Authored by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Pursuing a PhD can be an arduous and time-consuming endeavor. Yet, with the right support, it may transform into a seamless and even thrilling journey, aiding you in clarifying your ambitions and passions. Here’s a basic guide for locating a PhD that fits your needs, derived from my own experiences of discovering, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates the pursuit of a PhD?
Prior to embarking on your PhD search, it’s essential to comprehend your reasons for wanting to undertake one. A PhD represents a significant commitment, and confirming it corresponds with your objectives and interests is vital. A PhD equips you with the expertise to become an autonomous researcher, a competency crucial for the career path I aspire to follow.
Apart from technical training, I was drawn to the liberty and creativity inherent in academic research. My enthusiasm for science would only extend so far if I engaged in subjects I found uninteresting and executed experiments I felt apathetic about, so I opted for a PhD project that genuinely captivated my interest. The ability to steer my project in any direction I choose is also a major benefit for me and one of the aspects I cherish most about undertaking a PhD.
As straightforward as it may appear, I recommend compiling a pros and cons list regarding pursuing a PhD before initiating your search to ensure that it’s something you genuinely wish to chase – what do you anticipate a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application journey generally encompasses several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Making funding decisions
Interviews frequently concentrate on your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and how you tackle obstacles. When readying for interviews, I revisited my application, perused relevant literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and confidently during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Finding a project necessitates first recognizing what type of research excites you, the kind of working environment in which you thrive, and the skills you aim to acquire from the PhD. Some resources for discovering your PhD include:
- University websites, such as those of Imperial – seek out specific department pages where they showcase all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD directories and job platforms 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 experience may differ slightly from yours. For my PhD, I obtained funding from my home nation, so I primarily needed to identify a research group aligned with my interests. To achieve this, I navigated through the Imperial website, examined lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research descriptions, and reviewed their research outputs.
As I was already an MSc student at Imperial during my PhD search, I consulted my lecturers regarding which research groups they believed would suit me well. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups shared by my MSc course leader.
The secret is to engage with EVERYONE and gather as much feedback as you can. I know a fellow PhD student who discovered their project by conversing with a stranger at a pub who connected them to their present principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.