Written by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Embarking on a PhD journey may appear daunting, but with the right advice, it can transform into a smooth and even exhilarating experience, aiding in the clarification of your objectives and passions. Here’s a general overview of how to find a PhD that fits you, drawing from my own experience of exploring, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Motivations for Pursuing a PhD
Prior to initiating your PhD search, it is essential to comprehend your reasons for wanting to pursue one. A PhD represents a major commitment, and confirming its alignment with your aspirations and interests is crucial. It provides training to develop into an autonomous researcher, a capability I deem vital for my envisioned career.
In addition to technical skills, I was drawn to the academic realm’s flexibility and inventiveness. My enthusiasm for science diminishes if I engage in unremarkable topics and perform experiments I find uninteresting, hence I opted for a PhD project that genuinely captured my attention. The autonomy to direct my project is a significant advantage and one of my preferred features of pursuing a PhD.
As straightforward as it appears, I advise creating a pros and cons list regarding pursuing a PhD before you kick off your search to validate it’s something you genuinely wish to pursue—what do you perceive a PhD can provide for you?
The PhD Application Journey
The application journey typically spans several phases:
- Searching for a PhD
- Submitting the preliminary application
- Creating a shortlist
- Interview(s)
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Securing funding
Interviews often emphasize your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to challenges. In preparing for interviews, I reviewed my application, perused related literature, and contemplated my experiences to convey them clearly and with confidence.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project necessitates grasping the type of research that excites you, the work environment you excel in, and the competencies you aim to develop during your PhD. Useful resources for locating your PhD include:
- University websites, such as Imperial’s – search for specific department pages that list available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and insights from instructors or supervisors
- Websites of funding organizations and doctoral training centers
My application approach might vary slightly from yours. For my PhD, I secured funding from my home country, thus I needed to locate a research group involved in a project of interest. To achieve this, I navigated the Imperial website, identified lists of researchers and research groups, read their research descriptions, and examined their research outputs.
While I was a Master’s student at Imperial seeking PhDs, I additionally consulted my lecturers on which research groups would suit me best. I discovered my current project supervisor through a list of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The crucial point is to communicate with everyone and accumulate as much feedback as possible. I know of a fellow PhD candidate who identified their project through a conversation with a stranger in a pub who introduced them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.
Financing Your PhD
If you are not funding yourself, there are numerous <a href="https://www.im