The PhD Chronicles

Balancing pregnancy, family, and a scientific career: a look at the challenges faced by women in STEAM

Katherine Villavicencio and edited by Constanza Rodriguez Piceda May 14, 2025

Women in STEAM: Balancing research with raising a family. (Image generated by SEAART.IA)

In this week’s blog post, Dr. Katherine Villavicencio (University of Pisa) explores how women in STEAM navigate pregnancy and family life while advancing in their careers and examines the support (or lack thereof) provided by academic and research institutions. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) careers are undoubtedly demanding. For women in these fields, juggling the ...[Read More]

Silent voices, trapped minds.

Katherine Villavicencio and edited by Constanza Rodriguez Piceda February 12, 2025

Recreation scene of the psychological thriller God’s Crooked Lines, with PhD students trapped by depression and suicide feelings. Image generated by PromeAI.

In this week’s blog post, Katherine Villavicencio (University of Chieti – Pescara) looks into the world of the mind and the mental-health issues that can result by the pressure behind a research project, such as a doctoral thesis. Here, through a personal reflexion ,she explores the main reasons that can lead candidates to suicidal thoughts, and even to the execution of them, finally a ...[Read More]

Dirty Poppy and the Research Tournament of Arcane Mysteries.

Katherine Villavicencio and edited by Constanza Rodriguez Piceda November 13, 2024

Representative Cup for the winner of the Research Tournament of Arcane Mysteries. Figure generated by PromeAI.

In this week’s post, Dr. Katherine Villavicencio (University G. d’Annunzio, Italy) looks into the flaws of the academic system that enables abusive supervisors to hold excessive power. In the form of a wizardly tale, she sheds light on the negative experiences of students subjected to the oppressive control of this kind of supervisors. In an alternate universe, the magical world is governed by ac ...[Read More]

Summer of ‘23: Chronicles of a summer school on meteorite and comet impacts.

Katherine Villavicencio and edited by Constanza Rodriguez Piceda March 27, 2024

Exploring geologic formations along the Nördlingen Ries impact Crater. Credit: Attendees of the school.

One of the best-researched and preserved impact craters on Earth is the Ries Crater (Germany). Hikers, bikers, school groups, and geo-tourists from all over the world come here in search for the evidence of the cosmic catastrophe. In this week’s blog post, PhD student Katherine Villavicencio from University G. d’Annunzio (Italy) shares her experience when attending the Summer School “Impacts and ...[Read More]