🤔What is a PhD?

Medics who are keen to explore specific interests, carry out research, and become professors may consider obtaining a PhD. A PhD, meaning “Doctorate of Philosophy”, is the highest degree level achievable, where a student can make a new contribution to their field. This contribution is in the form of original research, where you may critique existing research, collect your own data, and then write a thesis (research paper). To be awarded a PhD, you will have to discuss your thesis with examiners in an oral exam called a ‘viva voce.’

Many of the insights in this article come from Dr Nick Hayward, a radiologist and MedTech advisor with a PhD in neurobiology and medical imaging, and from Becky Leveridge, a medical student currently undertaking an intercalated PhD.

🛤️Pathways to PhD

There are plenty of opportunities for medics to pursue a PhD, such as:

  • An optional part of an MBBS course, i.e. an MBPhD programme
    • MBPhD programmes, sometimes called intercalated PhD programmes, allow medical students with an interest in academic or research careers to take three years out of their studies to do a PhD, and then return to their medical degree after completing their PhD. Universities that offer an MBPhD programme include, but not limited to, the University of Cambridge, University College London, University of Birmingham, University of Manchester and Imperial College London (links below). It’s also possible to apply for programmes offered by a university other than your own medical school.
    • Plan ahead for logistical challenges when working across institutions, as transfers and coordination can require significant communication, problem-solving, and can be time consuming.

  • Advertised PhD positions
    • Medics who have graduated university may consider applying for advertised PhD positions via websites such as FindAPhD or Academic Positions (links below). Websites like these advertise PhD positions from all around the world, providing candidates with opportunities to travel and work in different environments. However, advertised positions usually have PhD topics set in stone, so candidates looking to choose their own topic of interest may feel limited.

  • Developing your own proposal from scratch
    • Finally, some medics may find that the “right time” to pursue a PhD is after they have already established an area of interest, i.e. having already done research in their area. In this case, they may develop a proposal and apply for funding from organisations.

No matter where your life takes you, it is important to recognise that there are plenty of ways to pursue PhD if you know that it’s right for you. It’s important for prospective students to be aware of the timelines for each pathway early on, as missing application deadlines may mean waiting another year to apply. Even if you miss an opportunity, other ones will come to pass.

📌Selecting a Topic

A PhD is a life-altering commitment, so your chosen topic should be something in which you’ve developed a great interest. Remember, this is a 3–4-year commitment (or 7-8 years part-time).

Your chosen topic should be sustainable, a topic that allows for continued personal growth. “The topic should allow you to grow in areas that are important to you. You need to have passion for the topic”.

Besides this, there are three other considerations which may make the process of selecting a PhD topic easier:

  • Originality – has it been done before?
    • It can be difficult to find a topic that hasn’t been done before, but the best way to find an original topic is to keep up-to-date with the research in that area. Whilst you don’t need to come up with a completely brand-new idea, research papers may indicate further research needs, which are signposted with phrases such as “further research is required to determine…”.

  • Relevance – does the research benefit society?
    • Relevant topics are useful because you may find it easier to attract funding. However, it is important to highlight that the relevance of topics can change depending on current events. For example, virology and epidemiology have come under a spotlight since the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Achievability – can you do it in the time that you have?
    • Lastly, it is vital to consider whether your topic is achievable within the time you have. While a PhD might take around two years under ideal circumstances, setbacks are inevitable, so allowing extra time for mistakes is essential.

🤝Selecting Your Supervisor

A PhD supervisor is someone who guides a PhD student throughout the course of their research. They will advise you on choosing your topic and acquiring funding, and they will be your closest contact in case you need any guidance.

Your supervisor should be an expert in the field you are researching. Some supervisors may be busy with their own work, so it is important to ascertain how much of their time they will be able to dedicate to you. Therefore, the extent of their guidance will be different depending on the supervisor – some are more hands-on, but some are more hands-off. It is crucial to decide what kind of supervisor would suit you, as a hands-on supervisor could feel suffocating, whereas a hands-off supervisor may make you feel lost and lacking guidance.

Alongside your primary supervisor, you may also have co-supervisors from different research backgrounds. This can create an interdisciplinary environment and offer broader perspectives and support throughout your PhD.

For medics, you need to question whether your research will be primary or clinical. Primary research is related to healthcare but focuses on basic sciences and may ultimately be published in a pure scientific journal, but clinical research involves working with patients in some way. Supervisors mandate this to an extent.

Getting the supervisor right is important. Preferably, choose a supervisor you already know and trust, ideally someone who has completed a similar PhD. If the relationship between you and your supervisor breaks down, you may consider switching supervisors. If this is the case, ensure that the second supervisor is familiar with your field of work. Nevertheless, finding the right supervisor the first time is ideal…

Here are some top tips in finding an excellent supervisor:

  • Search possible supervisors in depth, including their publications, previous roles and educational history.

  • Get to know possible supervisors by meeting them, for at least a day.

  • Talk to the supervisor’s other students, who will become your colleagues, about their supervisor and research group experiences.

