your mental health was suffering?

(00:44:37) What would you have done differently?

(00:48:43) What was a highlight during your PhD?

(00:50:58) Game at the end

Additional Information:

• Hanna's LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hanna-krynska0522_one-year-ago-on-june-20-2023-i-defended-activity-7209508615366336514-BtRT?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
• Paper on PhD and mental health: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288103

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