>Why embark on a PhD?
Prior to commencing your PhD search, it is essential to grasp the reasons behind your desire to pursue one. A PhD represents a substantial commitment, and verifying that it resonates with your objectives and interests is vital. A PhD equips you with the training necessary to become an autonomous researcher, which is a critical skill for the career I aim to pursue.
In addition to technical training, I was drawn to the creative freedom and innovative opportunities that the academic world presents. My enthusiasm for science has its limits if I’m engaged in topics I find uninteresting or performing experiments I do not care about, thus I opted for a PhD project that I was truly passionate about delving deeper into. The autonomy to develop my project in my desired direction is also a significant advantage for me and stands out as one of my favorite components of undertaking a PhD.
Therefore, as straightforward as it may appear, I recommend creating a pros and cons list regarding pursuing a PhD before initiating your search to affirm it’s an endeavor you genuinely wish to pursue – what do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application procedure
The application procedure generally consists of several phases:
- Locating a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or official offers
- Decisions on funding
Interviews frequently center around your motivations for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to obstacles. While preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, reviewed pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences to ensure I could articulate them clearly and confidently during the interviews.
Locating a PhD
To find a project, the first step is to discern what type of research invigorates you, what type of work environment you thrive in, and what skills you wish to acquire from your PhD. Some resources to assist in your PhD search include:
- University websites, including Imperial’s – seek specific department pages detailing their available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards like FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor web pages
- Academic networks and advice from professors or supervisors
- Funding organization and doctoral training centre sites
My application journey may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I obtained funding from my home country, so I primarily needed to discover a research group engaged in a project that piqued my interest. To accomplish this, I navigated through the Imperial website, identified researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research, and investigated their research output.
Since I was already a Master’s student at Imperial while looking for PhDs, I also consulted with my instructors regarding which research groups they believed would align well with my interests. I found my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups my MSc course leader provided.
The crucial element is to engage with EVERYONE and aim to gather as much feedback as you can. I personally know another PhD student who discovered their project through conversing with an unfamiliar individual in a pub who introduced them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.