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17 Best PhD Gifts for Doctoral Students (in 2024)
Last updated: November 16th, 2024
If you just try searching "PhD Graduation Gifts" on Amazon, you'll get a page full of mugs, shirts and keychains. They deserve better. I’ve been through grad school, got my PhD, and have a good idea of what they would truly appreciate as a thank-you gift. Here’s my hand-picked list below.
This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!
1. Academia Word Magnets
Academia is chock full of inside jokes, mannerisms, and cringeworthy habits that grad students and professors love to laugh about. These word magnets are designed specifically to let academics rant about their hardships, relish their big wins, and have a good laugh. These are perfect for the office refrigerator or the magnetic whiteboard, where colleagues can leave passive-aggressive phrases for lab mates to find later. Get them on our site here and bundle them with other field-specific sets based on the graduate's field of study.
Check it out on Amazon.
2. The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference
Whether they're climbing the academic latter or heading out to the "real world", they can carry this credit card-sized ruler and scientific reference every day. We even laser-engraved the backside full of basic science equations and physical constants. See the product page for a full list of features we've packed in!
Available from our website or from Amazon.
The Pocket Scientist at Genius Lab Gear
The Pocket Scientist on Amazon
How to use The Pocket Scientist – Full Feature Guide
P.S. We also have versions specifically for Chemists, Physicists and Engineers if those are a better fit for the person you have in mind!
3. Rocketbook Matrix cloud-connected reusable paper notebook
PhD students do a lot of work both on paper and with software. Rocketbook finally solved the problem of merging your hand-written notes into your favorite digital services. You simply use their app to take a photo of your pages of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes OneNote, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox, and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.
The Rocketbook Matrix is my personal favorite because it's designed for more technical scientific work. It's got 30 pages of graphing paper and one regular lined page for taking notes, plus a built-in ruler on the inside cover. Did I mention they are reusable? Use their "Pilot Frixion" pens and then wipe the page with a damp cloth after uploading your notes to use it all over again (and win one for the environment!).
Usually, the best price is on Amazon.
4. Wireless Laser Pointer and PowerPoint Presenter
Laser pointers are one thing you never think about until the moment you don’t have one that works. I personally own this one because it’s got everything you need, from the pen clip to volume buttons and slide control buttons. DinoFire has several tiers with different features, but you can’t go wrong with any of them.
5. rOtring or Staedtler Mechanical Pencil
Mechanical pencils are an essential daily tool for researchers in STEM on the job and in the classroom. But in the new digital age, they often find themselves using touchscreens as well.
That’s why my new favorite is the rOtring 800 Retractable Mechanical Pencil, (0.5 mm). This one turns from a pencil to a stylus on the fly, and also ensures the tip isn’t poking holes in your pocket all day like most other models. This is truly the top-end mechanical pencil and will make a special gift.
Staedtler is another brand much-loved by scientists and engineers. This model is cheaper and will last a long time, but just isn’t convertible to a stylus. You can’t go wrong with either one.
6. Noise-cancelling headphones for focused writing and research
Trust me - when writing a dissertation or reading scientific journal articles, the tiniest distraction will seem like a great reason to stop what you're doing.
I use my Bose QC headphones daily, even when I'm home alone and there is no outside noise. It feels like I go into tunnel vision when I put them on with background music and my focus get significantly better. They're expensive, but I've easily made my money back many times over from my extra productivity.
7. Wood grain rollerball pen set
I've seen real research behind this - when someone writes with high quality tools into a unique and expensive notebook, they tend to have better ideas. It's true!
Along with the leather journal on this list, a wooden pen set makes for a great way to switch your mind into "brainstorming mode". It's a mental queue that "now, we're getting serious". I do this when I'm planning my month and you should too!
Along with the leather journal on this list, a wooden pen set makes for a great way to switch your mind into "brainstorming mode". It's a mental queue that "now, we're getting serious". I do this when I'm planning my month and you should too!
8. Leather journal for ideas and planning
Like I said above, when you get out your "nice" gear, your brain switches into a more serious mode. This is when you have the best ideas.
A unique leather-bound notebook is a great way to induce your mind to creative thinking to get around the obstacles between you and your PhD.
9. Self-care stress balls for a PhD student's desk
I have a stress ball at my desk that I toss around and squeeze when I switch from doing to thinking. It's like a fidget spinner but not annoying to your office mates!
Mine is just a cheap giveaway but these stress therapy balls have soft, medium, and hard included along with a softer coating. They can serve as a grip strengthener to mix it up after long hours of typing and holding a mouse.
