Points to keep in mind while choosing a PhD position
A PhD is one of the most important turning points for any academician who wishes to include it in their professional journey. The nature and conclusion of a PhD plays a huge role in setting the tone for subsequent chapters of your career journey, more so, because of the amount of non-negotiable time invested in it. Hence, if you choose to pursue a PhD carefully reflect on your interests, skills, and long-term expectations. Here are some points that you can keep in mind when making this decision.
1. Explore all the ‘problems’ that are relevant for you
As a prospective PhD student, there is always a desire to work on topics that are relevant in solving society’s major problems. Therefore, as a first step towards choosing a PhD topic, you can start by researching the problems that seem important to you, not just in terms of how they impact the society, but also for your personal interest in them based upon your knowledge and skill set. You can then do a preliminary research of the work that has already been done, explore gaps that need to be addressed, and define a problem statement accordingly. Simultaneously look at the different institutions/organizations that are working on the topics of your interest, as this will give you an idea of the kind of work that you will perform in your PhD: basic vs. applied research.
2. Check the feasibility of your problem statement
After you have defined a problem statement, ask your mentors for feedback on the feasibility of addressing it. This will allow you to get a rough idea of the kind of challenges that you are likely to face during your doctoral journey. Having this knowledge beforehand will enable you plan your project better and thereby boost your productivity at work. Further, it may also help you in setting better work-life boundaries and preserving your mental well-being throughout your PhD. Checking the financial feasibility of the problem statement may also be necessary, especially in terms of the duration of the funding available for a particular type of project, and whether that duration is sufficient for an in-depth exploration of the problem statement as intended by you or your prospective PhD supervisor.
3. Get an in-depth idea about the work culture
Next, make a list of all the organizations/institutions that you would like to pursue your PhD in and cross-reference it with your topics of interest. This can then be followed by a short background check of the work culture in all these institutions, since that is the one of the most integral components of your doctoral journey. This may look involve enquiring with current and former lab members about their experiences, including any significant challenges that they faced in terms of acclimatizing to the work culture, and getting to know about the nature and expectations of your prospective PhD supervisor.
This will reduce the number of surprises and allow you to experience a relatively smoother ride during your PhD. For prospective PhD students who aim to pursue a PhD in a city/country different from their homeland, this point is especially relevant, as cultural dynamics—in terms of language or differences in professional etiquette—can sometimes get in the way of communicating research effectively. For example, if your institution has an unspoken rule of communicating research only in their local language for lab meetings and seminars, it would be imperative for you to become familiar with that language as early as possible in order to thrive later on.
4. Introspect upon the long-term significance of the doctoral position
If you are keen on establishing long-term career goals early on, explore whether the work environment, the institution, and the overall trajectory of the PhD project would help you in achieving those goals. For example, if you are academically oriented and aim for a tenure-track position in the long run, it may be good to choose a PhD position where you have plenty of opportunities to build a professional network that will be helpful in future. On the other hand, if you aim to venture into industry, it would be helpful to look for PhD positions where you can get exposure to different aspects of the industry (e.g., research focus areas, work culture) via conferences and events.
Clarity of thought while embarking on your PhD journey will enable you to plan your overall career trajectory in the most fulfilling manner.
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