Graduate school and doctoral studies can be all-consuming pursuits that eat up time and energy, but the research produced and the knowledge gained is priceless. The researchers, inventors, and authors of the past kept journals of their progress and published papers with their findings, but the current generation of grad students and doctoral candidates have a much more regular and personal way to share their experiences. Many grad students keep blogs about their work and lives as they go through school, and some universities and professors have even begun writing about their areas of expertise or the happenings in their laboratories. The sites listed below can all be inspirational or downright useful for current students or recently minted grads. Everything from academic research to post-graduation career searching is covered in these great sites by and for master’s and PhD candidates.

Sensate Operating as the tumblr of the Sensate Journal, a journal for experiments in critical media practice, this blog offers an abundance of information. The tumblr has articles on art, film, and other media topics. Academics in Focus: Iraq: 10 Years After the War – Call for Papers on Film

27 and a PhD Through this entertaining blog you learn about the life of a young graduate student, as well as life after completing a PhD. Whether you’re writing a thesis, looking for training in your field, or have graduated with a PhD and don’t know the next steps to take, this blog will help you get through it. Academics in Focus: I guess I Was Wrong

Academic Cog The Academic Cog records the life of a woman studying graduate-level literature. She discusses the frustrations, setbacks, and joys of her academic journey in a humorous way. Academics in Focus: Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing

American Sociological Association’s Department of Research Blog Maintained by the American Sociological Association’s Department of Research on the Discipline and Profession, this blog reports about current projects and highlights related resources. It’s also an interesting place to discuss with other sociologists and interest readers through forums. Academics in Focus: Resources for Careers Beyond Academia

Academic Life by Marialuisa Liotta Marialuisa Liotta describes her blog as “resources for aspiring (and established) academics,” and she offers articles on everything from common grammatical mistakes to time management and how to choose where to spend your time and energy to succeed in academia. Academics in Focus: Do You Also Say Yes when you Mean No?

BenchFly BenchFly is an interactive blog and premier video platform for scientists. Designed by research and video experts, it’s an educational open access community for researchers to communicate through. Academics in Focus: Is the NIH Minimum Salary Binding for All?

The Creative Writing MFA Blog This is a very helpful blog offering interesting and informative information to anyone interested in getting a creative writing MFA degree. The blog covers what an MFA in creative writing entails, why a person should or shouldn’t get the degree, how to get scholarships, and more. Academics in Focus: Residencies: Steps Towards the MFA? Alternatives?

Dorothy King’s PhDiva This is a very interesting and educational blog displaying information and documents reported stolen by governments and their representatives. It covers many topics in history that typically go unnoticed. Academics in Focus: The Aleppo Codex and Ownership of Jewish Cultural Property

Epistemic Value Attempting to answer the question of what is the value of knowledge, this blog has numerous publications and articles from different researchers and institutes. If you’re seeking out knowledge, this blog is the perfect companion for you. Academics in Focus: CFP: The Gettier Problem at 50

J School Buzz Considering going to J-School? This blog covers all topics surrounding journalism and whether or not obtaining a higher education in the field will truly aid in a successful career. Academics in Focus: The Internet Reacts to Mizzou J-School Graduates Starting Salaries

Kirby Lab Student Blog A blog by the Cornell Micro/Nanofluidics department, this blog is a wonderful resource for someone interested in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Blog submissions are done by both students are professionals within the industry and include the latest news on this area of recent science. Academics in Focus: Breast Cancer Progression Prediction: New Possibilities for the Gedi Chip

Milano Grad School Blog With blog entries written by Milano grad school students who are currently students at The New School for International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy, entries provide insight into the life of a student. If you’re looking to pursue a career in policy, then this blog isn’t one to miss. Academics in Focus: Take This Course: Legislative Process

New Kid on the Hallway Written by a woman who decided to leave the world of academia to become a lawyer, this would be a blog great for anyone considering obtaining a law degree. With interesting insights into the process of changing the direction of your life and career, this blog can aid you in your search. Academics in Focus: Get a Job Interview, Engage in Retail Therapy