The supervisor role is necessary and carries authority, so there will be a power imbalance which could cause friction. This means that talking to both the supervisor and their students to learn about their personality is key. “There is no question of limits. PhDs contain complex and challenging ideas, so it’s important to have someone to be honest with about where you want to grow.”

💰Funding

When applying for a scientific PhD, most students join a programme that already includes a funding package covering the full duration. In many cases, this funding is arranged by the supervisor or department in advance. These packages typically cover tuition fees and also provide a tax-free stipend to support living costs.

Despite this, there are some scenarios where you may be expected to apply for your own funding or cover any shortfalls yourself. Such scenarios include, but are not limited to:

  • Submitting your own grant application and proposal
    • If you are planning to submit your own grant proposal, possible funding providers include charities and government institutions such as National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

  • Applying for positions that have project funding but not salary funding
    • In cases where tuition fees need to be funded, such as MBPhD programmes, studentships tend to fund tuition fees, living fees, and bench fees (costs of the research itself).

  • Applying for positions or programmes that cover tuition fees at the home rate, but you are an international student
    • Most studentships only cover tuition fees at the home student rate (ÂŁ9,535) so international students are required to fund the rest of the tuition. Some studentships, such as the Research Excellence Scholarship offered by UCL, will fund the remaining amount; additionally, some supervisors may be willing to cover this cost. You may also choose to fund this difference yourself if you are able.

No matter how you choose to fund your project, ensuring that your salary is funded throughout the entire duration of your PhD is paramount. It is an incredible opportunity that removes a lot of the financial stress and allows you to focus fully on your research.

✅Benefits of doing a PhD

After all this information about the practicalities of pursuing a PhD, you may still be wondering whether you actually want to pursue one. Some PhD-student verified reasons include:

  • Greatly expand your knowledge in a particular field of interest

  • Develop interpersonal skills for a future academic and professional career

  • Gain credentials and be regarded as an authority in a field (not the most important)

Dr Hayward emphasised the importance of valuing the process rather than the outcome. “Getting a PhD was a phenomenal experience”. He adds, “The process is so much more valuable than the product in the end.”

With a good PhD package, you can do amazing things with your time; you can go to worldwide conferences, develop scientific communication skills, give presentations, and coordinate projects. A PhD will contrast a medical degree in lots of ways, because medical degrees tend to be rigid and more standardised, whereas PhDs are broad and variable. PhDs are a springboard for professional growth in all directions, so it is crucial that prospective candidates enter with this at the front of their minds.

❓When a PhD Might Not Be the Right Choice

On the other hand, why might a PhD not be valuable?

  • You’re looking for ‘kudos’
  • You want to try something different
  • You are unsure of your interests and are looking to test the waters

If these reasons seem to be your main ones, a PhD may not be the right option for you.

Whilst gaining credentials in a field you are passionate about can be beneficial for furthering a professional career, it should not be a sole reason to embark on such a massive commitment. A PhD might seem like a great badge to wear, but it also comes with lots of stress, dedication, and doubt (will my research even matter?).

Additionally, a PhD is not the best way to gauge interest in a field. Instead, you should be sure that your topic is something you strongly care about, so that the investment will be worthwhile regardless of the outcome. Furthermore, having a PhD relevant to your future career is beneficial because your areas of interest and areas of work will align.

⚖️Work-life balance

As previously mentioned, a PhD is a large commitment and working hours may vary throughout the course of your PhD.

Work-life balance is highly variable depending on who you work with and where you work. For instance, most research-heavy universities in the world have a culture of working extended hours, but in industry the expected working hours may be more clearly contracted. Dr Hayward completed his PhD in Finland, where he was “…fortunate to be among researchers who respected the 8am to 4pm work culture” and “the entire national culture helped [him]”. However, he put in extra hours due to his own motivation. “Students often have a sense of ownership over their projects, resulting in longer hours than expected.”

The number of hours you’ll need to invest will wax and wane throughout the project. Nonetheless, Dr Hayward recommends that you find a group that matches your personal level of motivation. “Ascertain early what their expectations are”, he says, “because it pays to ask about working culture, money, and how long it takes”.

 

“Be candid, and have conversations.”

💭Final thoughts and the future

It is worth considering future research opportunities, as acquiring both individual and project funding is extremely competitive after completing a PhD.

As for other top tips, Dr Hayward said to aim for opportunities that have protected research time. The NHS offers great opportunities for protected research time, such as the Academic Clinical Fellowship and Out of Programme Research (OOPR). Doctors who wish to pursue an academic career should make the most of these, and are worth exploring at an early stage.

📚Resources

 

Thanks for reading. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to share them below.

Reviewed by Dr Nick Hayward

Dr Hayward completed an undergraduate and master’s degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge before embarking on his PhD at University of Eastern Finland. He then went on to pursue a medical degree after completing his PhD.

For further thoughts, you can contact Dr Nick Hayward on LinkedIn or via drnickhayward.com.

Reviewed by Becky Leveridge

Becky is an undergraduate at Cardiff University Medical School, having completed an iBSc in Surgical Design, Technology and Innovation with First Class Honours. She is currently completing an intercalated PhD with CRUK ICR Imperial Convergence Science Centre.