Given the considerable challenges that you will face as a PhD student in Cambridge, at some point you might end up wondering if you have what it takes to be where you are.

You might stop asking questions, thinking they’re too naïve, or start second-guessing your skills. Worse, you may feel like a complete fraud, thinking you are not good enough and that sooner or later someone will appear and tell you it’s time for you to pack your bags. You might doubt that your work deserves any praise, thinking someone will eventually notice major shortcomings or mistakes. 

If you ever experience anything described above, chances are that you’re coping with something commonly known as imposter syndrome.

The good news is that you’re not alone. Imposter syndrome is a recognised ailment that many PhD students face at some point of their studies. One of the trickiest - and intriguing- aspects of research is that just when you think you’ve got everything under control, new data or ideas come along that challenges your initial assumptions.

The first step in shaking off these feelings is to embrace them as part of being a researcher. Research shows that taking a step back and ‘reframing’ your situation by putting it into perspective helps to build resilience in academia. This in turn helps you to identify your strengths and better cope with inevitable failures which will be part of your academic journey.

If you find it particularly challenging to ignore these negative thoughts, there are resources available to you. Speaking to your supervisor or College Tutor is a great way to start but if you’d rather talk to someone outside of your PhD, there’s plenty of support available at the Student Advice Service.