Applying and Interviewing for PhD Positions

Applying for PhD positions can be a daunting experience, but doesn’t have to be.

In this video, I unpack the ins and outs of two of the key stages of applying for a PhD: the initial approach to a prospective supervisor, typically done over email (although there are many other ways to establish contact), and the interview process itself.

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Complete topic list and timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction to PhD Applications
(0:09) What This Video Covers
(0:40) PhD Application Processes Vary
(1:08) Setting the Scene: So Many Applications!
(1:39) Busy Academics Miss Some Applications
(2:10) Academics Need PhD Students
(2:31) Types of PhD Supervisors
(2:48) Senior Experienced PhD Supervisors
(3:01) Junior PhD Supervisors
(3:23) Recruiting Philosophies
(3:35) The Idealist
(3:58) The Realist / Cynic
(4:33) Recruiting Styles Vary
(4:45) Length of PhD Program Affects Recruiting
(5:24) Contents of a Typical Email Approach
(5:55) Be Cautious of Excessive Personalization
(6:21) Assessing Whether to Progress Further
(6:50) Non-Negotiable Requirements
(7:20) Flexible Nice-to-Haves
(7:46) Publishing Experience
(8:30) Evidence of Substantial Project Experience
(9:15) Relevant Technical Skills
(9:38) Evidence of Extension Work
(10:06) Moving to the Interview Stage
(10:25) Interviews Should Not Be Adversarial
(10:42) Supervisors Are Grateful for your Time
(10:51) You’re Not Expected to Know Everything
(11:07) Prepared Presentations Are Optional
(11:33) Interviews Test Communication Capability
(11:58) Interviews Identify Your Contributions
(12:32) Interviews Test Technical Skills
(12:57) Evidence for Learning Capacity
(13:24) Interviews Evaluate Lab Culture Fit
(13:57) You Can Ask Questions!
(14:30) You Can Mention Key Constraints
(14:57) Practice Makes Perfect
(15:57) It’s a Numbers Game
(16:22) You’ll Improve Rapidly
(16:36) Learning Lifelong Skills
(17:04) Closing Comments and Good Luck!