Authored by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
The process of applying for a PhD can be quite daunting and protracted. However, with appropriate advice, it can transform into a seamless and even exhilarating experience, aiding you in refining your goals and interests. Here’s a rough outline for locating a PhD that fits your aspirations, drawn from my own experiences in searching, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates the pursuit of a PhD?
Prior to embarking on your PhD search, it’s important to clarify your reasons for wanting one. A PhD represents a significant commitment, and it’s vital to ensure it corresponds with your goals and aspirations. A PhD equips you with the skills to become an independent researcher, which is fundamental for the career path I intend to follow.
Apart from technical expertise, I was drawn to the autonomy and creative opportunities that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science has limits if I engage with subjects that do not captivate me or perform experiments that do not inspire me; thus, I selected a PhD project that I was truly eager to delve into. The liberty to steer my project in my preferred direction is an immense benefit and one of my most cherished aspects of pursuing a PhD.
Although it may appear straightforward, I recommend creating a pros and cons list for considering a PhD before you initiate your search to affirm it’s something you genuinely desire – what do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The application process for a PhD
The application journey generally comprises several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Creating a shortlist
- Interviewing
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Determining funding
Interviews typically emphasize your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your past research experience, and your problem-solving approaches. When I was gearing up for interviews, I revisited my application materials, reviewed relevant literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and with confidence during the interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project requires you to comprehend what type of research invigorates you, the working environment in which you excel, and the skills you aspire to develop during your PhD. Some resources you can utilize for discovering your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – search for specific department pages that detail all available PhD positions
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor web pages
- Academic networks and recommendations from professors or supervising faculty
- 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 primarily needed to identify a research group with a project that piqued my interest. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, found registries of researchers and research collectives, reviewed their research descriptions, and examined their academic outputs.
Being a Master’s student at Imperial while searching for PhDs allowed me to converse with my lecturers regarding which research groups might align with my interests. I discovered my current project supervisor through a list of research groups my MSc course leader provided.
The essence is to communicate with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as you can. I know a fellow PhD student who found their project by striking up a conversation with a stranger in a pub, who then connected them with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.
Financing your PhD
If you don’t have self-funding,