PhD Hacks Lab

   Published on:   PhD Hacks Lab Introduction In the fast-paced world of academia, researchers need tools that make their work easier, faster, and more efficient. While many paid services promise productivity, there are plenty of free resources available that can help you achieve more without breaking the bank. Whether you're a PhD student writing your thesis, or a researcher balancing data analysis and writing, these free tools and platforms can support you every step of the way. 1. Google Scholar: The Ultimate Research Database Google Scholar is an essential tool for any academic. This search engine provides access to a vast database of scholarly articles, theses, books, and conference papers. The best part? It’s completely free. Google Scholar also provides citation information and links to related articles, helping you stay up-to-date with recent studies in your field. Why it’s awesome : Access to a huge variety of academic resources . Citation tracking...

  Published on:   PhD Hacks Lab   Introduction The Best Morning Routine for PhD Students: Get Things Done and Get Your Day Off to a Great Start! You can make the rest of your day as a PhD student based on how you start your day. Having the right routine in the morning can help you get more done, concentrate better, and stay energetic while you do your research. Not everyone can figure out how to start their day in the best way. Don't worry, though—I've got this! In this post, I'll walk you through the perfect morning routine for PhD students—designed to help you hit the ground running, no matter how busy or overwhelming your schedule might be. This routine can help you get the most out of your time and energy, no matter how far along you are in your study or how just you started.  1. Wake Up Early (But Not Too Early!) Get up early enough to give yourself plenty of time to get ready for the day. This is the first step in making a good morning routine. Try to get at le...

  Published on:   PhD Hacks Lab Description of this post: Overwhelmed by your PhD? See how I use Notion to manage everything in one place — from thesis planning to literature reviews. Free template included! 🎓 Intro: How I Stay on Top of My PhD Let’s be honest — doing a PhD is hard. You’ve got a mountain of research, teaching, deadlines, and meetings... and it’s easy to feel scattered. I’ve tried all the productivity apps. But once I found Notion , I stopped switching between tools. It became my one-stop academic dashboard, and now, I’m sharing my exact setup with you. ✅ Why Notion Works So Well for PhD Students Everything’s in one place — notes, tasks, chapters, timelines It’s fully customizable You can use it on your phone, laptop, or tablet And best of all? It’s free. 🧩 My Notion Dashboard Setup (And What You Can Copy) Here’s how I organize my PhD inside Notion — and yes, you can duplicate it for free. 1.  🗓 Thesis Timeline Tracker Plan yo...

  Published on: PhD Hacks Lab 🤖 Introduction AI isn’t just hype; it changes how researchers set goals, write, study, and share work. For PhD students, using AI tools can be the key switch from stress to big wins. Here are 7 free AI tools that will make you do more, write better, and give you back many hours every week. 💡 Top 7 Free AI Tools for PhD Success 1. ChatGPT (Free Tier) Use for: Brainstorming ideas, summarizing articles, finding research gaps 💬 Ask: “Summarize this article in 5 bullet points.” 🔗 Try it: https://chat.openai.com 2. Grammarly AI Writing Assistant Use for: Grammar correction, clarity, academic tone ✅ Best for: Draft polishing, final proofreading 📎 Affiliate: Grammarly Free Account 3. Scite.ai Use for: Finding smart citations & tracking how a paper is cited (supporting vs. disputing) 🧠 Game-changer for literature reviews 🔗 Explore: https://scite.ai 4. Elicit.org Use for: AI-powered research synthesis Ask a question → Get summaries from dozen...

Published on:   PhD Hacks Lab  Introduction:    It can feel like an impossible task to finish a thesis, especially when you have other things to do like study, writing, and personal obligations. However, with a structured approach and realistic goals, completing your thesis in 6 months is entirely possible. This piece gives you a detailed plan that will help you reach your goal of finishing your thesis by the due date.  Step 1: Set Clear and Achievable Milestones  The first step in tackling any large project is breaking it down into smaller, manageable parts. Give yourself clear due dates for every part of your thesis, from the literature review to gathering data, analyzing it, and writing. Make sure your milestones are realistic to avoid burnout.  🎯 Set a Clear 6-Month Timeline Month 1: Complete literature review and research questions. Month 2: Finish data collection and start analysis. Month 3-4: Write up the methodology...

Published on: PhD Hacks Lab 10 Time-Saving Tools Every PhD Student Should Know About.................................... 🎓 Introduction If you're a PhD student with many due dates, piles of books to check, lab work, and teaching classes, you've probably wanted more hours in a day. We can't change time but can pick better tools to make research life more manageable.   Here are 10 tools I wish I had known before. Each is made to give you more time and make thinking less heavy, whether you are working on your  dissertation or preparing for your defense. ✅ 1. Notion – All-in-One Academic Organizer Why use it: Take notes, track tasks, organize research, and plan chapters — all in one sleek dashboard. Use case: Create a “Dissertation Dashboard” with deadlines, reading lists, and chapter outlines. 📎 Try Notion Free (affiliate link when available) ✅ 2. Grammarly – Your Academic Writing Assistant Why use it:  It instantly fixes grammar, tone, citatio...