Written by Shayma, PhD in Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD application can be a daunting and protracted endeavor. Yet, with the right direction, it can transform into a seamless and even exciting journey, aiding you in clarifying your aspirations and passions. Here’s a general guide for identifying a PhD that fits you, derived from my own journey of discovering, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates the pursuit of a PhD?
Prior to initiating your search for a PhD, it is essential to comprehend your reasons for wanting one. Undertaking a PhD is a significant commitment, and confirming that it corresponds with your aspirations and enthusiasms is vital. A PhD equips you to become an autonomous researcher, a skill requisite for the career path I aim to follow.
In addition to the technical education, I was drawn to the innovative and exploratory nature that academia entails. My enthusiasm for science has limits if I engage in topics that do not pique my interest and perform experiments that do not resonate with me, which is why I opted for a PhD project that I was truly eager to delve into further. The ability to guide my project in the direction of my choice is a considerable benefit for me and stands out as one of my most cherished elements of pursuing a PhD.
Although it may seem straightforward, I would recommend crafting a list of advantages and disadvantages regarding pursuing a PhD before beginning your inquiry to ascertain that it is indeed what you yearn to undertake – what do you envision a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application process generally consists of multiple phases:
- PhD search
- Initial submission of application
- Shortlist creation
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal proposals
- Decisions on funding
Interviews often center on your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experiences, and your approach to facing challenges. When preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, explored pertinent literature, and reflected on my experiences to ensure I could articulate them clearly and confidently during the interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project first necessitates understanding what type of research motivates you, the environment in which you excel, and the competencies you wish to acquire through the PhD. Some resources for discovering your PhD include:
- University websites, such as that of Imperial – look for specific department pages where they advertise all available PhD positions
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and referrals from professors or mentors
- Websites of funding organizations and doctoral education centers
My application experience may vary from yours. For my PhD, I was awarded funding from my home country, which meant I merely needed to locate a research group focused on a project that intrigued me. To accomplish this, I navigated through the Imperial website, discovered lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research, and examined their output.
As I was already enrolled as a Master’s student at Imperial when searching for PhDs, I also consulted my lecturers about which research groups they believed would be suitable for me. I discovered my current project supervisor through a list of research groups shared by my MSc course leader.
The essential factor is to communicate with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as possible. I personally know a fellow PhD candidate who encountered their project by engaging in conversation with a stranger in a pub who connected them with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.