Written by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
The process of applying for a PhD can feel daunting and protracted. Nonetheless, with the right direction, it can evolve into a straightforward and even exhilarating journey, assisting you in clarifying your aspirations and interests. Here’s a rough outline on how to discover a PhD that fits you, drawing from my own experiences in finding, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Why embark on a PhD?
Prior to beginning your PhD search, it’s vital to comprehend your motivations for pursuing one. A PhD signifies a significant commitment, and it’s essential that it resonates with your aspirations and interests. It equips you to become an independent researcher, an essential skill for the career I wish to pursue.
In addition to technical expertise, I was drawn to the creative freedom and innovation that the academic realm offers. My enthusiasm for science can only reach its potential if I am engaged in topics that genuinely interest me and conducting experiments that resonate with me, thus I opted for a PhD project that I was truly passionate about investigating. The ability to steer my project in the direction I choose is another significant advantage for me and stands out as one of my favorite elements of pursuing a PhD.
Therefore, as straightforward as it may appear, I recommend creating a list of advantages and disadvantages for undertaking a PhD before commencing your search to confirm it’s indeed what you wish to pursue – what do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application journey generally encompasses several phases:
- Search for a PhD
- Submission of initial application
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews typically center around your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to challenges. When preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, perused relevant literature, and contemplated my experiences to ensure I could articulate them clearly and confidently during the interviews.
Locating a PhD
Finding a project initially necessitates that you grasp what type of research excites you, the environment in which you flourish, and the skills you intend to acquire from the PhD. Some resources you can utilize for locating your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – seek out specific department pages that enumerate their available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and advice from lecturers or supervisors
- Websites of funding organizations and doctoral training centers
My application experience might vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I secured funding from my home country, so I simply had to find 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 their research descriptions, and examined their outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial during my PhD search, I also consulted my lecturers regarding which research groups they felt would suit me well. I found my current project supervisor through a list of research groups my MSc course leader provided.
The important thing is to reach out to EVERYONE and gather as much input as you can. I know a fellow PhD student who discovered their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub, who subsequently connected them with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.