By María Sol Martinez, final year PhD student.
Author Biography:
María Sol completed her BSc in Biochemistry at the Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina. She is currently in the final year of her PhD at the Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology Research Centre (CIBICI-CONICET), National University of Córdoba, where her research focuses on chronic inflammation of the male genital tract as a risk factor for male infertility, and its impact on immune modulation within the female genital tract and offspring health.
Alongside her research, since January 2026 she has served as a PhD ECR for the SRF, contributing to initiatives that support early career researchers.
Her work lies at the intersection of reproductive immunology, fertility, and developmental programming, and she is particularly interested in understanding how immune-mediated mechanisms shape reproductive outcomes.
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Imposter syndrome doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes, it shows up as a quiet but persistent doubt, an internal voice that makes you question whether you are truly capable, even when there is clear evidence of your progress. It can make you feel like you have somehow ended up where you are by chance, rather than through your own effort and ability.
Although this experience has been described for decades, it remains very common in academia, especially during a PhD.
Why does a PhD make this feeling so common?
A PhD is unlike any previous stage of education. There is no shared syllabus, no clear checklist, and no single way to measure whether you are “doing well”. Each project is different, shaped by its own starting point, resources, supervision, and pace. Because of this, it becomes very easy to compare yourself to others, often without realising how unfair those comparisons are.
I remember sitting in the lab at the beginning of my PhD, trying to understand the basics of reproductive immunology, while the person next to me seemed far more experienced. They spoke confidently, moved with certainty, and appeared to understand everything much faster than I did. Even though it made sense that they had been in the field longer, it still made me feel like I didn’t quite belong.
What I have come to understand since then is that everyone is speaking from their own area of expertise. What feels basic to someone else might be completely new to you, and that is not a weakness, it is simply part of learning.
When those feelings come back
As my PhD progressed, and I became more comfortable in the lab, those feelings slowly faded. I built confidence through practice, repetition, and time. But recently, as I transitioned into writing my thesis, that sense of doubt returned.
After years of hands-on work at the bench, writing feels like a completely different challenge. And with that shift, new thoughts started to appear, questioning whether I am capable enough, whether I will meet expectations, and whether I can truly do justice to the work I have done over these years. Nothing external has really changed, but internally, everything feels more uncertain.
What I’m learning along the way
I do not think imposter syndrome is something you can simply switch off. At least, that has not been my experience. But there are small shifts in perspective that have helped me navigate it.
- Recognising the role of the environment
Something I have been reflecting on is how much our environment shapes these feelings. Academia can be highly competitive, and we are often surrounded by conversations about achievements, publications, and progress. While this can be motivating, it can also become overwhelming. Being constantly exposed to comparison can amplify self-doubt, especially when we forget that everyone is on a different path. Sometimes, stepping into a different environment, even briefly, can help bring perspective. A conference, a new collaboration, or simply taking some distance can remind us that there is no single way to do science, and no single timeline to follow.
- Remembering that I also bring something valuable
It is easy to focus on what others seem to do better, especially in an environment where excellence is the norm. But over time, I have realised that everyone contributes in different ways. Not everything is about knowing more or working faster. Sometimes it is about how you think, how you connect ideas, or how you communicate them. I found it helpful to reflect on this idea after reading The Imposter Cure by Jessamy Hibberd, which emphasises recognising your own strengths instead of constantly measuring yourself against others. Your value is not diminished just because someone else excels in a different area.
- Accepting that mistakes are part of learning
A PhD is, at its core, a training process. Things will go wrong, experiments will fail, and ideas will not always work. That does not mean you are not capable; it means you are learning. This is something I have had to remind myself often, especially during difficult moments. Growth rarely happens when everything goes perfectly. In fact, those moments of uncertainty are often where the most learning takes place. As discussed in the book Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life by Lisa and Richard Orbé-Austin, reframing failure as part of development can help reduce the weight of self-doubt.
- Taking things one step at a time
When something feels overwhelming, like writing a thesis, it helps to break it down. One paragraph, one section, one idea. It does not remove the challenge, but it makes it more manageable. I have also realised that being a good researcher does not mean being good at everything. It means contributing meaningfully in your own way.
- Talking about it instead of keeping it inside
This has probably been one of the most important things for me. When you keep these thoughts to yourself, they tend to grow. They become louder, more convincing, and harder to challenge. But once you talk about them, something shifts. You realise how common these feelings are, even among people you admire. Conversations with peers and mentors can bring a sense of relief and perspective. You are rarely the only one feeling this way, even if it seems like it.
- Looking for support beyond your immediate environment
I have also found it helpful to look for perspectives outside of my own academic circle. Whether through books (including those mentioned above), podcasts such as The PhD Life Coach by Vikki Wright or Hello PhD by Joshua Hall and Daniel Arneman, or conversations, hearing how others navigate similar challenges can help put things into perspective. Sometimes, simply knowing that these experiences are common can make them feel lighter.
Final thoughts
Imposter syndrome has a way of appearing when you are tired, when you are comparing yourself to others, or when you are stepping into something new. But feeling like you do not belong does not mean that you actually do not. I still have moments where that doubt is there. But I am learning to pause, take a breath, and remind myself that I am learning, growing, and showing up anyway. And maybe that is enough.