Written by Shayma, PhD in Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD can be a daunting and lengthy venture. Nevertheless, with the right direction, it can evolve into a smooth and even exhilarating journey, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of your goals and passions. Here’s a general outline for discovering a PhD that fits your needs, inspired by my own experience of locating, choosing, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Why complete a PhD?
Before initiating your search for a PhD, it’s important to comprehend your reasons for wanting to pursue one. A PhD is a major commitment, and confirming that it corresponds with your objectives and passions is essential. A PhD equips you with the training to become an autonomous researcher, a skill I find fundamentally important for the career path I wish to follow.
Aside from technical training, I was drawn to the autonomy and innovation in research that academia provides. My enthusiasm for science would be constrained if I worked on topics that did not interest me or conducted experiments I found unengaging, so I opted for a PhD project that truly fascinated me. The opportunity to guide my project in the direction I choose is also a significant benefit for me and stands out as one of my favorite elements of pursuing a PhD.
As simple as it may seem, I recommend compiling a pros and cons list regarding the pursuit of a PhD before starting your search to confirm that it is indeed what you want to do—what do you believe a PhD will bring to you?
The PhD application procedure
The application procedure typically includes several steps:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Funding decisions
Interviews often center on your reasons for applying, your grasp of the project, your previous research experiences, and your approach to overcoming challenges. While preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, perused relevant literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and confidently during interviews.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project first necessitates understanding what type of research excites you, the work environment in which you thrive, and the skills you wish to gain from the PhD. Some resources you can utilize to discover your PhD include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s—search for specific departmental pages that list all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Research group and supervisor webpages
- Academic networks and suggestions from professors or supervisors
- Funding body and doctoral training center websites
My application experience may vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I received funding from my home country, so I merely needed to find a research group engaged in a project that sparked my interest. To accomplish this, I navigated the Imperial website, located lists of researchers and research groups at Imperial, read about their research, and explored their research outputs.
Since I was already a Master’s student at Imperial while on the quest for PhDs, I also consulted my lecturers regarding which research groups might suit me well. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The essential part is to communicate with EVERYONE and gather as much insight as possible. I know a fellow PhD student who found their project by striking up a conversation with a stranger in a pub who connected them with their current principal investigator.