In this new series, we will be sharing first-hand advice on applying for postgraduate courses. To kick off, Rachel McKeown shares her tips on something just as important as the application itself, but not always given the consideration it deserves: how to choose a lab. Hint: it's about more than just the science!
When you reach the end of the undergraduate road, it can be difficult to know where to look next. This is especially true if you’re considering a PhD. Your mind is flooded with burning questions that can all seem very overwhelming. Finding and choosing a PhD is an exercise in research, resilience and reflection, in many ways preparation for the real thing. Let’s get started.
With so much variety in available opportunities, what should you have at the forefront of their mind during these early days? You’re about to embark on a big personal challenge, so make sure it is in an environment that nurtures you. If you had to run a marathon, you wouldn’t want to do it in a blazing desert after all. Here’s a few things to bear in mind that may save you a lot of trouble down the line.
The big question
One day you’ll hold in your hands a thesis, the result of years of dedication to one very specific scientific discipline. If you’re about to throw yourself fully into a research question, you’d better make it a good one.
Cast your mind back through your academic career to date. Which topics sparked your curiosity the most? This will help you hone your search from the beginning. Already have your heart set on a specific research focus? Find a group that will feed your curiosity and drive it further. Still a little open-ended? The internet is your ally here, with resources galore for you to explore. Don’t be afraid to reach out to make enquiries or ask questions – you never know where that could lead. Survey the landscape of advertised PhD positions, some of which come with a funding package to sweeten the deal. Try joining Twitter (now X), which boasts a thriving international scientific scene where PIs are keen to share any openings - it is essentially a friendlier academic LinkedIn.
I fell upon the field of neural development and mechanics almost by chance as an undergraduate student in Natural Sciences browsing final year project options. My choice led me down a one-way path as I became drawn to the major implications of this field – had no one really thought that much about how the brain feels before? The field is flourishing with open questions, new findings and revolutionary concepts, and I have the best seat in the house to watch it all unfold.
Supervisors: stereotypes and their exceptions
Arguably even more important than the details of the project is who you put your trust in to serve as your mentor. As a rule of thumb, supervisors can be thought of as sitting somewhere along a spectrum of career levels.
On one end, you have PIs who are just stepping onto the ladder, recruiting PhD students for the first time. Their labs are often small, and the relative lack of experience, stability and funding that unfortunately comes tied in with this career stage can seem daunting, but they offer an unmatched level of personal mentorship. They’ll be quick to reply to messages and relatively easy to pin down for meetings, but still in the phase of establishing themselves in their institute and wider academic sphere.
At the top of the ladder are those for whom getting a student through their PhD is second nature, potentially a source of comfort at times when you’re in doubt about your own progress. The price often paid for the seniority and expertise is you will be constantly vying for attention. Your messages can become buried in their ever-overflowing inbox and precious slots in their diary can be snapped up by the competition before you know it. They’ll have swapped the lab bench for the office by now, but with bigger labs often come experienced postdocs and other PhD students with the technical know-how to help you out.
Not every PI will fit these stereotypes, but considering the kind of supervisor that best suits your academic style often pays off. Are you the type always searching for a guiding hand and second opinion, or more independent, preferring only the necessary amount of oversight?
I first met my supervisor, Professor Kristian Franze, during my undergraduate project interview. No other interview that week featured nearly as much enthusiasm and genuine scientific curiosity. With his esteemed reputation, great respect for student wellbeing and a sense of fun that often puts us students to shame, I had the sense I’d be in very capable hands. Although now as a Max Planck Director his schedule is pretty packed, our meetings are bursts of productive discussion that give me clear direction and focus. For the less niche experimental issues, I’m lucky to have a second experienced supervisor, Professor Clare Baker, always on hand when I need to voice some thoughts and need a pick-me-up. A little luxurious, I know, but I fully appreciate the benefits of the co-supervision setup.
More than colleagues
On a day-to-day basis it won’t be your PI you’ll be interacting with as much as your lab comrades. These can include senior technicians, lab managers, postdocs and, of course, other PhD students. Some may be energetic and bursting with personality, while others may pass their days fully absorbed in their tasks (and whatever is coming through their earphones). The sense of community in a thriving lab group can be a source of great comfort at testing times when sometimes all you need is comfort and solidarity.
Traditions start to appear in the flow of the working week, with patterns emerging among independent routines that converge at particular times. For me, lab meetings are at 10AM on Mondays. Department seminars are on Friday mornings. My highlight (and I’m sure everyone else’s too) is what has become known as Toastie Thursday. With each of us contributing an ingredient, at lunchtime an assembly line begins operation as bread is sliced and buttered, cheese and chutneys are spread and sandwiches are sent to the beloved toastie machine to return as a delicious lunchtime luxury.
Friendships forged at the benchtop extend not just to your working hours – we transform our communal kitchen into a pseudo-cinema, fight fiends and foes in Dungeons and Dragons and indulge in a few well-earned pints every now and then.
Before applying to a lab, make sure you get the inside scoop on the lab culture (and supervision style of the PI) by speaking to those who’d know best: lab members themselves. This will give you an honest indication of what lies in store. There’s often huge variation in lab social dynamics, and while you don’t need to be best buddies with all your colleagues, they are often more than mere shared offices and workspaces. The right social backdrop to your PhD will really help you to thrive.
Timeslots to play with the more popular bits of lab kit can be limited and occasionally lead to some unsocial work hours, but, ultimately, it’s a small price to pay for what has come to feel like a tight-knit family. When the going gets tough, someone always has my back. I hope they all know just how much their support means to me.
Location, location, location
Don’t forget about what lies outside of the lab. Aside from the science itself, you’ll be choosing somewhere to call home for the next few years. Consider what you value most. Are you a party animal craving the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan scene, or do you prefer a more laid-back, peaceful lifestyle? Picture where that place is on a map alongside where family members and loved ones live. Does the idea of changing cities, countries or even continents fill you with excitement or dread? Think about the living arrangements – affordability, the commute to the lab and whether you prefer to live alone, with a partner or friends will all need to be factored in.
For me, Cambridge still held a firm grip on my heart. The compact layout, stunning architecture and incredible student community offers no better backdrop to my postgraduate years. By train I can easily reach London and with a few extra hours I can be in the tiny Welsh village I grew up in, surrounded by my family. Here I can get almost anywhere I need to by bike, know the best coffee hideouts and engage in bespoke extra-curricular opportunities: I’m currently President of Bluesci, the university science magazine and communication platform.
Look before you leap
I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but PhDs are difficult. Without a doubt, there’ll be times when you question whether you made the right decision. Mine certainly hasn’t been perfect, and yours won’t be either. But a word of advice in science and in life more generally: stop seeking perfection. It doesn’t exist and it never will. Have I faced my fair share of difficulties? Absolutely. Have I sometimes thought I made the wrong call? Definitely. Do I have any regrets? None in the slightest.
Take your time. Look for the positives and negatives of each path. Eventually, you’ll take the first step on the long road to “Dr”. You’ll never be able to say where the other paths would have led, but you can at least look back and say you looked before you leapt, you thought carefully and you made an informed choice. All of that thought and consideration will pay off. Trust me, I’ve been there. You never know, someone might even suggest you write a blog about it one day…
This article was written by Rachel McKeown and edited by Ailie McWhinnie. Interested in writing for WiNUK yourself? Contact us through the blog page and the editors will be in touch!
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