Every day we read about the amazing discoveries in various branches of arts, engineering and science that are supposed to change the world and make it a better place. We see these as developed by “PhDs” or “academics”, who we perceive as incredibly gifted superhumans – they developed this new quantum computer or new AI algorithms so they must be, right?

As an academic myself, I don’t think you need to be superhuman to achieve academic success and contribute towards solving some of the global challenges faced by our, and future generations. By creating the Motivated Academic, we want to make sure that you’ve got realistic expectations of your PhD and academic career, and you maintain a sustainable level of motivation throughout your career!  

Expectations of PhD students

When reading science news and scientific journals, you’ve probably come across some breakthrough ideas that inspired you to pursue a scientific degree yourself. You aspire to achieve academic success.

You’ve perhaps noted that these pieces are usually written in a way that does not reflect the entire development process that the team of PhDs and researchers had to go through. The articles tend to report the final version of academic development.

What does this mean? You don’t get to read about multiple failures and iterations over months or even years of the project duration until the solution actually worked. And the route to academic success is full of trial and error.

As you don’t often see the full picture in the literature you read, you may think that you need to be super smart or even a genius to develop such solutions in your research in order to build a successful academic career.

This kind of thinking and perception puts a lot of pressure, especially on young and aspiring PhDs and scientists such as yourself.

Reality of academic success

As with all new undertakings, we often start our research degrees aiming high and being highly motivated.

As we go along, however, we tend to realise that some things don’t always go as we initially planned. Some of our equipment breaks, code doesn’t work the way we want or cannot be validated because data isn’t readily available.

You may also find it challenging to juggle problem-solving, running experiments or coding, disseminating your research, rejection(s) of your articles and many other activities that researchers usually are responsible for, and start doubting in your abilities.

Some also say that ‘if you don’t struggle during your PhD, you’re doing something wrong’. These negative aspects and uncertainty of exploratory research, unfortunately, drain our motivation – sometimes to the extent that some may even lose interest in their beloved research area!

I’ve written another post on how to deal with common challenges during PhD. Check it out!

But let me tell you this. Failure is an important part of your career development and achieving academic success. Whether you like it or not (probably not!), we tend to learn more from failures. This is because we usually reflect on what we did wrong rather than on what we did right – this is just our nature. We tend to avoid mistakes. And this is key to achieving academic success. You need to make mistakes in order to learn!

Why did I decide to do a PhD?

So how was it in my case? When I was young(er), I wasn’t much interested in school and education – I preferred to play volleyball and videogames with my peers. I definitely wasn’t motivated to learn the school curriculum and felt that I wasn’t bright enough to succeed! I was, however, curious about how different processes work and how do they interact.

It was until my high school when I really got interested in chemistry and environmental issues, and decided that I wanted to dedicate my career towards solving them. With the guidance of my chemistry teacher, I undertook two extracurricular projects around waste recycling and incineration. These helped me to realise that doing research appealed to me. I wasn’t entirely clear what such a path entailed at that time and what academic success meant, though.

Graduating with a Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees related to energy and process engineering led me to undertake a PhD programme in clean energy and decarbonisation. Although I enjoyed taught degrees, the joy of doing a PhD and driving my own project was disproportionally higher. I knew that I must enjoy what I do to achieve academic success.

My struggles on my way to academic success

At the beginning of my PhD degree, I thought that I will develop the best technology for CO2 capture that will change the world and solve the issue. This excitement quickly went away when I started reading the literature and discussing it with my peers.

At that point, I realised that other researchers tried to make this technology happen since the 90s’, and they haven’t succeeded – it was just too expensive and, without incentives, the industry wasn’t that much interested.

By the end of the first year of my PhD degree, I thought that it was it and that I wouldn’t achieve what I wanted and won’t build a successful academic career. However, having learnt that technological development can take years, I needed a new goal that would keep me stimulated and excited about my PhD. I decided to aim high and attempted to publish a good number of papers in top journals in my field.

They say the initial rejection hurts the most, and I agree…I was devastated when my first manuscript was rejected – after all, I spent so much time on perfecting it! I also wasn’t accepted for a prestigious summer school and didn’t get the industrial placement I wanted.

But I’m grateful for these experiences, as they taught me one crucial thing about research and life overall: no matter how much you try, there’s always a chance you’ll fail or get rejected. And you cannot do much about this; there’s no such thing as a 100% success guarantee!

That’s the key to academic success.

This realisation helped me to deal with rejections and maintain my motivation to complete my PhD without corrections in less than 3 years, with 11 articles published in top journals in my field. Now, a couple of years later and with 55 academic papers in my CV, I’ve established my research group and I feel that I’ve already achieved academic success.

It’s a high time I supported you, dear reader, in achieving academic success by sharing my experience and advice. If there are any specific roadblocks that prevent you from succeeding in academia, feel free to contact me. I’m sure I’ll be able to help!

Conclusions

You may wonder what the conclusion of my above reflections is?

There’s tremendous pressure put on you as a young scientist or researcher to excel at everything you’re undertaking. This pressure on your academic success may inhibit your aptitude towards taking risks, trying new things no one tried before, or submitting manuscripts to high impact factor journals (because they reject it anyway, so why to try at all?).

But I want you to undertake the incremental view and don’t limit yourselves. As we never can be 100% sure we’ll succeed, we can accept that to fail is a part of the process.

