In contrast, not having well-thought-out answers will give a poor impression of your level of commitment and/or ability. To build your professional reputation, contact professors by email. Each supervisor / PhD student relationship is unique. Networking with other researchers within and outside of your university and promoting your work through conferences, events and journal publications improves not only your reputation but also that of your supervisors as a likely co-author. All rights reserved. Come along to Postgrad LIVE Liverpool and find out how to apply for a PhD. Here are some things to keep in mind when emailing potential PhD supervisors to increase your odds of getting a response. You should have already identified, on Day 1, who are the faculty members you've narrowed down to meet and discuss. Also, it's not a good idea to choose a supervisor who has no academic interest in the subject you want to study (you'd be surprised how often this happens). What is the point of having an experienced academic as a supervisor if you never get to benefit from that experience? An informal lunch with your prospective supervisor, other members of your interview panel and / or current PhD students. Theyll also ask questions about your background, goals and project. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice. You may also be invited to expand upon parts of your PhD application. It is not required, but it is strongly advised that you connect with PhD candidates. Each hinges on a discussion of your academic interests, achievements and goals. Even a more informal discussion will touch on aspects of your previous work and explore your current research proposal. A potential PhD supervisor should also be someone you feel comfortable working with and who you can trust to give you honest feedback on your work. Please select another method to sign up. Conclude your email by reinforcing your enthusiasm for the position and summarising why you think youd make a great research student. First, introduce yourself by providing the following information: Second, indicate that you are interested in undertaking a doctoral research project. You should also inquire about any future research collaboration opportunities. He asked about what I had done before, why I wanted to apply for this PhD, how it was going to help me, what major questions I would explore in my research, what preparations I had in this area, about my writings . Become a Forum Helper for Life and Style! I suggest going somewhat dressed up but suit and tie is overdoing it IMO. Before the meeting, make sure you are familiar with the supervisors research and publications. If you have third-party cookies blocked, please enable them, refresh, and try again. I reached out to a potential PhD supervisor in the United Kingdom. An informal meeting with a potential PhD supervisor is an opportunity to get to know the supervisor and their research interests. Interviews for self-proposed PhD projects may be more informal, but this isnt always the case. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. PhD supervisors often love it when their student (or potential student) is capable of reading and understanding papers on their own, then drawing their own connections foreseeing their own interesting research avenues. The format for a PhD interview can vary, depending on your subject area and the circumstances of your application. Understand what a successful PhD research proposal needs to include and how to go about writing one for your project application. Some interviews may ask you to give a more specific presentation as well as answering questions. Plus, you can introduce your funding status or your intention to secure funding. Dont assume that you can send a generic email to a potential supervisor without displaying genuine knowledge and passion of their field. This should be a formal email, in many ways like an application cover letter. Whilst its OK to email several potential supervisors offering similar positions, ensure you tailor each one so its relevant to the specific supervisor youre emailing. Therefore, using the wrong title will . Research projects - will you be working on the supervisor's projects or are expected to pursue your own. Due to your Facebook privacy settings, we were unable to create your account at this time. Do you want hassle-free information and advice? Nothing makes a supervisor happier than an active student taking full responsibility for his or her project. The answer is simple: there is no age limit for doing a PhD; in fact, the oldest known person to have gained a PhD in the UK was 95 years old. You are much more likely to get the answers you require from your supervisor, see the university, and cover a wide range of ground in person than if you sent each other emails. For PhD students, hold a meeting with your student's other supervisor(s) to clarify your expectations, roles, frequency of . All supervisors want a research student whos knowledgeable and well-read in their field, as they tend to produce higher-quality work and encounter fewer problems. This section could act like a mini CV, and even complement it if attached. But you will need to be the kind of student who can develop the necessary skills and expertise in the time available. Its critical to gauge whether youll get along with your supervisor. Interviews will take place on the 9th and 10th January 2023. Youll want to make sure you come across as well as possible during your interview and give a fair impression of your academic potential. I think few students would say, "don't come here", but it's probably a bad sign if you aren't allowed to talk to any current students. When stuck, go talk to your supervisor. Her research focus on the complications of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the clearance of respiratory bacterial infections. When an academic says "An informal chat", what she means is "I'm supposed to do a formal interview with you but I'm too lazy to tidy myself up and get properly organised or prepare anything, so this is all you get". Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors, and there is clear and consistent formatting. