Composed by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
The process of applying for a PhD can seem daunting and protracted. However, with the right assistance, it can turn into a seamless and even thrilling adventure, allowing you to gain clearer insights into your aspirations and passions. Below is a general framework for locating a PhD that fits your needs, drawn from my own journey of discovering, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Why embark on a PhD?
Before you commence your search for a PhD, it’s essential to first clarify your reasons for wanting one. A PhD is a significant dedication, and confirming that it aligns with your objectives and interests is vital. A PhD equips you with the training to become an independent researcher, a crucial skill for the career path I aspire to follow.
In addition to technical training, I was captivated by the intellectual freedom and creativity that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science has its limits if I find myself engaged in subjects I find uninteresting or performing experiments that don’t spark my curiosity, so I selected a PhD project that truly resonated with me. The ability to steer my project in the direction I choose is also a considerable benefit for me and ranks among my favorite elements of pursuing a PhD.
Thus, simple as it may appear, I recommend creating a pros and cons list regarding pursuing a PhD before initiating your search to confirm that it’s entirely what you wish to do – what do you anticipate a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application journey generally encompasses several phases:
- Search for a PhD
- Initial application submission
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews often concentrate on your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your methods for tackling challenges. When I was gearing up for interviews, I revisited my application, perused pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences so that I could articulate them clearly and confidently during the interviews.
Discovering a PhD
Discovering a project starts with understanding what type of research excites you, what environment you thrive in, and what skills you wish to acquire from the PhD. Some resources you can utilize for identifying your PhD include:
- University sites, like Imperial’s – look for dedicated department pages that showcase their available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor homepages
- Academic networks and advice from instructors or supervisors
- Funding body and doctoral training center websites
My application experience may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I was granted funding from my native country, so my primary task was finding a research group focused on a project I found interesting. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, located lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read through descriptions of their research, and examined their research outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial while looking for PhDs, I also consulted my lecturers on which research groups they believed would suit me well. I discovered my current project supervisor through a list of research groups shared by my MSc course leader.
The essential point is to talk to EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as you can. I know a fellow PhD student who found their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub who then connected them with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.