Such an attitude will take the pressure off our shoulders, and will make it easier to stay motivated and, eventually, achieve academic success.

Therefore, you should think big, try to deliver to the best of your abilities.

If you’re not sure about something, don’t hesitate to seek support from others or dig deeper into the literature to find answers.

If you fail, try to understand why this happened and learn from your experience to improve your work. At the end of the day, you’ll achieve your goal and make the world a better place!

By the way, did you know that my writing training will help you write and publish your research in internationally-recognised journals without the overwhelm? Yep, it’s true. I take all the guesswork out of the writing process, explain how to write each section of the paper and how to ensure a logical flow of information. Go here to check it out!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to be a “superhuman” to succeed in academia?

Not at all. Academic success is more about persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to learn than any kind of superhuman ability. The perception that only “geniuses” achieve groundbreaking research can create an intimidating environment, but success is attainable for anyone willing to put in consistent effort, reflect on failures, and remain curious. Success in academia comes from breaking down complex challenges, celebrating small wins, and steadily building expertise over time.

2. Why does it feel like there’s so much pressure to succeed as a PhD student or young researcher?

This pressure often stems from seeing scientific breakthroughs presented as finished products, which can make it seem like every other researcher achieves seamless results. However, this portrayal usually skips the long, messy process full of setbacks, do-overs, and countless hours of rethinking approaches. Recognizing that everyone in academia experiences roadblocks can relieve some of this pressure. Focusing on your own journey and knowing that you are learning and growing—no matter how slow it may seem—can help keep that pressure in check.

3. What are some common setbacks I should expect during a PhD?

PhD journeys are rarely straightforward. You’re likely to face technical challenges, such as equipment failures, coding problems, data scarcity, and the dreaded rejection letters from journals. These setbacks may feel like roadblocks, but they’re also common experiences shared by almost everyone in research. Understanding that these obstacles are part of the learning process helps you build problem-solving skills and become more resourceful and resilient. And remember, overcoming these setbacks not only strengthens your research but also prepares you for future challenges in your career.

4. Is failure really a part of academic success?

Absolutely. Failure is a crucial component of growth. In fact, some of the most valuable lessons come from analyzing what went wrong and finding ways to improve. Each setback helps you refine your methods, deepen your understanding, and develop persistence—qualities essential for long-term success. Treating failure as a learning opportunity rather than a defeat allows you to stay motivated, adapt your approach, and improve the quality of your work. Embracing failure can help you approach new challenges with curiosity and confidence rather than fear.

5. How can I stay motivated when facing rejections?

Rejections are inevitable, but they don’t define your worth as a researcher. One effective way to stay motivated is to set incremental goals, such as improving a manuscript or targeting journals within your field rather than only aiming for high-impact publications. Reframe rejections as stepping stones to improvement—use feedback to refine your research, gain new perspectives, and hone your writing skills. Remind yourself of why you started your research journey and stay focused on your long-term aspirations. Setting up a support network of peers and mentors who understand your struggles can also make it easier to stay motivated.

6. How does my mindset impact my journey in academia?

A resilient and adaptable mindset can make all the difference. Viewing challenges as part of the process rather than as failures encourages you to keep going, even when the going gets tough. Adopting a growth mindset—one that emphasizes learning and personal development—helps you approach setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than as obstacles. Additionally, practicing self-compassion and celebrating small wins along the way can maintain your enthusiasm and perseverance. This mindset shift fosters a healthier relationship with your work and can ultimately lead to greater satisfaction and success.

7. What’s the best way to maintain motivation throughout my PhD?

Setting realistic, manageable goals and acknowledging each step forward can help sustain motivation. Recognize that academic progress isn’t always linear, and allow yourself to take breaks and recharge when needed. Surround yourself with supportive peers, mentors, or even online communities who can offer advice, encouragement, and a shared understanding of the challenges you face. Take time to reflect on your achievements, no matter how small they may seem, and keep your core passion for the subject alive by engaging with related topics, attending talks, or connecting with others in your field.

8. How did personal interests and background influence my academic journey?

Often, personal curiosity and passion are what draw people to research. Embracing your unique interests can give you a strong foundation and fuel your motivation, even when you face challenges. Remembering what sparked your interest in the first place—whether it was a high school project, a mentor’s encouragement, or a fascination with solving problems—can help guide you through difficult times. This genuine passion can sustain you and even open doors to unexpected opportunities along your academic path.

9. Is academic success defined only by publishing papers?

While publishing is a significant milestone in academia, academic success is much broader. It encompasses learning, building resilience, contributing knowledge, and developing expertise in your field. Success might also mean networking with others, sharing your knowledge, and even mentoring peers. By focusing on these various aspects, you can find fulfillment beyond publications alone, knowing that each step is part of a larger journey to contribute to meaningful advancements in your field.

10. Where can I get more support in my academic journey?

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Whether it’s talking to your advisor, joining a study group, or seeking online resources, there’s a wealth of support available. Many find that targeted training in writing or research skills can greatly ease the process of getting published and recognized. Look into programs that simplify the writing process, provide structure, and offer guidance on everything from crafting your argument to maintaining a logical flow in your papers. A structured approach can make your academic journey feel more manageable and less overwhelming, helping you build the confidence needed to succeed.