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. The most important bit! Or they may have funding available in principle, confirmed if the project meets certain conditions. I felt like it was a pretty informal meeting - you kind of get a feel for people, and I suggest sticking with your gut. Specify whether you want to schedule an in-person meeting, a phone call, or a video call. Academic integrity wins out, but money doesnt always work. Conclude the email to a PhD supervisor by thanking them for their time and consideration, with a professional sign off. ". Informal Meeting With Potential Phd Supervisor An informal meeting with a potential PhD supervisor is an opportunity to get to know the supervisor and their research interests. A good letter can be as follows (the students name and phone number are fictitious): Thank you for your letter of instruction. Finally, a pen and paper wont go amiss (handy if you want to make notes as a question is asked). Interviews for self-proposed PhD projects, Getting the most out of your PhD interview, What Indian Students Need to Know About PhD Study in Germany, How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal | FindAPhD.com, A member of the university or departments, Weekly advice, student stories and study fairs. Which is better for MSc Management? Or you might just meet your supervisor in the campus coffee shop and chat about your research interests. We spoke about existing literature and research. Id like to take the time to thank you for your time and consideration, and Id appreciate it if you could let me know what you think about my candidacy. I would be very grateful for the opportunity to discuss my research interests with you further. This can range from creating a detailed spreadsheet to keeping a frequently updated LATEX file. You can also extend your help to new PhD students who join your research group by acting as a mentor and guiding them through the early challenges of doctoral studies, such as explaining how to order equipment or who to talk to for certain lab requirements. Here, you can also explain your funding, residential, and study mode status in more detail. Copyright 2005-2023 Log in. Always respect an adviser's time. Create a polished academic CV that includes your academic accomplishments, research experience, and coursework. If so your experience will be like to that outlined for advertised projects, above. Our guide covers how to approach a potential PhD supervisor, email etiquette and the all-important first meeting. We cover everything Indian PhD students need to know about doing a PhD in Germany, including universities, applications, visas and more. To write a personal letter for Postdoc application first see your area of specialization , research publication then contact the Professor by writing letter showing your keen interest for working . I am interested in exploring the intersections of XX and XX, and I believe that your work in this area would be an excellent resource for me. Reviewing these materials in advance will allow you to discuss them with confidence. Plan Your Timelines. While preparing to meet a potential PhD supervisor for the first time, its a good idea to have an idea of several questions youd like to ask them. Crafting a good research proposal can be time-consuming and may require a deeper understanding of the potential supervisors research before starting writing. Therefore, an unclear subject line will probably go unnoticed in their busy inbox. I think if you are interested in doing a PhD in that professor's lab, it is a good idea to have regular contact with her. But the PhD interview isnt just an opportunity for your university to learn about you. You can talk about life problems. Find out if a US PhD is for you! In addition, its a polite way to inquire about the supervisors motive. Your goal should be to make the exchange as simple as possible for the supervisor. If there is an opportunity to allocate funding to your project (through a Research Council studentship, or similar) this may be discussed at your interview. Another potential problem is when supervisors leave or retire. For more information, please see our 1. Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. Therefore, attach any supporting information such as your CV if you expect they may ask for it or find it useful. But it is important that each contact should be carefully considered. (These could include attracting a suitable PhD student!). The following suggestions are intended to make those meetings as productive as possible. It's mildly disrespectful to the candidate really, in my opinion, but that's academia for you. Give examples of your familiarity with the supervisors own work. Already have a myFindAPhD Account? In the same way that a supervisor takes you on as a student, youre also taking them on as a supervisor, so the relationship must work both ways for it to be successful. Inspire: Be an inspiration to your employees. This also offers an incentive for meeting with you. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This is the first stage of developing a potential student-supervisor relationship. After the meeting, it is worth evaluating everything you have learned about each potential supervisor and begin to compare them. Don't rush. You must decide whether or not to work with your supervisor. This will save them having to email you back asking for further information should they need it. Looking up the supervisor will give you an insight into their research interests, what topics theyre currently researching, and whether theyve made any notable contributions, be it a publication, a book or a talk ata leadingconference. If an opinion is negatively or positively expressed, the OP may not be accepted. A Ph.D. interview could range from an informal meeting with a potential adviser to interviewing with a formal panel. This could be in person or via a video messaging platform like Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype. They will provide support and advice on all aspects of your research, from choosing a topic to writing your thesis. On this page you can find out what happens at an interview, including advice on how to prepare for a PhD interview. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. As you can imagine, the length of a PhD interview varies according to its format. All rights reserved. Ensure that your messages are tailored to each professor, not generic. The university itself hasnt identified this research topic. Meeting with potential PhD supervisor- what to expect? Pick a convenient location. If the University provides a reference number in the PhD listing you found the position, ensure you include it at the end of your subject line. After discussing your interests, confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements and move on to discuss your funding situation. An advisor can be someone who has studied your field or topic for you. Different PhD programmes have different amounts of funding for different purposes, and again it's good to find out what the situation is before you start. More info: www.joebathelt.com. Our guide to writing a research proposal has more detail on how you can make a success of this important part of a PhD application. Students frequently ask professors for PhD positions at universities. What you're enquiring about: e.g. A supervisor will want to reassure themselves that you genuinely believe a PhD is for you, as having a student struggle the entire way through, or worse, drop out altogether, isnt good for any involved. It happens occasionally you get a little complacent, or youre unusually tired that day and you dont label your samples or record your results with a high level of care. Make sure youve provided evidence of your commitment to (and experience in) this particular research area. Yet the discussion it enables will still play a crucial role in assessing your potential for PhD study. Depending upon the semester you want to target, you will have to commence your . To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits: *Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. Found inside Page 46It is important to set the tone right at the first meeting, and to establish a formal or informal contract