Why do a PhD?

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Why do a PhD?

• Dr. Tracy Bussoli
• Careers Adviser for Researchers

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What is a PhD?

• A PhD. is an in-depth research programme. The
  work produced for the PhD must fundamentally be
  original, in other words written by only you,
  containing your thoughts and findings. Once all
  the research is complete, it is presented in a
  thesis.

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What qualifications do you need?

• A first or 21 degree
• Masters
• Postgraduate Diploma

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Why do people do one?

• Fascinated by a particular topic
• Know that they want to work in academia
• Stay at university 3 more years
• Recession.no good jobs!
• Good at .
• To be called Dr!
• Not sure what else to do
• Need it for.
• Academic suggested it because you are great.

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What to expect
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To have an intense relationship with supervisor
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To be able to motivate yourself
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To be proactive!
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To stay on top of literature!
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To feel stressed when you take a holiday!
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Long hoursbut flexible!
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To be consumed by your PhD research!
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Do it!

• Completely absorbing
• Become an expert
• Only way into academia/industry
• 3 years to develop research skills including many
  transferable skills such as analytical skills and
  problem solving
• Extremely fulfilling when you finish!
• Get Dr. before your name

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Dont do it!

• Academia is extremely competitive More PhDs
  graduate than tenured posts available
• Few employers actively recruit PhDs although 70
  would welcome applications from PhDs.
• Takes three years of lifecould be learning on
  the job skills
• Many people feel too specialised at the end and
  it is then difficult to become a generalist

Only 6 of employers actively recruit
PhDs (Vitae report 2010) http//www.vitae.ac.uk/po
licy-practice/1393-205111/Recruiting-researchers.h
tml
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Some Facts about PhDs and employment

• 16,500 PhDs graduated in 2006 cf. 320, 000
  undergrads (120)
• Only ¼ of researchers know what they want to do
  at beginning of PhD.does not get better
  throughout (in my experience!)
• Bottleneck for academic jobs

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From Vitae What do Researchers do? 2009
http//www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/107611/Wha
t-do-researchers-do-2009.html
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How to choose a PhD?

• Final year project
• Talk to people in your department
• Look at PhDs on various websites, speak to
  potential supervisor
• How experienced is your potential supervisor? How
  many PhDs has he/she supervised. Did they
  complete on time?
• Research the lab/department.speak to people
  about lab/supervisor
• Dont accept until you have done research.

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Where to look for a PhD

• http//www.findaphd
• http//www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk
• http//www.jobs.ac.uk/
• www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pgdbase
• Nature and New Scientist
• Times Higher Education
• University Websites
• Finalist Directory

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Books

• PhD's What they don't tell you - by Duggi
  ZuramReflections on Tutors, Libraries and Other
  PhD Students
• PhD Study in the Arts Humanities - by the
  FindAPhD Team How to apply and how to get by in
  the Arts, Humanities Social Sciences
• A Guide to PhD Research in Computing - by Prof
  Sean Gong
• A short overview of what is expected of both
  student and supervisor Hints for New PhD Students
  on How to Write Research Papers - by Prof Shahn
  MajidA guide for writing in mathematics

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• Mock Interviews and DVD
• CV Checking
• Advice
• Telephone [phone]Email
  careers_at_qmul.ac.uk
• Open Monday Friday
• 10.30 5pm (4pm on Friday)
• Drop in sessions (Book appointment)
• Monday - Thursday
• 10.30 12.30 and 2 4.30

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