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Behavioural Insights
Thoughtful analysis of how psychology shapes financial behaviour, spending habits, and long term decision making, translating academic research into practical insights that help individuals make smarter, more intentional financial choices.
Third Year PhD Review
It has become tradition on this blog for me to reflect on each part of the PhD process. As my third year in the PhD comes to an end, and...
Merle van den Akker
Aug 28, 20207 min read
Scared to Leave Academia
Hey everyone! If you’ve been following this blog for a while, or if you’ve ever just checked the general overview, you can see that I’ve...
Merle van den Akker
Aug 21, 20205 min read
Publish or Perish: PhD Edition
Oh yes, it’s everyone’s favourite phrase. Not. Publish or perish is the unofficial slogan for academia. It describes quite accurately...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 24, 20204 min read
Ponders of a PhD Student: Academia or Industry?
What are you going to do after your PhD? It is a much dreaded question for every PhD student, whether you’re near the end or not. But...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 3, 20205 min read
Reaching Beyond the PhD-Unit
In the past weeks it is unsurprising that I, like many, have had a few online calls and meetings. Quite normal given the circumstances. I...
Merle van den Akker
Jun 12, 20203 min read
Doing “Just” the PhD isn’t Good Enough.
Disclaimer before we even start, as I know the title is nice and controversial: I’m not here to tell you that your work isn’t valid, that...
Merle van den Akker
Jun 3, 20205 min read
Is the Second Year PhD Blues a Real Thing?
There seems to be the idea that the second year of the PhD, which is often the middle year, is the worst of the PhD. The excitement wears...
Merle van den Akker
May 15, 20204 min read
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Stereotypes in Academia.
We need to get rid of the stereotypes of old, white men in armchairs, reading dusty books no one has ever heard of, or writing even...
Merle van den Akker
May 8, 20206 min read
The PhD Application Process Explained
I have written a multitude of articles on doing a PhD, and the whole experience it entails. They are some of my most popular articles,...
Merle van den Akker
Apr 24, 202010 min read
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