Thriving through the 'valley of shit'
Meet the editor behind The Optimist, a magazine by and for PhD students
October 9, 2024
Meet Silke Vanderhaeghe, Editor at The Optimist, a magazine written by and for PhD students. She's also wrapping up a PhD in Ludo Van Den Bosch's Laboratory of Neurobiology at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and reMYND. As she finishes both her studies and her tenure as Editor, we catch up with Silke about her experience.
Hi, Silke! Can you tell me a bit about The Optimist and how it started?
I joined the editorial team in 2019, about a year after the magazine was founded by now-graduated PhD students at the Center Donya [Pakravan], Matthias- [Koch], and Joni [Vanneste]. The idea for The Optimist was born at a trip to the pub after a long day of work — they found themselves asking: "Why the hell did we ever decide to pursue a career in science?", and realized they had to do something to change their mindset.
They wanted to create a space to encourage other PhD'ers through what's sometimes referred to in academia lingo as the 'valley of shit': a period where researchers lose perspective of their project and lose confidence in themselves and their capabilities. Their aim was to show that it's not only possible to survive your PhD, but to thrive in it — and with a healthy work-life balance, too! They thought a magazine that transparently shared researchers’ struggles, with a bit of humor sprinkled on top, would be a great way to do this.
You've been Editor at The Optimist magazine for the past four years alongside your PhD. What drew you to the role, and what made you stick around?
In all honesty, I just liked the idea of doing something different: if you're only writing scientific papers and working in the lab, it can get a little... boring, at times! I've really enjoyed having a creative outlet alongside my scientific work for the past few years. It's also been really satisfying to work on something that makes people happy and gives them an excuse to relax in the midst of their busy research schedules. I like that it serves as a conversation starter within our community and brings people together.
What was a memorable article or interview that you did?
In one edition we interviewed someone who was applying to become an astronaut! I thought that was so fun — it's so different from what we do day-to-day as neurobiologists, yet we share similar approaches and experiences due to being in the science field.
Has this experience been useful for your CV?
Yes, I think so — it shows employers that you're capable of managing a project alongside your full-on, full-time PhD. While a PhD is impressive in itself, with more and more people graduating from PhD programs, it's important to have that little bit extra to stand out. It also shows that you have a creative side, and that you're able to lead a team. For me specifically, I'm curious about a career in science communication, so I think that experience editing a magazine has been a great way to gain some experience in that field.
What positive changes have happened to the magazine during your time as Editor?
We recruited Paula [Longás] onto our team, who's super handy with graphic design and has been creating our fantastic covers for us! I think that was the best thing that could have happened.
Check out a compilation of Paula's cover arts hereWhat have been your biggest challenges as Editor?
It was more difficult than I'd anticipated to both find and maintain volunteers for the editorial team. It's not a huge amount of work, but when we're all doing PhDs it it can easily slide to the bottom of your to-do list. It was a challenge to keep the team (and myself!) focused and motivated. I found that doing fun things together outside of The Optimist helped to foster a sense of community and a level of responsibility and accountability towards each other.
What's your favorite magazine (other than The Optimist, obviously)?
I love travel magazines, especially The Lonely Planet. Because of that, I'm just starting a travel writing course with the National Geographic in the Netherlands. I'm so excited! Despite my experience with The Optimist, I still feel a bit of imposter syndrome when it comes to writing, so I'm looking forward to conquering my fear and learning from the top journalists in the field.
You defend your PhD thesis at the end of this year. What's next for you?
My plan is to spend a few months in Norway volunteering with sled dogs!
Read The Optimist for free on their website:
