JJ Baguyo, doctoral candidate for UCD’s Conway Institute shares his journey from undergrad to postgrad, and discusses the Road to a PhD
This is my first year as a PhD student in UCD’s Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. My research is focused on observing the role of tissue stiffness in pancreatic cancer. Additionally, I’m an anatomy demonstrator in the UCD School of Medicine.
Pursuing a PhD is one of the paths you can take after you’ve finished your initial studies. When I first started college, it was something I never imagined I was good enough to do. However, as the years passed, I realized that a PhD was the direction I wanted to take in my life. Like many others, however, I hadn’t a clue where to begin or how to actually get into a PhD programme, which begs the question: “How do you get into a PhD programme?”
Getting into a PhD programme may seem daunting at first, but with the right approach, it is definitely achievable. You might think that the requirements to get into a PhD programme are insane, like a 4.0 GPA, a master’s, and a handful of internship experiences. While yes, all of these aspects will significantly boost your chances of being accepted, in reality, the majority of PhD programmes, especially in Ireland, only require you to have at least an upper second-class honours (2:1) in a degree related to the subject field and some relevant skills for the project. Obviously, this doesn’t apply to every PhD vacancy, so please remember to always read the fine print!
Once you’ve decided that you want to spend every waking moment of the next four years of your life pursuing a PhD, the first and most obvious step is to find the PhD post. When searching for a PhD project, there are three main factors to consider: the project, the supervisor, and the institution. In my opinion, the project is probably the most important of the three. It’s essential to find a subject area that genuinely interests you and aligns with your skills. After all, you’ll be dedicating four years of your life to that research topic, so finding something you’re truly interested in and passionate about will keep your enthusiasm alive.
Additionally, the supervisor and the institution should play a role in your decision. It’s important to choose an environment that can provide the necessary resources, knowledge, and support you’ll need to thrive. So take the time to properly research potential supervisors and institutions that can help you succeed in life.
A lot of people find vacant posts online, with different PhD advertising sites like “FindaPhD.com” being extremely useful. Another way people find out about posts is through their academic institution itself. Usually, PhD vacancies and research opportunities are emailed around, especially to fourth-year undergrads and master’s students, which is actually how I learned of the vacancy for my PhD.
Once you’ve found your ideal post, the next step is the application stage. The application usually requires you to send in a CV and cover letter. My best advice here is to present yourself in the best possible light. Think of it as a job application: highlight your work ethic, past achievements, and overall passion for that particular field. This will definitely help you stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of your future supervisor.
After a successful application, you’ll reach the final stage—the dreaded interview process. At this stage, you’ll be invited to visit the institution or “zoom in” for a virtual meeting with the supervisor. Most interviews are fairly standard and involve a one-on-one formal discussion about the position, your past achievements, and your suitability for the job. However, this isn’t always the case. From my experience, interviewing for a PhD demonstratorship was a bit more intense. I had to prepare both a research and teaching presentation for a panel of supervisors, followed by a round of questioning. I’ll be completely honest—it was an intimidating experience, and it felt like my entire future depended on how well I was perceived. But with confidence and thorough preparation, you’ll do your best. So fingers crossed, you’ll land that position!
This basically sums up the typical way the majority of PhD students get their positions. However, it’s not the only route. If you decide early on in your undergraduate or master’s degree that a PhD is something you really want to pursue, you can try to “create” a position yourself. In Ireland, there are various funding grants that support prospective PhD students, such as the “Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship” linked to the Irish Research Council (IRC). Requirements for the application include a detailed research proposal, a personal statement, and a linked PhD supervisor. So if you’re really passionate about a particular research subject, one thing you can do is find and contact a potential supervisor in that field. Share your interest in the subject and your CV, and with some luck, they’ll hopefully be interested in supporting you. They can then help assist you in your research proposal and applying for the grant.
Taking all of this into account, hopefully, you’ll secure a spot in a PhD programme. My biggest piece of advice is to build relevant knowledge and experience to boost your applications. Make sure you actually want to do it because it’ll be a huge commitment in life. And lastly, if it doesn’t work out the first time, don’t be discouraged. Keep trying, stay resilient, and always learn from your mistakes. As Henry Ford once said, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”