Occam’s Typewriter Occam’s Typewriter is a community project focused on bringing together current and erstwhile scientists who like to write. Blog entries are entertaining, educational, and sometimes quite funny, focusing on the latest news in science. Academics in Focus: Imperial Debate: Light and Heat on the RCUK Open Access Policy

Practical Ethics Daily updates on this blog cover ethical analysis of news events from intelligent researchers based at the University of Oxford in England. This blog will certainly keep you informed in the ethics of science and technology, environmental policy, public health, and information ethics. Academics in Focus: Jeremy Hunt, Abortion, and the Sorites Paradox

To Do: Dissertation Are you in the process of writing your dissertation but are getting stuck? This blog was created just for you! Entries offer support and encouragement for dissertation writers across disciplines, and practical steps are laid out for writers to finish their dissertation. Academics in Focus: Writing Tools

College of AgBio Student Blog A blog produced by the University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources, students tell of their experiences through school in an interesting and informative way. If you’re curious about what university has to offer, this blog will give you the inside scoop on classes, research, student exchanges and other fun, college activities. Academics in Focus: North American Forum on Sustainable Animal Agriculture

UC Berkeley English Department This is a blog that stays up to date with all English Department happenings at Berkeley in California. Articles are interesting and intelligent, and provide some insight into the world of academic English. Academics in Focus: We’re Afraid for Virginia Woolf

UNL Political Science Graduate Student Blog Students and professors of the UNL Political Science graduate program are allowed to contribute to this informative blog. Articles range anywhere from social media tips for those involved in political science, to call for papers, to research, to education. If you’re interested in political science, there’s bound to be an entry you’ll love. Academics in Focus: MPSA Deadline Reminder

Simon School Communications Blog The Simon School Communications Blog is a place for full-time, part-time, executive MBA, MS degree, executive education, or PhD students to write about their academic journey. Based on topics of communication, if you’re interested in media, journalism, advertising, or any other communication topic, then you’ll be thrilled with this blog full of relevant and up-to-date material. Academics in Focus: When the Going Gets Tough, The Ads Get Tougher

UND Graduate School Blog Writing about the happenings at the graduate school of North Dakota, this blog is entertaining and educational. Not only does it keep readers up to date on what is going on in the graduate school, but it also provides relevant material on graduate studies in general. Academics in Focus: North Dakota NASA EPSCoR receives a 3 year NASA award

Bournemouth University PG Research Blog Higher education, research news, and academic opportunities, are just a few helpful things you’ll find on this research information network. Most topics are about Bournemouth University, although there are articles and links to information outside of the community, too. Academics in Focus: PGR Development Scheme 2012/13

Grad Resources Providing informative articles, this blog helps graduate students find community and understanding among other students. Some helpful topics you may find addressed on this blog include academic work and family responsibility, how to keep your spirit and body healthy, and how to survive grad school without going insane. Academics in Focus: 10 Ways to Survive Graduate School

Inside Higher Ed Inside Higher Ed is the online hotspot for all news, opinion, and jobs related to higher education. Feature stories, daily commentary, and career columns are a few of the provocative resources you can find on this blog. Academics in Focus: Standards Tightening Federal Plus Loans

PhD Comics Highly entertaining, this site has comics that relate to getting a PhD degree. Not only are there comics, but you can also find people who have rapped their dissertation or created a puppet show based on their thesis. Academics in Focus: PhD Comic: Alarm Clock

Chemistry Grad Student & Postdoc Blog Not only is this blog educational, but it also offers a humorous side to chemistry graduate and post doctorate work. It provides resources for current students, in addition to informational bulletins and job notices. Academics in Focus: Lab Tales: How Chemistry Lab Experiment/Explosion Changed My Life

