Written by Shayma, PhD in Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD can feel daunting, yet with appropriate guidance, it can be an enriching and illuminating experience, assisting you in honing your goals and interests. Here’s a broad overview for locating a PhD that fits you, drawing from my personal experiences of searching, choosing, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Motivations for Pursuing a PhD
Prior to commencing your PhD search, it’s essential to comprehend your reasons for pursuing one. A PhD demands a considerable commitment, so it’s important to ensure it aligns with your ambitions and passions. A PhD equips you with the skills to be an independent researcher, a capability that I deem vital for my career trajectory.
Apart from technical training, I was drawn to the autonomy and creativity that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science diminishes when I engage in mundane topics and conduct experiments that don’t interest me, thus I selected a PhD project that genuinely intrigued me to delve deeper. Having the liberty to direct my project as I wish is a significant benefit and a highlight of my PhD pursuit.
As straightforward as it may seem, I suggest crafting a pros and cons list regarding the pursuit of a PhD before you initiate your search to confirm it’s a path you genuinely wish to take—what do you hope a PhD will bring you?
The PhD Application Journey
The application journey typically entails several steps:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting an initial application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Interview(s)
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Decisions on funding
Interviews frequently center on your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your past research experience, and your approach to overcoming obstacles. To prepare for interviews, I revisited my application, examined pertinent literature, and reflected on my experiences to discuss them with clarity and confidence.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project necessitates discerning what type of research excites you, the environment in which you excel, and the skills you aspire to acquire from the PhD. Some resources for finding your PhD consist of:
- University websites, like Imperial’s—search for specific departmental pages outlining available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD databases and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor web pages
- Academic networks and suggestions from lecturers or supervisors
- Funding body and doctoral training center web resources
My application journey may vary somewhat from yours. For my PhD, I obtained funding from my home nation, necessitating the identification of a research group engaged in a project that piqued my interest. So, I perused the Imperial website, identified lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research activities, and examined their research contributions.
Since I was already enrolled as a Master’s student at Imperial during my PhD search, I also consulted with my lecturers regarding which research groups they believed would be a good fit for me. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The crucial point is to engage with EVERYONE and collect as much feedback as possible. I’m aware of a fellow PhD student who discovered their project through a casual conversation with an unfamiliar person in a pub, who in turn connected them with their present principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.
Financing Your PhD
If you’re