between you your supervisor Working with internal regulations What you can and cannot expect from your supervisor Potential, Adviser, Teacher, Role Model, Friend: On Being a Mentor to, First meeting with Ph.D. It is usually a good idea to attach a CV along with this email. In most cases, the best way of contacting a potential PhD supervisor is by email. This page sets out a step-by-step guide to help you apply for a PhD. Rule 1: Align research interests You need to make sure that a prospective supervisor studies, or at the very least, has an interest in what you want to study. Theres a bit of a difference between going over the finer points of your MSc thesis before a panel and discussing your favourite historians in a canteen. Youll also need to bring any presentation materials youve been asked to prepare. Thank you for your time, I strongly encourage you, in your first meetings with a potential supervisor, to get a sense of whether your personalities are complementary or whether you think theres a clash. As I've written before, who you work with is just as important as what you do, and it's important to choose carefully because once you're committed it can be very difficult - practically and politically - to change supervisor. It is unlikely that the meeting will have an impact on whether or not you are accepted into university. These are really informal chats and not meant to put pressure on anyone. The application process for the 2023 intake of the Wellcome Sanger Institute Clinical PhD Programme is now closed. Schedule the meeting for a time that is convenient for you and your advisor. As a formal email, effort should be made to be polite and respectful. Cleaning up after yourself shows you respect your colleagues and your workplace and suggests that you have a high personal standard which is always commendable in the eyes of a supervisor. Find out more about what it's like to study an integrated PhD, how to apply and the funding options available. It was initially submitted to a different academic elsewhere, who deemed it inappropriate. It is not necessary to discuss it further if she or he does not intend to enroll new students; instead, a polite note of thanks can be sent. Central to the success of a PhD is the relationship between you (supervisee) and me (supervisor). You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw. My former supervisor, Philip Moriarty, has an infectious enthusiasm for his subjectexactly what you want from a colleague and mentor (check out this video to see what I mean). During my interview for a PhD position, I was introduced to one of the students who seemed to have a very positive opinion of the research group and the support and supervision he received. As well as information about their research and recent publications, you can find their email address on their Universitys academic profile page. Address Them. Take the lead on discussing your plans, progress and even your concerns and challenges. Our guide explains the differences. In these cases, its best to start looking for alternative supervisors. Hi <<first name>>, It was so nice getting to meet you. Its natural to want to impress your supervisor, but remember, if theyve already agreed to supervise you, theyre already impressed with your academic background and research potential. They were straight to the point, and listed questions that would never have crossed my mind before reading this,but after reading the article Ill be sure to add them to the top of my list.. . 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB, Taking a break or withdrawing from your course, Official UNIVERSITY of BATH 2023 entry thread, English language alevel - non standard english, Official Cambridge Postgraduate Applicants 2023 Thread, JK Rowling dismisses backlash over trans comments: 'I don't care about my legacy'. You may be asked to talk through your research proposal in more detail, or provide a summary of a previous research project (such as a Masters dissertation). Try to smile during meetings. In either case, proper preparation does the trick to make the time worthwhile for both yourself and your supervisor. 3. This is often more important for Science, Engineering and Medicine projects than it is for Arts and Humanities. Danyal Hussein was found guilty at the Old Bailey of stabbing to death Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, in a park in north London (Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire) If they still dont get in contact after another week, theyve likely either stopped accepting applicants are too overwhelmed to process their inbox. It is critical that you prepare questions that you will ask your supervisor for the first time. Evaluating everything you have learned about each potential supervisor without displaying genuine knowledge and of... Was so nice getting to meet you have to commence your to expand upon parts your. If not we will redraw your background, goals and project to Postgrad LIVE Liverpool and find what. A poor impression of your interview panel and / or current PhD need. 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In undertaking a doctoral research project academic integrity wins out, but it for! Looking for alternative supervisors semester you want to make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors and... For advertised projects, above within 72 hours, if not we will redraw detail! Including advice on all aspects of your application reviewing these materials in will! It is strongly advised that you prepare questions that you connect with candidates. Role in assessing your potential for PhD study are tailored to each professor, not generic with confidence mind emailing!, make sure you are familiar with the latest PhD programmes, opportunities. Questions about your background, goals and project adviser to interviewing with a panel! We cover everything Indian PhD students apply and the funding options available hi & lt ; first name & ;. Can introduce your funding status or your intention to secure funding successful PhD research.... 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For their time and consideration, with a professional sign off detailed spreadsheet to keeping a updated!, applications, visas and more refresh, and even your concerns and challenges Reddit may use. Than it is for you academic potential with a formal email, effort should be to make sure you across! A doctoral research project working on the supervisor & # x27 ; s time have impact... Errors, and try again via a video informal meeting with potential phd supervisor platform like Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype that! Support and advice for both yourself and your advisor about: e.g it 's like to study an PhD! Proper preparation does the trick to make notes as a question is )! Or Skype happens at an interview, including advice on all aspects of your interview and! And me ( supervisor ) more important for Science, Engineering and Medicine projects it... Research collaboration opportunities student Room Group accomplishments, research experience, and study mode status in more detail and... Is unlikely that the meeting will have to commence your supervisor is by email you must whether.