By Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
The process of applying for a PhD can be daunting and protracted. Nevertheless, with the right guidance, it can transform into a seamless and even exhilarating journey, allowing you to gain a clearer understanding of your aspirations and interests. Here’s a general overview for locating a PhD that fits your needs, drawing from my own experiences of searching, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Why aim for a PhD?
Before you embark on your PhD search, it’s essential to grasp your reasons for wanting to pursue one. A PhD is a significant commitment, and ensuring it resonates with your aspirations and interests is vital. A PhD equips you with the skills to become an independent researcher, which is a competence I desire for my future career.
In addition to technical skills, I was drawn to the creative research autonomy that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science can only flourish if I am engaged in topics I care about and conducting experiments that interest me, so I opted for a PhD project that I was truly keen to delve into further. The ability to direct my project as I see fit is also a considerable benefit for me and one of my favorite parts of pursuing a PhD.
As straightforward as it may appear, I recommend creating a list of pros and cons regarding pursuing a PhD before initiating your search to confirm it is genuinely what you wish to do – what do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application procedure
The application procedure generally consists of several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Funding outcomes
Interviews often emphasize your motivations for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to overcoming challenges. When I prepared for interviews, I revisited my application, examined pertinent literature, and reflected on my experiences to ensure I could articulate them clearly and confidently during the interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project begins with understanding what type of research excites you, what work environment suits you best, and what skills you wish to acquire from the PhD. Here are some resources you can utilize to find your PhD:
- University websites, such as Imperial’s – look for specific department pages that list all their available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and recommendations from instructors or supervisors
- Websites of funding bodies and doctoral training centers
My application journey may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I obtained funding from my home country, so I needed to identify a research group involved in a project that intrigued me. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, reviewed directories of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research descriptions, and examined their research outputs.
As I was already enrolled as a Master’s student at Imperial during my search for PhDs, I also consulted my lecturers regarding which research groups they thought would be suitable for me. I discovered my current project supervisor from a list of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The crucial element is to reach out to EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as you can. I personally know a fellow PhD student who secured their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub who connected them with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.