Phinished Are you struggling to finish your dissertation or thesis? Phinished is just the blog for you then, offering friendly advice and support to anyone a little stuck. You can participate in discussions or chat with other users about academia and the challenges of finishing your final research. Academics in Focus: Phinished: Links

Blogging the PhD Interested in public engagement and broadcasting? Well so is Vicky, an Edinburgh University student who keeps an interesting blog about studying reproductive biology. Check out her blog for more information on PhD and MBA degrees in science, in addition to teaching and broadcasting. Academics in Focus: I’m a Scientist – Get Me Out of Here

Adventures of a Grad Student Grad students can still enjoy life even while maintaining a busy school schedule. This is a blog about the adventures of a grad student and includes fascinating pieces on cooking, dancing, board games, movies, and more! Academics in Focus: Drink Samuel Smiths Organic Apricot Ale

Grad Hacker Are you into humor and productivity? So is the Grad Hacker! You’ll be thoroughly entertained by his posts on how to be productive, in addition to other grad school topics. Academics in Focus: Grad School Extracurriculars

GradMatters: The Blog for Tufts’ GSAS GradMatters is an informative monthly blog about careers, grad school funding, and other topics of interest. Although geared for students and alumni of the Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, anyone currently in or looking to begin grad school will find helpful articles here. Academics in Focus: A Graduate Student Guide to Developing Your Professional Profile

Broke Grad Student Unfortunately today it’s quite common for 20-something-year-olds to graduate with thousands of dollars of school loan debt. This blog was started by one of the 20-somethings and it’s written to help motivate and prepare others to pay back their school loans. Academics in Focus: 5 Easy Ways for College Students to Make Extra Money

Darden Social With a dry sense of humor, Brian Cramer discusses his social life at Darden University. In addition to talking about his social life, he also writes for anyone who forgoes a career to take an educational path in another direction. Academics in Focus: Cannes Film Festival Experience

The Ohio State University Graduate School Blog A graduate school blog for anyone interested in grad school at the Ohio State University. Blog articles are written for prospective students, current students, and alumni, as well as anyone interested in learning more about general graduate school studies. Academics in Focus: Nomination Period Open for Teaching Award

Undulations Journeying into the world of both dance and grad school, this blog takes an interesting perspective on the graduate students life. It provides both insight into the life of a dancer, as well as graduate school topics, classes, homework, and scheduling. Academics in Focus: Regular Filming of Dance

GradShare GradShare is a unique online community where graduate students can help each other succeed. Through this interactive community you can make the most of your grad school experience and really excel in your studies. Academics in Focus: How to Pick a Thesis Topic? The Conceptual Conversation

The Grad Cafe Acting as a forum for graduate students, The Grad Cafe provides interesting and important information for grad students. By registering your name you can view posts and contribute to them with your graduate school experience. Academics in Focus: Here We Go Again

Dr. Sustainable Written by an avid environmentalist and sustainable developer, this blog is a great fit for anyone interested in development and project management. It includes exciting posts about environmental issues, written from a perspective of someone who doesn’t think only about the environment. Academics in Focus: Inductions, Admissions and Timetable Hell

My Graduate School Blog Looking for detailed and comprehensive advice about preparing for graduate school? This blog will help you through the application process, as well as survive graduate school once you’re in. Academics in Focus: Getting Experience is Essential Preparation for Graduate School

Adventures in (Post) Gradland This fascinating blog isn’t just about humanities grad school and life after completing a PhD. It also contains interesting information about Japan, food, literature, and cooking. Academics in Focus: Job Advice from Academia to Non

Communications of the ACM As the leading print and online publication for the computing and information technology fields, this blog offers a variety of educational and provoking articles. You can find an abundance of information about the computing professional world today. Academics in Focus: The Ph.D. Grind: Main Grinds and Side Grinds

Dissertation Diva Looking for some real-world advice about getting your PhD? You can ask the dissertation diva anything about the process, and she’ll provide you insightful answers about the PhD process. Academics in Focus: Coney Island of the Mind

