Considering a PhD?Considering a PhD?

Prof. Robert ZimmermanProf. Robert Zimmerman

ESE Careers DayESE Careers Day

11 November 201011 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

• 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

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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

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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

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How are PhD studies different?• Undergraduate/taught degrees:

Involve lots of courseworkFocus is on learning an

existing body of knowledgeHighly structured in terms of

deadlines, etc.

• Research degrees:UK system involves little/no

courseworkFocus is on discovering or

creating a new body of knowledge

Not as structured; requires much more independence

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Different types of PhDs

• UK style:o 3-4 yearso no taught modules

• US style:o 4-5 yearso 1-1.5 years of taught

modules

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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

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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)

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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 9

Case history: Academic routeJohn Cosgrove, Professor of Structural Geology, ICL

•Worst experienceCamping 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 experienceExhilaration 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 experienceWhile evening rowing on field work off Anglesey. Oars produced marine fireworks as the phosphorescent plankton responded to the movement.

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Case history: Industrial routeDr 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! 11

Case history: Industrial routeDr 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!12

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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