Some Experiences Mentoring PhD Students from Research Project to Thesis Defence and Beyond

PerMagnus Lindborg, 15 May 2026

While the Catholic Church recognises seven sacraments, there are only six pivotal moments in a PhD student’s life: admission, qualifying exam, first accepted paper, thesis submission, defence, and first job. I will share experiences mentoring several students through these stages, each with distinct ambitions, skills, and trajectories. From this small cohort, the cases may not generalise, yet this supervisor‑facing review aims to stimulate discussion at USJ’s Doctoral Forum about mentoring, assessment, and career preparation in doctoral education.