The life of a doctoral student is not an easy one – it often involves doubt, setbacks, and a persistent sense of uncertainty that comes with doing research. In many ways, the PhD journey itself can be seen as a kind of crisis – a period that requires learning how to cope with external demands, article rejections, and one’s own expectations and self-criticism.

“In academia, rejections are part of the process. What matters is the ability to recover, move forward, and believe that the work will eventually pay off. For that, we need both work and hope – and rest,” said Nagel. Such an experience connects doctoral studies more broadly to the perspective of crisis research: a crisis is not merely a breaking point, but also an opportunity for finding new balance, adaptation, and growth.

Nagel also emphasized the importance of support networks – supervisors, colleagues, and the various support services provided by the university. Doctoral students were encouraged to reach out to their doctoral associations – at TalTech, for instance, DoKo – which help foster a sense of community and mutual support. TalTech also offers professional support in the form of study and career counselling, as well as mental health services. These systems help young researchers not only to cope, but also to grow.

The Crisis Research Centre supports its researchers and doctoral students throughout their academic journey – whether that involves researching crises, pursuing scientific self-development, or simply navigating the human challenge of persistence. After all, the path of research is itself a kind of crisis – and a story of recovery.

Photo: annual PhD reception at Taltech (Taltech, 2025).