Written by Shayma, PhD in Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD application journey can be quite daunting and protracted. Nevertheless, with suitable direction, it can transform into a straightforward and even thrilling adventure, enabling you to gain insight into your aspirations and passions. Here’s a basic guide for locating a PhD that fits your needs, drawn from my own encounters in discovering, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates the pursuit of a PhD?
Prior to initiating your PhD quest, it’s essential to grasp your reasons for wanting to pursue one. A PhD demands dedication, and confirming that it corresponds with your aspirations and interests is vital. It offers training to become a self-sufficient researcher, which is imperative for the career I aim to follow.
Besides the technical training, I was attracted to the liberty and inventiveness in research that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science can only go so far if my work is centered around topics I find unengaging and conducting experiments that do not interest me, hence I selected a PhD project that I was truly passionate about investigating. The ability to steer my project in the direction I desire is a significant advantage for me and one of my preferred facets of pursuing a PhD.
Therefore, as easy as it sounds, I recommend creating a pros and cons list regarding a PhD before commencing your search to ensure it’s definitively what you aspire to undertake – what do you anticipate a PhD will offer you?
The process of applying for a PhD
The application journey usually comprises several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Being shortlisted
- Participating in interviews
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Decisions on funding
Interviews commonly emphasize your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your research background, and your problem-solving approach. When I was preparing for interviews, I reexamined my application, reviewed pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences so I could articulate them clearly and confidently during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Finding a suitable project initially necessitates understanding what type of research invigorates you, the environment that suits you best, and the skills you wish to acquire throughout the PhD. Some resources to assist in discovering your PhD include:
- University websites, such as those of Imperial – seek specific department pages that enumerate all available PhD positions
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and suggestions from professors or supervisors
- Websites of funding organizations and doctoral training centers
My experience with the application process may vary from yours. For my PhD, I obtained funding from my country of origin, therefore I merely needed to locate a research group engaged in a project that interested me. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, sourced lists of researchers and research teams at Imperial, perused their research descriptions, and examined their research outputs.
While I was already a Master’s student at Imperial during my search for PhDs, I also consulted my lecturers regarding which research groups they believed would be an ideal match for me. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups shared by my MSc course leader.
The essential approach is to communicate with EVERYONE and strive to gather as much feedback as possible. I personally know another PhD student who