Series of interviews: What have Ph.D. students learned from their doctoral studies at ICSJ?

Doctoral studies can take on many forms in the public imagination. For some, it’s seen as “just a slightly longer thesis,” while for others, it evokes a vague idea of academic research. However, the reality is far more complex. A Ph.D. is a diverse journey that takes students through a wide range of activities – from attending conferences, teaching, and writing scholarly texts to networking and mastering time and project management. Over several years, it offers a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth and the acquisition of skills that extend well beyond the academic world.

We approached several Ph.D. students from IKSŽ, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, and asked them: “What have you learned so far during your doctoral studies?”

Karolína Hájková

What year are you in?
I’m in my third year of doctoral studies at IKSŽ FSV.

What is your research focus?
In my dissertation, I study the media representation of LGBTQ+ men in the context of HIV/AIDS between 1981 and 2020. Specifically, I focus on how their image was shaped in Czech print and later online media in relation to HIV and AIDS – both against the backdrop of the historical and political developments our country has undergone and within the context of advancing knowledge about the virus and disease. Beyond my dissertation, I collaborated with my colleague Hana Řičicová on qualitative research concerning parenting strategies of female journalists in the context of precarization.

What have you learned from your doctoral studies so far?
I’ll admit that when I applied for the Ph.D., my expectations were quite skewed. It’s much more complex and has taught me many soft and hard skills. So far, the studies have taught me technical processes, such as publishing scientific articles, and new ways of thinking about the problems and topics I study. The program has certainly improved my time and project management skills. It has also given me confidence to present at international academic conferences. Overall, I can already say that it has expanded my understanding of how the academic world and scientific work function – and I’m far from finished.

Štěpán Šanda

What year are you in?
I'm in the second year of my doctoral studies.

What is your research focus?
I am exploring – or gradually moving towards exploring – representations of the Czech landscape in Czech video games. In recent years, we’ve seen these local themes appear in several domestic titles.

What have you learned from your doctoral studies so far?
I think it has deepened my understanding of social science methodology and my research field. Regular reading groups organized by older peers in our game studies group, which also include our supervisors, have improved my comprehension of academic texts. The program has also pushed me to present – in English, no less – something I’m still nervous about, though the thought is less terrifying now. A reassuring piece of advice from my consultant at a conference helped: “Never apologize for your English before presenting – it’s okay that we all speak non-native English in our own ways.”

Another benefit is harder to describe, but I feel like previously disparate ideas are connecting more easily into coherent, expressible arguments or hypotheses.

Hana Řičicová

What year are you in?
I’m in my third year of the Ph.D. program in Media Studies.

What is your research focus?
I focus on the precarization of Czech journalists – precarization roughly refers to unstable or often unfavorable working conditions, such as informal contracts, the accumulation of short-term agreements, or the often romanticized necessity of freelancing.

What have you learned from your doctoral studies so far?
It’s taught me quite a lot, actually. It’s not just about using Zotero or the basics of academic writing, which I’ve been practicing with the support of my supervisor Dr. Urbániková and consultant Assoc. Prof. Reifová – both of whom are an immense help. I’ve also learned to respect data, to be more assertive, and to defend my own findings. Increasingly, I realize the importance of collaboration and science popularization. As we work with public funding, we should share our research with the public – in both plain language and through (inter)disciplinary collaboration.

Martin Richter

What year are you in?
I’m in the second year.

What is your research focus?
My research focuses on the interdisciplinary approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and its impacts on individuals and society. My goal is to open a discussion on how this technology influences our everyday lives, particularly in education but also in employment.

I also address the negative aspects of AI, such as biases and stereotypes that these tools may reproduce or even amplify. This connects to my main focus: the impact of artificial intelligence on communication. Overall, I aim to find ways to make the benefits and risks of AI more accessible to people, so they can respond critically and consider the broader societal implications.

What have you learned from your doctoral studies so far?
One of the greatest benefits of doctoral studies, in my view, is the opportunity to meet people who work in various fields and on diverse topics. These interdisciplinary discussions are not only inspiring but also broaden my perspectives and allow me to connect knowledge from different areas in ways I hadn’t considered before.

Moreover, the Ph.D. provides an excellent opportunity to attend conferences, where I can present my research and engage in discussions with other experts. I also firmly believe that teaching others is one of the best ways to learn, so I enjoy leading the course “Artificial Intelligence in Communication.” Interactions with students, their insights, and the ensuing discussions are incredibly inspiring.

The main challenges for me remain mastering academic research methods and writing scholarly texts, but I hope I’m making progress in those areas as well.

Photo of Martin Richter: Filip Ehrenberger

Photos of the others: Lucie Kotvalová