In today's episode, we discuss the so-called imposter syndrome, which is generally defined as having feelings of not deserving what you have achieved despite external evidence of the contrary. However, calling this feeling a "syndrome" actually pathologizing a rational reaction to being in a hierarchical, competitive place like a university, surrounded by high achievers (as Patter pointed out correctly).

With these definitions and observations in place, we embark on a personal episode, in which we touch upon when we have felt and feel like an imposter, when we feel a sense of not belonging, and similar but different experiences in academia. Besides discussing these feelings and experiences, as well as how they have changed over the years, we also discuss some tips that have helped us move forward even when facing such emotions.

References

• Imposter syndrome is not real, but I call mine Beryl (Thesis Whisperer)
• The top 5 PhD emotions (Thesis Whisperer)
• Two things that made me thing this week (Patter)
• Feeling like an imposter is not a syndrome
• Dr. Pauline Rose Clan´s work on this topic
• The Imposter Syndrome: Why successful people often feel like frauds by Hugh Kearns

Eva documented some of her observations on such feelings over the past on her blog:

• How I got tenure
• Surviving and thriving as a young female academic
• Performing for TEDxDelftSalon
• On where PhD research gets published
• Who am I to speak up