Written by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD application can feel daunting and protracted. Nevertheless, with the right support, it can transform into a smooth and even exhilarating experience, enabling you to gain a deeper insight into your aspirations and passions. Below is a general guide for discovering a PhD that fits you, grounded in my own experiences of searching for, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Why seek a PhD?
Before you commence your PhD search, it’s essential to clarify your reasons for wanting one. A PhD requires significant commitment, and ensuring it coincides with your objectives and interests is crucial. A PhD trains you to become an autonomous researcher, which I consider a fundamental skill for my desired career path.
In addition to technical training, I was drawn to the autonomy and innovation that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science can only reach its full potential if I engage with subjects I’m passionate about and conduct experiments that captivate me, thus I opted for a PhD project that truly sparked my interest. The ability to steer my project in my chosen direction is also a major benefit for me and stands out as one of my preferred elements of pursuing a PhD.
As straightforward as it may seem, I suggest creating a pros and cons list for undertaking a PhD prior to beginning your quest to confirm it is genuinely what you wish to pursue – what benefits do you anticipate a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application journey typically consists of several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Initial application submission
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Funding determinations
Interviews commonly center on your motivations for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experiences, and how you approach challenges. In preparation for my interviews, I revisited my application, perused relevant literature, and reflected on my experiences to articulate them clearly and confidently during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project starts with understanding what type of research excites you, what work environment you flourish in, and what skills you aim to acquire from the PhD. Here are some resources that can assist you in finding your PhD:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – look for dedicated departmental pages listing all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor webpages
- Academic networks and referrals from lecturers or supervisors
- Funding organization 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 needed to find a research group engaged in a project that piqued my interest. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, discovered lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research areas, and investigated their research outputs.
Being a Master’s student at Imperial while seeking PhDs, I also consulted my lecturers regarding which research groups they believed would be a fitting match for me. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups my MSc course leader had provided.
The key is to communicate with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as attainable. I know a fellow PhD student who landed their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub who connected them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.