ThInKEr

While this post is based primarily on my own experiences and therefore neuroscience, the advice here can be applied to most other biological and scientific career paths. Also please note this is based on the UK system, apparently the US one is rather different although some parts may apply.

Okay so to set the scene: you’re partway through your undergraduate biology degree and you love it! You want to do this for the rest of your life and nothing would make you happier. How do you go about getting those crucial next steps laid down for when you’re out of university and into the big bad world?

Find out what you love and what you hate:

You won’t love every aspect of your degree, in fact there will be some parts you’ll only show up to so they don’t fail you and that’s perfectly normal. The important thing is do read papers, look at current research in the area and if it makes you want to curl up under your bed in the foetal position then its not for you. Don’t try and force yourself to want to study something you hate.

When you find something you don’t hate, explore it further:

This sounds simple, but at this point you have to go beyond just reading papers. Email every PI you can find at nearby universities who’s work you’re interested in, explain you’re interested in it as a career and can you come to their lab to find out more? Be super enthusiastic and say you’d love any kind of experience they can offer, even washing test-tubes (most of them have a dishwasher so you won’t have to do this!). Bear in mind PIs are very very busy so most of the time you won’t get a response but most of them do want to help, even if they can’t accommodate you they may know someone who can.

Don’t have unrealistic expectations:

Real science isn’t what you see on TV. It’s not loud bangs and new life being created in a test tube every 5 minutes. It’s a lot of precisely following protocols and waiting and running the same experiment 5 times and getting no results. It isn’t glamorous (long hair must be tied back and high heels are a safety risk) but if you are willing to do the drudgery then getting to see things no-one else has seen before and attempting to interpret these results is 110% worth it.

If you don’t ask you don’t get:

Once you’ve found an area of research you can see yourself doing as a PhD then its time to get that PhD! Email potential supervisors and ask if they’ll be looking for PhD students. Ask about funding. Find out if you have to apply for the position then funding or if the position comes with funding. Do this early, supervisors are going to be inundated with emails and you need to stick in their mind, it also helps if you’ve worked with them before during you exploration phase so they know what you’re like and if you’re a good fit for the group.

Choose your supervisor carefully:

When I was researching PhD applications one theme kept on coming up. A good supervisor can make the difference between success and failure. Its easy to find supervisors who jet off on exotic conferences every other week and are high performers in their fields and that partially what you want but you need support as a new PhD student. You need someone with experience guiding students and someone who is invested in your success. If you have a supervisor who you have to book your meetings with 6 months in advance you’re not going to get the support you need when the going gets really really tough. So meet the supervisors and check you both will be a good fit, if you clash during your first meeting you’re going to clash throughout your entire PhD and it won’t be fun.

You don’t have to do a masters:

This section is more for undergraduates at Scottish universities who do an honours project. When I was applying and talking to prospective supervisors I was frequently told the same thing: you can apply but you don’t have a masters so… While its true that it is a very competitive and international playing field where you could be up against people with several masters, its also true that research masters are very expensive with limited funding in the UK. So long as you’re willing to make the connections with people and accumulate plenty of relevant laboratory experience it is absolutely possible to get a funded PhD without a masters first.

Apply Apply Apply

Apply for anything that interests you with funding. Even if its not 100% your dream PhD its important to remember this is just a stepping stone. If applications open early for a PhD that you’re unsure about, apply anyway. The fact that you’re unsure about it will come across and you probably won’t get it but its good application practice and the feedback you’ll get on your application will help you when the PhD you really want comes up.

The Golden Rule:

Think positive, they have to give the funding to someone, why not you?

Have a back up plan:

Unfortunately there are more students applying than there are places. If you are unsuccessful your first year you have two options: do a masters if you can afford it. Alternatively contact labs and see if they have any research assistant positions for a year. This would give you a year’s (often paid) experience in a lab and make you much more attractive for the next round of PhD applications.