Written by Shayma, PhD in Genomic Medicine
Pursuing a PhD can often feel daunting and protracted. Yet, with the right direction, it can evolve into a smooth and even exhilarating experience, enhancing your clarity regarding your aspirations and passions. Here’s a basic guide to locating a PhD that fits you, drawn from my own journey of discovering, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
What motivates you to pursue a PhD?
Prior to embarking on your PhD search, it’s essential to grasp why you wish to undertake one. A PhD represents a significant commitment, so ensuring it resonates with your aspirations and passions is vital. A PhD equips you with the skills to function as an independent researcher, which I find indispensable for the career I aim to follow.
In addition to technical development, I was drawn to the academic freedom and creativity that research provides. My enthusiasm for science has its limits if I’m engaged in subjects that don’t excite me or performing experiments I’m not passionate about, so I opted for a PhD project that truly intrigued me. The autonomy to steer my project in the direction I prefer is also a significant advantage for me and stands out as one of my favorite elements of pursuing a PhD.
Although it may seem straightforward, I recommend crafting a pros and cons list for pursuing a PhD before commencing your search to verify that it’s genuinely what you want to pursue – what benefits do you believe a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application journey typically encompasses several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the initial application
- Shortlisting candidates
- Conducting interviews
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Funding determinations
Interviews often delve into your motivations for applying, your grasp of the project, your previous research experience, and your problem-solving approach. When preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, familiarized myself with pertinent literature, and contemplated my experiences to articulate them clearly and confidently during discussions.
Locating a PhD
Discovering a project begins with understanding what type of research energizes you, the environment in which you excel, and the skills you wish to acquire from the PhD. Some resources to assist in your PhD search include:
- University websites, like Imperial’s – search for specific department pages where they list their open PhD vacancies
- Centralized PhD platforms and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and recommendations from faculty or mentors
- 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 country, so I primarily needed to identify a research group aligned with my interests. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, found listings of researchers and research groups, reviewed their research descriptions, and examined their outputs.
As I was already a Master’s student at Imperial during my PhD search, I also consulted with my professors regarding which research groups might suit me best. I discovered my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The essential point is to communicate with EVERYONE and seek as much advice as possible. I know a fellow PhD candidate who located their project by conversing with a stranger in a pub who introduced them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.