By Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD application journey can present challenges and require significant time investment. Nonetheless, with the right support, it can transform into a seamless and exhilarating experience, aiding in the clarification of your aspirations and passions. Here’s a general outline for discovering a PhD that fits you, grounded in my own experiences of locating, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates you to pursue a PhD?
Before you commence your search for a PhD, it’s vital to comprehend why you wish to undertake one. A PhD is an extensive commitment, and it’s essential that it corresponds with your ambitions and interests. It offers training to develop into an independent researcher, which is crucial for the career path I aspire to follow.
In addition to technical expertise, I was drawn to the autonomy and creativity that academia presents. My enthusiasm for science is limited if I engage in subjects that don’t ignite my interest and conduct experiments that do not resonate with me, hence I selected a PhD project that I was truly passionate about investigating. The ability to steer my project in the desired direction is another significant perk for me and stands out as one of my favored elements of pursuing a PhD.
As straightforward as it may seem, I recommend drafting a pros and cons list regarding the pursuit of a PhD prior to initiating your search, ensuring it’s a genuine pursuit for you – what do you envision a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application journey usually encompasses several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting an initial application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Interview(s)
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews often emphasize your motivations for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experiences, and your approach to overcoming obstacles. During my interview preparations, I revisited my application, reviewed pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them effectively and confidently during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Finding a project necessitates you first grasp what type of research ignites your enthusiasm, the working environment where you thrive, and the skills you wish to acquire through the PhD. Some resources to aid in finding your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – look for specific department pages listing all available PhD positions
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor webpages
- Academic networks and referrals from lecturers or advisors
- Websites of funding bodies and doctoral training centers
My application journey may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I obtained funding from my home country, so I primarily needed to find a research group that engaged in a project of interest to me. To accomplish this, I navigated the Imperial website, located lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, examined their research descriptions, and reviewed their research outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial while on the lookout for PhDs, I also consulted my lecturers on which research groups they believed would suit me well. I identified my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups forwarded by my MSc course leader.
The crucial aspect is to engage with EVERYONE and gather as much input as possible. I personally know a fellow PhD candidate who discovered their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub who eventually connected them with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.