News & Events

GSEM working from home: Pia Radke, PhD candidate in Economics

How do GSEM members experience lockdown and telework? Today, Pia Radke, PhD candidate in Economics, shares her experience:

 

How is your work going, remotely?

I set up my office at home. Overall, it is going well. Correcting TPs without the whiteboard is not easy: I can't really take notes, display graphs and calculations for the students because I don't have a tablet that I can connect to my computer. But there are innovative solutions.

Research is also feasible, I talk on Skype with my supervisor every week.

 

What has the situation changed for you?

In the negative

  • Less contact with other PhD students and professors.
  • Uncertainties about what will come next.
  • Challenge of organizing distance exams.

In the positive

  • More time without the commute.
  • Life has slowed down a bit and it feels good.

 

What has been your biggest challenge since the beginning of the lockdown?

I am a little less focused at home because I am not alone and I don't have a room where I can isolate myself to work.

 

What are the unforeseen benefits?

  • Less stress at home, more time to cook and eat meals.
  • Easier organization of TP: since only one seminar (instead of 6) is given, task sharing is easier.

 

What do you miss the most?

  • My colleagues, social interactions.
  • Have a day structured around "working hours"

 

What do you like best?

The regular contact with my supervisor, it helps to feel less lonely.

 

An advice to cope with confinement?

Doing sports, getting some fresh air, seeing friends and family on Skype (have a drink together). And above all appreciate our privileged situation compared to other people in other countries who live in precarious conditions and are more affected.

 

What are the 3 words that describe your state of mind during this period?

Optimism, gratitude, calm

 

What will you retain after the lockdown?

  • Go to the countryside more often, enjoy nature.
  • Consider teleworking 1-2 days a week to avoid the stress of going to the office and to have time to cook lunch.

 

Thank you, Pia !

This year, Pia teaches the "Introduction to International Economics" course. She is pursuing her doctoral studies under the supervision of Prof. Tobias Müller.

May 13, 2020
  GSEM working from home
   AACSB-logo-member-color-RGB.png        AMBA-logo-Acc-Colour.gif          EFMD-NewLogo2013-HR_colours.png        

prme-stacked-solid-rgb.png 
  GBSNLogo.png