The Lean PhD: Radically Improve the Efficiency, Quality and Impact of Your Research

by Julian Kirchherr

This book fundamentally challenges the way in which PhDs are currently pursued. It applies lean methodologies - which have been embraced by start-ups - to the doctoral research process. It explains how to apply techniques such as the minimal viable product (MVP) approach, rapid prototyping and pivoting to each stage, from choosing a topic to seeking feedback, in order to save time, make the process more efficient and demonstrate impact. Chapters are enriched with insights from PhD researchers, practical guidance on going lean and a wealth of empirical data which supports this new approach to postgraduate research.

This inspiring text is a must-read for prospective and current PhD students who wish to accelerate their careers in academia and beyond.

Genres: Nonfiction, Academia

110 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2018

Reviews

[Kars · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a useful antidote to my perfectionist reflexes now that I am at the start of my own PhD. It's a quick read, with a personal writing style, largely in the self help mode. The constant use of startups as a metaphor gets tiresome though—I'm interested in lean, but I have spent enough time in and around startups to know they are not something to aspire to in most regards. Regardless, I took a few immediately applicable things away from this, in particular around writing and getting published. So for that alone, I would recommend it.

[Raka Adrianto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, every now and then I need to flare up my (PhD) research energy. This book couldn't have come at better timing. I distill that being lean and pragmatic will aid the process of research more impactful, agile while we can keep away 'lonely scholar' from the PhD playbook. I praise Julian for voicing his concerns and at the same time, revealing some of the bitter truths in the present academic system. Deserved stars IMO.

[Chris T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liest sich schnell. Gute Tipps dabei, ich konnte einige Impulse mitnehmen.

[Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wake up call for my idealistic and perfectionist self as a PhD student.

[Oakleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lean PhD seems to have been written as a rational solution to the sobering reality that most PhDs are low quality, meaningless, and frequently lead nowhere for the students that undertake them. This is a confronting fact that each of us must find a way to grapple with. Many around me chose to be scared of what comes next and hide in the system by prolonging their time in academia; put off the reckoning (their exit) and extending the (limited) pay check until they are literally thrown out. I have chosen to just give it a red hot crack. I love my research, and I want to be an academic, but if I'm going to fail, I agree it's best to fail fast. Thus, I begin a journey of reading books on how to do that.

I'm going to write a longer review some other time, but for now, my main point:

I'm not fully on board with Julian that this method results in efficient or fast PhDs. While not putting a number on his own work, he cites start-up founders as working 130 hrs per week. Let's say he worked 100 hours per week instead, but even with that slovenly number, for Julian to finish in 21 months, he took about 9,100 hours to complete his PhD. If I were to work 40 hrs per week (I do work more, but just pretend with me), 48 weeks of the year, across 36 months, I would work 5,760 hours. Now who's wasting time?

While I'm sure I'm overestimating and his reality would be much more reasonable, Julian's method does seem to propose working 10 or more hrs per day - including weekends. Some of us find there is more to life than work and wouldn't praise this singular obsession as a sign of success. Furthermore, I believe rest leads to a better clarity of thought and enables layering of other pursuits. While Julian spent 21 months on a single objective, I may take more than 1/2 again as long, but for fewer concentrated hours, and will do many many MANY other things while I'm at it.

While it remains to be seen whether I can be as prolific as Julian (and it remains a philosophical question about how a direct comparison of the quality of our work could be undertaken), suffice to say I won't be adopting his approach to time management. Nearly every other element of the concept (that is, explicitly excluding 1. where you attempt to get on other people's papers for low contribution, and 2. encouraging masters students to attempt potentially non-viable research for your own gain), I liked and will be incorporating, though.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the strongest argument supporting a lean approach to a PhD is the author’s own track record: Julian Kirchherr submitted his dissertation at Oxford within 21 months and accepted a tenure track position a month later. In contrast with academia where “slowness is a central value… linked to quality,” Kirchherr follows approaches taken by startup companies who focus on launching products users want quickly and economically and suggests that producing a minimal viable dissertation can fast-track PhD completion. Kirchherr’s recommendations include finding a niche topic, working with an early career supervisor, leveraging PhD-by-publication, and finding funding beyond government in business and crowdsourcing. At times, the book takes the startup comparison too far and veers into four-hour work week territory in describing how to harness the reputation and work of others yet somehow misses making connections to university-business incubators. Despite this, Kirchherr offers practical advice and an antidote to perfectionism that many students and early career academics will find both engaging and thought provoking.

[Kay Dub · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in the first semester of my PhD, and can absolutely see benefit in reading this. While my advisor had already implemented similar tactics to those mentioned in the book on helping me navigate through the initial design and structure of my research, I felt the book helped me connect everything. It also helped me think more long-term with considerations to the end user orientation concept. A good, quick read for anyone who wants to move through their PhD journey with “greater efficiency, greater quality, and with a greater impact”.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main message (for me):

- Think about the minimum viable product (!)
- Feedback is a gift
- Reviewers are my allies
- You have to be ready to kill your darlings when they are not flying (ideas)
- This kind of encouraged my to think about writing newspaper articles about (my) research

A recommendation to all PhD students and supervisors!

[Freddie Barr-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Wish i'd found earlier. Not all lessons applicable to me directly, but mostly correct. Good work Julian.

[Deborah Sumter]

Super nice tips about how to approach a PhD!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not all of it fully relevant to my doctoral project but some sensible ideas here and well reasoned