Authored by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD application can be a daunting and protracted undertaking. Nevertheless, with appropriate support, it can transform into a seamless and even thrilling journey, assisting you in clarifying your ambitions and preferences. Here’s a general overview for identifying a PhD that aligns with you, drawn from my personal journey of locating, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates the pursuit of a PhD?
Before commencing your PhD investigation, it is essential to comprehend your reasons for wanting to undertake one. A PhD represents a significant commitment, and ensuring it corresponds with your aspirations and interests is vital. It equips you with the training to become an autonomous researcher, a competency crucial for the career I wish to follow.
In addition to technical training, I was captivated by the research autonomy and innovation that the academic realm provides. My enthusiasm for science can only flourish if I engage in subjects that interest me and carry out experiments that I value, so I selected a PhD project that I was genuinely keen on delving deeper into. The latitude to steer my project in the direction I choose is also a considerable advantage for me and is one of my favorite features of pursuing a PhD.
Therefore, as elementary as it may seem, I recommend creating a pros and cons list regarding a PhD before initiating your search to confirm it’s something you earnestly desire to pursue – what do you believe a PhD will bring you?
The process of applying for a PhD
The application journey generally encompasses several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting an initial application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Interview phase(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Decisions on funding
Interviews frequently concentrate on your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to overcoming obstacles. When I was preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, perused pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences so I could articulate them clearly and confidently during the discussions.
Locating a PhD
Finding a project first requires you to ascertain what type of research stimulates your interest, what type of work environment you flourish in, and what skills you seek to acquire from the PhD. Some resources you can utilize for discovering your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – look for specific department pages that list all their available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and suggestions from lecturers or supervisors
- Websites of funding bodies and doctoral training centers
My application experience might vary from yours. For my PhD, I secured funding from my home country, so I merely needed to identify a research group engaged in a project I was enthusiastic about. To achieve this, I navigated through the Imperial website, discovered lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research focus, and examined their research outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial during my PhD search, I also consulted my lecturers about which research groups they believed would align well with me. I found my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups that my MSc course leader had provided.
The key is to engage with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as possible. I personally know a fellow PhD candidate who discovered their project through conversing with a stranger in a pub who linked them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.