10. Oh, the Places You'll Go! By Dr. Seuss
This might seem like it’s only for kids, but Dr. Seuss’ whimsical wisdom is often applied to the biggest moments of our lives. As a graduation gift, it’s perfect. The timeless message focuses on the success that lies within, as your graduate readies for a new phase in life. Plus, it’s a small book they can keep forever to pass the wisdom on to their kids.
11. The Well-Spoken Thesaurus
It's easy to use lazy word modifiers like "really" or "very" instead of punchy, interesting words that can enhance your writing. This Thesaurus is geared toward those with significant writing in their future like...a grad student writing a dissertation! It makes handy desk reference that will help them overcome pesky writing blocks.
12. Funny Coloring Book for PhD Students and Graduates
These adult coloring books are a hit in many fields, and this one is meant specifically for those who know the struggle of getting a PhD. It’s snarky, fun, and an amazing creative outlet. The satisfaction of just coloring inside the lines versus writing a 300-page thesis is a welcome relief.
13. Modern Lab Coat Pocket Protector
This is how your PhD grad will know they’ve finally made it. The venerable Pocket Protector became a cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way the newer generation of STEM researchers forgot about them.
Scientists need these back in their labs to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their lab coats, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design.
Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.
14. PhD Graduation Diploma Frame
They will definitely want to show off their hard work by displaying their newly minted Ph.D. diploma. This frame fits both 8.5”x11” and 11”x14” diplomas, which covers most institutions, and is the highest-rated frame on Amazon with many color choices. If they picked up a Masters degree along the way, you could grab the 2-pack so they can hang them both in their next office.
15. "It's Dr., Actually" Gift set for PhD Grads
For me, the most fun thing about finishing my PhD was the novelty of being called a "doctor". You won't get that for long, so it's fun to celebrate it in the moment with a PhD-themed gift set like this that helps your accomplishment really sink in.
16. Subscription to AI-powered Research and Writing Software (SciSpace)
For any PhD student reading and publishing papers, this new tool is a life-saver. SciSpace is a new software tool that combines AI search engines with reference/bibliography management to quickly get answers to highly technical questions - all sourced from peer-reviewed journals.
The Copilot feature is my favorite! It can scan those clunky PDF files to make summaries and even pull tables out into an editable format! That would have saved me hundreds of hours in grad school...The other neat thing is that it lets you take notes on every journal article, link it to that file, and search your notes later with the AI engine.
The best move here is to gift them a 1-year subscription! Just create an account here with your email, and then print out the login details to put into a gift box for the big day! They can move the account to their email address right after.
The Copilot feature is my favorite! It can scan those clunky PDF files to make summaries and even pull tables out into an editable format! That would have saved me hundreds of hours in grad school...The other neat thing is that it lets you take notes on every journal article, link it to that file, and search your notes later with the AI engine.
The best move here is to gift them a 1-year subscription! Just create an account here with your email, and then print out the login details to put into a gift box for the big day! They can move the account to their email address right after.
17. PhD Graduation Gift Bundle
If you can't decide by now, I can still help! Consider this decision made. I put together a PhD Graduation Gift Bundle just to make it easy for you. It includes PhD Self-Care and Academia-themed Word Magnets from above, plus a few fun science stickers. You'll save over 20% by bundling them together, so consider this decision made!
- PhD Self-Care Word Magnets
- Academia Word Magnets
- Science Basics Word Magnets
- Starter Word Magnets (144 tiles of connector words)
- Marie Curie sticker
- Science is for Everyone sticker
- Einstein quote sticker
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):
WHAT IS THE BEST GRADUATION GIFT FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS?
Getting a bachelor's degree is one thing, but getting a PhD takes a lot of hard work and dedication. PhD students deserve the best gifts and if you're looking for one, you should check out the following.
- Academia Word Magnets
- The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference
- Rocketbook Matrix Cloud-connected Reusable Paper Notebook
- Wireless Laser Pointer and Powerpoint presenter
- Rotring or Staedtler Mechanical Pencil
- The Well-Spoken Thesaurus
- "It's Dr., Actually" Gift set for PhD Grads
- Noise-cancelling headphones for focused writing and research
- Wood grain rollerball pen set
- Leather journal for ideas and planning
- Self-care stress balls for a PhD student's desk
- Oh, the Places You'll Go! By Dr. Seuss
- Funny Coloring Book for PhD Students and Graduates
- Modern Pocket Protector for lab coats
- PhD Graduation Diploma Frame
- Subscription to AI-powered Research and Writing Software (SciSpace)
- PhD Graduation Gift Bundle
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