Authored by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD application journey can prove to be both complex and time-consuming. Nevertheless, with the right guidance, it can transform into a seamless and even exhilarating adventure, enabling you to gain a clearer understanding of your ambitions and passions. Here’s a general overview for locating a PhD that aligns with your aspirations, drawn from my personal journey of discovering, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates the pursuit of a PhD?
Prior to diving into the search for a PhD, it’s essential to clarify your motivations for pursuing one. A PhD demands a significant commitment, and ensuring that it corresponds with your aspirations and interests is vital. Acquiring a PhD equips you with the skills necessary to become an independent researcher, which is vital for the career path I intend to follow.
In addition to honing technical skills, I was drawn to the academic realm for its intellectual freedom and creativity. My enthusiasm for science is limited if I engage in subjects that don’t interest me or in experiments I find unappealing; hence, I opted for a PhD project that I was sincerely eager to delve into. The autonomy to steer my project in any direction I choose is also a significant advantage for me and ranks among my favorite elements of pursuing a PhD.
Thus, as straightforward as it may appear, I recommend creating a pros and cons list regarding pursuing a PhD before you commence your search to verify it’s genuinely what you wish to undertake – what do you anticipate a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application procedure usually encompasses several phases:
- Locate a PhD
- Initial submission of application
- Shortlisting process
- Interview stage(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Decisions regarding funding
Interviews commonly concentrate on your reasons for applying, your grasp of the project, your past research experiences, and your methods for tackling challenges. When I was getting ready for interviews, I revisited my application details, perused relevant literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and confidently during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project necessitates you to first recognize what types of research ignite your passion, the environment in which you thrive, and the skills you aspire to acquire through the PhD. Some resources you may employ in your search for a PhD include:
- University websites, such as Imperial’s – seek out specific departmental pages listing all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and insights from lecturers or supervisors
- Websites of 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 merely needed to identify a research group engaged in a topic of interest. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, reviewing lists of researchers and research groups, studying their research descriptions, and examining their research outputs.
Being a Master’s student at Imperial while searching for PhDs, I also consulted with my lecturers about which research groups they felt would suit me well. I discovered my current project supervisor through a list of research groups shared by my MSc course leader.
The essential takeaway is to engage with EVERYONE and strive for as much feedback as possible. I personally know a fellow PhD candidate who discovered their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub, leading to a connection with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.