Authored by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Embarking on the journey of applying for a PhD can feel daunting and protracted. Nevertheless, with the right support, it can transform into a seamless and even exhilarating experience, aiding you in clarifying your aspirations and interests. Here’s a general guide to locating a PhD that fits you, drawing from my own experiences in discovering, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Why undertake a PhD?
Prior to initiating your PhD search, it’s essential to comprehend your motivation for pursuing one. A PhD represents a major commitment, and verifying that it aligns with your aspirations and interests is crucial. A PhD furnishes training to evolve as an independent researcher, an indispensable skill for the career I aim to follow.
In addition to technical training, I was drawn to the intellectual freedom and creativity that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science can only reach its potential if I’m engaged with subjects I find captivating and conducting experiments that truly interest me, so I opted for a PhD project I was genuinely keen on investigating further. The liberty to steer my project in the direction I choose is also a considerable advantage for me and ranks among my favorite facets of pursuing a PhD.
As straightforward as it may seem, I recommend creating a pros and cons list for pursuing a PhD before commencing your search to ensure it’s genuinely what you wish to undertake – what do you envision a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application procedure
The application procedure generally comprises multiple stages:
- Search for a PhD
- Initial application submission
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or official offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews frequently center on your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to challenges. In preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, engaged with pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and with assurance during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project first necessitates understanding what type of research invigorates you, what working environment fosters your success, and what skills you wish to acquire from the PhD. Some resources you can utilize for discovering your PhD include:
- University websites, such as Imperial’s – examine specific departmental pages where they list available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor pages
- Academic networks and referrals from lecturers or supervisors
- Websites of funding bodies and doctoral training centers
My application journey may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I secured funding through my home country, so I merely needed to identify a research group engaged in a project of interest. To accomplish this, I navigated the Imperial website, discovered lists of researchers and research groups, read about their research agendas, and examined their research outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial during my PhD search, I also conversed with my lecturers about which research groups they believed would be a suitable match for me. I found my current project supervisor from a list of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The key is to engage with EVERYONE and seek as much feedback as possible. I personally know a fellow PhD candidate who secured their project through a casual conversation with a stranger in a pub who introduced them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.