Chadaphorn ‘Som’ Punkumkerd: a day in the life of a doctoral student

Chadaphorn ‘Som’ Punkumkerd is a final-year Mathematics PhD student at Swansea University where her research is funded by the EPSRC (a UKRI DTP). She was born and raised in Thailand, before moving to Swansea for her studies.

I arrived in Swansea for the first time in October 2021. It was tough, and I carried a lot of baggage (metaphorically). But my only aim was to finish my degree and then pursue my dream of becoming a lecturer at a university.

My daily routine

“I usually work from home as my course is 100% research. I begin every day by waking up early, between 6 and 7 am, and then I cook a big all-day breakfast. After this, I go back to my room to open my computer and check my emails. I sometimes call my family in Thailand, and if it sunny, I will go for a run. For my wellbeing, I enjoy running and eating healthily.”

What I do to relax

To relax, I like to listen to music and watch interviews. I do this to have a break from my research. I also enjoy trying new foods and visiting tourist attractions. I believe that a good work/life balance is important. You cannot gain too much without giving, and you cannot give but yield nothing. I go back to Thailand, my home country, every 3 months. I feel like whenever I go home, I can charge my ‘life battery’, so when I return to Swansea, I feel active and ready to go again!

Aside from this, I have had the opportunity to attend and participate in conferences in the U.K. and abroad. I also take advantage of attending seminars and workshops that are organised by my university.

Some advice

My advice would be that in your life you may need to wear many hats at the same time. The main point is that when you wear the hats, just try to focus, and try your best. For me, being disciplined is the key.