>Why obtain a PhD?
Before you begin your search for a PhD, it’s essential to comprehend your motivations for wanting to pursue one. A PhD entails a significant commitment, making it important to ensure that it aligns with your aspirations and interests. A PhD equips you with the training to become an independent researcher, which is a vital skill for the career I wish to follow.
In addition to the technical training, I was drawn to the autonomy and creativity that a career in academia provides. My enthusiasm for science can only extend so far if I’m engaged in topics that don’t interest me and conducting experiments I don’t find compelling, which is why I selected a PhD project that I was genuinely eager to delve into further. The ability to guide my project in the direction I desire is also a significant advantage for me and is among my favorite elements of undertaking a PhD.
Thus, as straightforward as it might seem, I recommend crafting a list of pros and cons regarding pursuing a PhD before commencing your search to confirm that it is indeed what you want to undertake – what benefits do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The process of applying typically encompasses multiple phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Interview process
- Conditional or formal offers
- Decisions on funding
Interviews often concentrate on your motivations for applying, your grasp of the project, your previous research experience, and your problem-solving approach. While I was preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, reviewed pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them with clarity and confidence during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Finding a suitable project starts with grasping what type of research captivates you, the kind of work environment that suits you best, and the skills you aspire to gain from the PhD experience. Some resources you can utilize to find your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – search for specific departmental pages listing all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and advice from lecturers or supervisors
- Websites of funding bodies and doctoral training centers
My application experience may vary from yours. For my PhD, I secured funding from my home country, so I primarily needed to identify a research group focused on a project I was enthusiastic about. To achieve this, I navigated through the Imperial website, identified lists of researchers and research groups, read about their research ventures, and examined their research outputs.
As I was simultaneously a Master’s student at Imperial during my PhD search, I also consulted with my lecturers about which research groups they believed would align well with my interests. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups my MSc course leader shared with me.
The key is to engage with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as you can. I know a fellow PhD student who found their project just by conversing with a stranger in a bar who later connected them with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.