UVIC Graduate Students’ Blog This informational blog covers graduate student issues at UVIC at the provincial, federal, and international level. If you’re interested in announcements about conferences and calls for papers, as well as links to other blogs, then this site is perfect for you. Academics in Focus: Watch Higgs Weep During Announcement at CERN

Get a Life, PhD Are you wanting to get into the world of academia, but are afraid it may take over your life? This blog will assist you in the life of getting a PhD, and how you can balance life and work and also attain a happier life on the tenure track. Academics in Focus: How a Professional Editor Can Help Your Writing

Katie PhD Are you into science, but also into reading and staying up-to-date with the science world? Then Katie’s PhD blog will be a great addition to your life. Katie writes about all the amazing science things going on around the world, and does so in an interesting and entertaining way. Academics in Focus: Petridish.org: Crowdfunding Science Gets Personal

PhD Works In the middle of writing your PhD dissertation? This blog will provide you all you need to know about creating a thesis, editing, and proofreading. Academics in Focus: Criminology Research Papers: Follow the News for Lively Projects

The Dutch PhD Coach With experience as a trainer and coach for PhD students, the blogger of this site can help you out in any PhD obstacle you may be facing. Whether it’s writing, coping with literature, balancing your work life, needing inspiration, or trying to solve a conflict with an advisor, this blog can assist you. Academics in Focus: Little Things Matter

The PhD Blog You may be thinking about doing doctoral-level research, but just can’t decide. If this is the case, then the PhD Blog is aimed at you, especially if you’re looking to study management. Academics in Focus: Management Learning

My Exciting PhD Journey This is a blog about one student’s journey to getting their PhD at Glasgow University. It covers topics such as getting into graduate school, how to manage stress, and it also reviews interesting lectures and events. Academics in Focus: Where Does Inspiration Come From? From an Academic Innovator and a Retired Man

PhD Life Have you ever felt bogged down by all your PhD research? This blog may be able to relieve some of that stress with a few laughs in the articles analysis of what it’s like to get a PhD. Academics in Focus: Life is a Scream

PhD2Published First time academic publishers shouldn’t miss this great blog. It offers a wealth of hints and tips for early-career academics on how to get published as well providing discussion on the future of academic publishing in the e-age. Academics in Focus: How to be a Hackademic #6

ZunguZungu Written by a student, this blog has an entertaining and intellectual flare that many other academic blogs do not possess. As a self-proclaimed “web-log,” blogs are written about many topics, both academic and worldly. Academics in Focus: “It has been fully contained, but it is not yet extinguished”

Slothy Science Written from an advantage point of two academic fields, this blog covers a variety of educational topics in an intriguing and unique way. Articles focus on non-invasive research techniques such as sound recorders and automatic cameras to monitor ecological communities, as well as the use of micromentaries as a tool for communicating science. Academics in Focus: Science needs a software upgrade

MathEd.net Focusing on research, policy, and practice, this blog aims to build a bridge between all three. Blogs don’t just focus on topics of math and algebra, but also cover things such as ethics and how to properly teach math. Academics in Focus: Study of Teacher Beliefs

Classy Career Girl Are you a woman feeling a bit stuck in your career? Or perhaps you’re graduating college soon and need to know how to get a job? Whatever the case may be, this blog will help you become the happy, successful and balanced career woman that you deserve to be. Academics in Focus: Announcement: Do You Live a Double Life Like I Did?

Research Blogging Research Blogging features articles about all types of scientific research, from cell programming to neurology, linguisitics, biology, and beyond. There’s something here for any curious student looking to read some science writing from within their field or outside it. Academics in Focus: Biology Posts

Brazen Careerist The Brazen Careerist blog is full of helpful articles that can assist you in finding a new career path. Offering advice, tutorials, and virtual career paths, this blog is perfect for recent graduates in search of a new job. Academics in Focus: Why Finding Your Career Path is Like Choosing a Spouse