Authored by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Seeking a PhD can be a demanding and protracted endeavor. Nevertheless, with suitable direction, it can evolve into a seamless and even thrilling experience, aiding you in gaining clarity on your aspirations and interests. Here’s a general guide for discovering a PhD that fits you, based on my own journey of locating, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Reasons to pursue a PhD?
Before you embark on your PhD search, it’s essential to clarify your reasons for wanting one. A PhD is a significant commitment, and confirming that it aligns with your ambitions and interests is vital. A PhD equips you with the training to become an autonomous researcher, which I consider essential for the career path I aim to follow.
In addition to the technical training, I was drawn to the creative freedom and innovation that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science can only reach its potential if I am engaged in topics I find compelling and conducting experiments I am passionate about, which is why I selected a PhD project I was genuinely eager to pursue. The ability to steer my project in any direction I choose is a crucial benefit for me and ranks among my favorite features of undertaking a PhD.
Therefore, as straightforward as it might seem, I recommend creating a list of pros and cons for pursuing a PhD before commencing your search to ensure it is something you sincerely wish to undertake – what do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application procedure
The application procedure generally entails several phases:
- Seek a PhD
- Submit initial application
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or official 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. When I was preparing for my interviews, I revisited my application, reviewed pertinent literature, and reflected on my experiences so that I could articulate them clearly and confidently during the interviews.
Locating a PhD
Finding a project first necessitates understanding what type of research invigorates you, what working environment suits you best, and what skills you wish to acquire from the PhD. Some resources you can utilize to find your PhD include:
- University websites, including Imperial’s – check specific department pages where they list their available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor webpages
- Academic networks and referrals from lecturers or supervisors
- Funding body and doctoral training center websites
My application journey might slightly vary from yours. For my PhD, I received funding from my home country, so I only needed to identify a research group that focused on a project I was enthusiastic about. To achieve this, I navigated through the Imperial website, found lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research, and explored their research outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial while searching for PhDs, I also engaged with my lecturers regarding which research groups they believed would be suitable for me. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups sent to me by my MSc course leader.
The key is to converse with EVERYONE and seek as much feedback as possible. I know a fellow PhD student who found their project just by chatting with a stranger in a pub who linked them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.