>Reasons for pursuing a PhD
Prior to embarking on your journey to find a PhD, it’s essential to clarify your motivations for pursuing this path. Committing to a PhD requires understanding how it aligns with your personal and professional aspirations. This degree equips you with the skills needed to be an independent researcher, a requisite for the career I aspire to have.
In addition to technical expertise, I was drawn to the intellectual freedom and innovative potential that academia presents. My enthusiasm for science is constrained if I engage in subjects that do not pique my interest and perform experiments that I find unfulfilling, which is why I opted for a PhD project that genuinely intrigued me. The ability to steer my project according to my vision is a significant advantage for me and ranks among my top reasons for undertaking a PhD.
As straightforward as it may seem, I recommend drafting a pros and cons list regarding pursuing a PhD before you commence your search to confirm it’s the right choice for you – what do you expect a PhD to bring to your life?
Steps in the PhD application journey
Typically, the application process encompasses several phases:
- Searching for a suitable PhD
- Submitting an initial application
- Being shortlisted
- Participating in interviews
- Receiving conditional or formal offers
- Securing funding
Interviews generally emphasize your reasons for applying, your comprehension of the project, your past research experiences, and your approach to problem-solving. During my preparation for interviews, I revisited my application materials, perused relevant literature, and reflected on my prior encounters to articulate my thoughts clearly and confidently during discussions.
Locating a PhD
Identifying a project necessitates recognizing what type of research excites you, the ideal working conditions for your development, and the skills you wish to acquire through a PhD. Useful resources for discovering your PhD include:
- University websites, such as Imperial – specifically check the departmental pages that list all available PhD positions
- Centralized PhD portals and job boards like FindAPhD
- Webpages of research groups and prospective supervisors
- Academic networks and advice from professors or mentors
- Websites of funding agencies and doctoral training centers
My application experience may vary from yours. For my doctoral studies, I secured funding from my home country, so I primarily needed to identify a research group involved in a project that intrigued me. This involved navigating the Imperial website, reviewing lists of researchers and their projects, and examining their research outputs.
Being a Master’s student at Imperial while searching for PhD programs, I also consulted my lecturers for suggestions on research groups that would align with my interests. I discovered my current project supervisor from a list of research groups provided by my MSc course leader.
The crucial takeaway is to engage with EVERYONE and garner as much feedback as possible. I know a fellow PhD candidate who discovered their project simply by conversing with a stranger in a pub, who then linked them to their current principal investigator (PI) and PhD supervisor.