Written by Shayma, PhD Genomic Medicine
Seeking a PhD can appear daunting and protracted. Yet, with the right direction, it can become an effortless and even exhilarating experience, enhancing your comprehension of your aspirations and passions. Here’s a basic overview of how to locate a PhD that fits you, derived from my individual journey of identifying, selecting, and applying for a PhD at Imperial.
Reasons to pursue a PhD
Before embarking on your quest for a PhD, clarify your motivations for wanting one. A PhD requires a significant dedication, and it is essential that it corresponds with your aspirations and interests. A PhD provides training to become an autonomous researcher, which is an essential competence for my desired career path.
In addition to technical skills, I was drawn to the academic freedom and ingenuity that research offers. My enthusiasm for science can only extend so far if I’m engaged in topics that do not inspire me and carrying out experiments I find uninspiring, so I selected a PhD project that I was truly enthusiastic about exploring. The ability to guide my project in the direction I envision is also a considerable benefit for me and ranks as one of my preferred elements of undertaking a PhD.
As straightforward as it may seem, I recommend creating a list of pros and cons regarding pursuing a PhD prior to commencing your search to confirm that it’s genuinely what you wish to do – what do you anticipate a PhD will offer you?
The PhD application journey
The application journey generally comprises several phases:
- Search for a PhD
- Initial submission of application
- Shortlisting
- Interview(s)
- Conditional or formal offers
- Funding choices
Interviews typically emphasize your reasons for applying, your familiarity with the project, your previous research experience, and your approach to overcoming challenges. In preparing for interviews, I revisited my application, reviewed relevant literature, and reflected on my experiences to articulate them thoughtfully and confidently during the interviews.
Discovering a PhD
Finding a project initially requires you to identify what type of research invigorates you, the type of environment in which you excel, and the skills you aspire to acquire during your PhD. Some resources you can utilize to find your PhD include:
- University websites, like that of Imperial – investigate dedicated departmental pages where they list all available PhD opportunities
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards such as FindAPhD
- Pages of research groups and supervisors
- Academic networks and referrals from professors or supervisors
- Websites of funding bodies and doctoral training centers
My application process may vary somewhat from yours. For my PhD, I obtained funding from my home country, so I merely needed to locate a research group engaged in a project that piqued my interest. To accomplish this, I explored the Imperial website, discovered lists of researchers and research clusters, read summaries of their research, and examined their research outputs.
Since I was already a Master’s student at Imperial while searching for PhDs, I also consulted my professors about which research groups they believed would align well with me. I identified my current project supervisor from a compilation of research groups sent to me by my MSc course leader.
The critical aspect is to engage with EVERYONE and attempt to gather as much feedback as possible. I personally know a fellow PhD student who discovered their project through conversing with a stranger in a pub who put them in touch with their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.