To PhD, or not to PhD?
Where do I want to be in 5 years? Move to a new city? Masters…then PhD? Gap year? Job?
Just over a year ago as my 21-year-old self was creeping closer to being released from the comfort of my undergraduate environment, these were just a selection of the many questions surfacing in my mind as I contemplated my next steps. Coming straight from undergraduate to postgraduate studies, alongside the laboratory-associated constraints of the pandemic which inconveniently affected over half of my undergraduate degree, I hadn’t yet had much laboratory exposure. I doubted thoughts of changing environments, but in the midst of finishing my final exams at the University of Liverpool, I came across the genome engineering/CRISPR focus of Dr Andrew Wood’s laboratory. After an encouraging zoom conversation with Andrew, I applied to complete a Masters by Research (MScR) studying degron technology in the Wood lab. In what felt like no time at all, I found myself moving to Edinburgh and starting my postgraduate studies here at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC).
I had always wanted to live in Edinburgh for a year (at least), and an MScR felt like the perfect opportunity to do this. Although my MScR was definitely a steep laboratory learning curve at times (especially in the beginning), I can honestly say in that single year I developed so much academically and personally. I built a great research and laboratory foundation, and the experience definitely provided me with the confidence to consider PhD applications for the following academic year. I will be honest and say that previously I knew I would make PhD applications at some point, but I didn’t know specifically where for or how many or when, and I was caught surprised by how early some of the applications closed.
Whilst still settling into MScR life, I found myself slightly overwhelmed whilst refining which PhD programmes to apply for. After arriving at the IGC however, I became aware of the 4-year HGU Genetics and Molecular Medicine PhD programme. I particularly liked the programme nature of the PhD and the flexibility to “try before you buy”, and I was excited at the prospect of being able to stay in Edinburgh. I made the application in January, interviewed in February and, after being accepted onto the programme, I started my PhD journey here at the IGC in September 2022. I think my biggest takeaway from the interview process was the importance of keeping things simple, concise, and clear (especially if giving a short presentation!). Personally, when applying for a PhD, it was important to me that I selected a programme in an institute and location where I knew I would be happy. I was fortunate enough to have experienced the IGC environment before starting my PhD, and I think this was crucial to my decision to apply. I have met so many great people in my time so far at the IGC (and in Edinburgh) and already have had the opportunity to try out (no previous experience!) some computational work.
Ultimately, I don’t know where I will be or what I will want to do after I complete my PhD, but I certainly do not regret my PhD decision, and I look forward to seeing the person that I will become on my journey to becoming Dr Ramsey.
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