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Considering a PhD?

Considering a PhD?. Prof. Robert Zimmerman ESE Careers Day 11 November 2010. What is a PhD?. A three-four year research programme focussed on a single topic Culminates in a thesis of 150-300 pages

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Considering a PhD?

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  1. Considering a PhD? Prof. Robert Zimmerman ESE Careers Day 11 November 2010

  2. What is a PhD? • A three-four year research programme focussed on a single topic • Culminates in a thesis of 150-300 pages • The thesis must demonstrate originality, by the discovery of new facts and/or the exercise of independent critical thinking • Generally will lead to several papers published in refereed scientific journals

  3. Why might you need a PhD? • A PhD is required if you intend to pursue a career in academia (i.e., IC, UCL, etc.) • Also useful in order to pursue a career in a research institute (BGS, NHM, etc.) • Many oil or mining companies will hire PhDs to do work that requires postgraduate training

  4. Who does a PhD? • In recent years, about 25-30% of ESE graduates have gone on to do a PhD, at universities such as: • Imperial College • Oxford • Cambridge • Yale • University of California

  5. How are PhD studies different? • Undergraduate/taught degrees: Involve lots of coursework Focus is on learning an existing body of knowledge Highly structured in terms of deadlines, etc. • Research degrees: UK system involves little/no coursework Focus is on discovering or creating a new body of knowledge Not as structured; requires much more independence

  6. Different types of PhDs • UK style: • 3-4 years • no taught modules • US style: • 4-5 years • 1-1.5 years of taught modules

  7. What do I need to apply? • UG degree in an appropriate subject • Good grades • 2.1 or 1st class UG degree • or 2.2 plus an MSc • or international equivalent • Competition is intense • additional evidence of excellence helps: • presentations • publications • projects • IC deadline is 31 Jan 2011, US deadlines are earlier

  8. How to choose a PhD • University • reputation/esteem • career destinations of graduates • Good supervisor • key ingredient in an enjoyable and successful PhD • Research culture • meet with your prospective supervisor • talk to other group members • How much will I get paid? • £15,290 pa (IC) • $29,000 pa (Yale)

  9. Case history: Academic route Prof John Cosgrove Imperial College London PhD, 1972 Topic: Development and interrelationship of micro folds and crenulation cleavage Motivation “Geology fascinated me and I could not resist the opportunity to study for a PhD in this subject when the opportunity arose” Career rewards equipped me well to take up a position within academia Advice choose a subject that really grabs you work with an enthusiastic and friendly supervisor

  10. Case history: Academic route John Cosgrove, Professor of Structural Geology, ICL • Worst experience Camping alone in a huge, treeless, glacial valley in the Swiss Alps in a massive thunder storm. I realised my old A frame tent made a perfect lightning conductor. • Best experience Exhilaration I felt when I found a mathematical explanation for the folding of mineral fabrics that, until then, had not been understood. Extensive travelling and great friends I made. • Most unusual experience While evening rowing on field work off Anglesey. Oars produced marine fireworks as the phosphorescent plankton responded to the movement.

  11. Case history: Industrial route Dr Sander Suicmez • Imperial College London PhD 2006 • Pore Scale Simulation of Three-Phase Flow (Supervisor: M Blunt) • Motivation • I wanted to specialize in the area of Fluid Flow in Porous Media • Career rewards • The topic of my research and the international reputation of Imperial College London have helped me enormously in the oil industry • Advice • Make sure that this is what you really want. If it is, it will certainly be lots of fun. But otherwise, it can be really painful!

  12. Case history: Industrial route Dr Sander Suicmez • Petroleum Engineer, SHELL • Worst experience • You may have good days and bad days; however the work goes on and does require a strong concentration. • Best experience • you are both a student and a professional staff at the same time. You can wear whatever you want, you don’t have to shave everyday, and the working hours are flexible. • Most unusual experience • my PhD defence examination… It took around 5 hours!

  13. Further information • Science careers • http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/career_stage/undergraduate__1 • Vitae • http://www.vitae.ac.uk/ • Vitae is a national organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes • ICL opportunities • www.imperial.ac.uk/ese/phd

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