Written by Shayma, PhD in Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD journey can appear daunting and protracted. Nevertheless, with the right support, it can transform into a smooth and even exhilarating experience, allowing you to refine your aspirations and interests. Here’s a broad overview for identifying a suitable PhD, grounded in my own experience of locating, choosing, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Motivations for Pursuing a PhD
Prior to starting your PhD search, it’s essential to comprehend your motivations behind pursuing one. A PhD demands a considerable commitment, and it’s crucial to ensure it resonates with your aspirations and interests. It provides the training required to become an independent researcher, which is vital for the career I hope to pursue.
Apart from technical training, the allure of the creative freedom and innovation afforded by academia drew me in. My enthusiasm for science is stifled if I’m engaged in topics that don’t excite me or performing experiments I have no passion for, thus I selected a PhD project that truly captured my interest. The ability to steer my project is a considerable benefit for me and constitutes one of my favorite elements of pursuing a PhD.
As straightforward as it may seem, I suggest drafting a pros and cons list regarding pursuing a PhD before you commence your search to confirm it’s a genuine desire—what benefits do you believe a PhD will provide?
The PhD Application Journey
The application procedure typically encompasses several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the preliminary application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Interview(s)
- Receiving conditional or official offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews often center on your reasons for applying, your grasp of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to overcoming obstacles. While preparing for interviews, I reviewed my application, perused relevant literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and confidently during the interviews.
Identifying a PhD Opportunity
Finding a suitable project begins with understanding the type of research that excites you, the working environment where you excel, and the skills you aspire to acquire during the PhD. Some resources to help find your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – seek out specific department pages detailing all their available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor webpages
- Academic networks and insights from lecturers or supervisors
- Funding agency and doctoral training center websites
My application experience may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I secured funding from my home country, so I had to identify a research group with a project that captured my interest. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, located databases of researchers and research groups at Imperial, examined their research descriptions, and reviewed their research outputs.
Being already a Master’s student at Imperial during my PhD search, I also consulted my lecturers regarding which research groups they believed would be a good fit for me. I discovered my current project supervisor through a list of research groups from my MSc course leader.
The essential factor is to engage with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as possible. I know of a fellow PhD student who found their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub who introduced them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.