Written by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Pursuing a PhD can be a daunting and time-consuming process. Yet, with the right support, it can transform into a smooth and even exciting journey, allowing you to gain a clearer picture of your ambitions and passions. Here’s a general overview for locating a PhD that fits you, drawing from my own experiences in discovering, choosing, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Why undertake a PhD?
Before embarking on your PhD search, it’s essential to comprehend your reasons for wanting to pursue one. A PhD represents a considerable commitment, and ensuring it is in line with your objectives and interests is crucial. A PhD provides training to evolve as an independent researcher, a competency I regard as indispensable for the career path I aspire to.
In addition to technical skills, I was drawn to the liberty and inventiveness that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science diminishes if I engage in research on unengaging subjects and perform experiments that don’t resonate with me, thus I opted for a PhD project that truly captivates my interest. The ability to guide my project according to my vision is also a significant advantage for me, making it one of my favored elements of pursuing a PhD.
As straightforward as it may appear, I advise creating a pros and cons list regarding undertaking a PhD before you begin your search to ensure it’s something you genuinely wish to pursue – what do you anticipate a PhD will bring you?
The PhD application procedure
The application procedure typically encompasses several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Initial application submission
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews often center around your motivations for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to challenges. In preparation for interviews, I revisited my application, delved into pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and confidently during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project begins with grasping what form of research excites you, what environments you flourish in, and what skills you hope to acquire through the PhD. Some resources you can utilize to discover your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – look for specific departmental pages where they list all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and referrals from professors or supervisors
- Websites of funding organizations and doctoral training centers
My application journey may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I received financial support from my home country, so I merely needed to find a research group engaged in a project of my interest. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, discovered lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research descriptions, and explored their research outputs.
Since I was already a Master’s student at Imperial while seeking PhDs, I also consulted my professors about which research groups they considered suitable for me. I discovered my current project supervisor from a list of research groups my MSc course leader provided.
The key is to communicate with EVERYONE and strive to gather as much information as possible. I personally know a fellow PhD student who found their project through conversing with a stranger in a bar who introduced them to their current principal investigator (PI) and