Authored by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
The process of applying for a PhD can feel daunting and prolonged. Nevertheless, with the right advice, it can transform into a smooth and even exhilarating journey, aiding you in clarifying your objectives and passions. Here’s a basic outline for discovering a PhD that fits you, drawn from my personal journey of locating, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Reasons for pursuing a PhD
Before initiating your search for a PhD, it’s essential to comprehend the reasons behind your desire to pursue one. A PhD entails a significant commitment, and it’s vital to ensure it aligns with your goals and interests. It offers the training needed to become an independent researcher, which is an essential skill for my intended career path.
Apart from the technical training, I was drawn to the academic freedom and creativity inherent in research. My enthusiasm for science can only flourish if I’m engaged in topics that captivate me and conducting experiments that spark my interest, which is why I selected a PhD project I was truly excited about pursuing. The ability to steer my project in the direction I choose is another major advantage for me and stands out as one of my favorite elements of undertaking a PhD.
Thus, as straightforward as it may appear, I recommend creating a pros and cons list regarding a PhD prior to commencing your search to confirm it’s something you genuinely wish to pursue – what do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application procedure
The process of application generally encompasses several phases:
- PhD search
- Submission of initial application
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews often concentrate on your motivations for applying, your grasp of the project, your previous research experiences, and your problem-solving approach. As I prepared for interviews, I revisited my application, reviewed relevant literature, and reflected on my experiences to discuss them articulately and confidently during the interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project requires you to grasp what type of research excites you, the working environment in which you flourish, and the skills you wish to acquire from the PhD. Here are some resources you can utilize for your PhD search:
- University websites, like that of Imperial – search for specific department pages where they enumerate all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and advice from lecturers or supervisors
- Websites for funding bodies and doctoral training centers
My application experience may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I secured funding from my home country, so I primarily needed to identify a research group aligned with my interests. I accomplished this by exploring the Imperial website, reviewing lists of researchers and research groups, reading about their projects, and examining their research outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial when seeking PhD opportunities, I also consulted my lecturers about which research groups they believed would suit me well. I discovered my current project supervisor through a list of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The vital aspect is to engage with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as you can. I personally know a fellow PhD student who found their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub who put them in touch with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.