ChemIONS

Well..This seems to me a much interesting community to share my thoughts. Being an organic chemistry student i feel i can start a blog on the topics that suits aspiring chemists seeking a research position in UK or in entire EU. I have been in this freternity for some reasonably long time of more than 5 years. Its better to share my experience now.....

Are U a fresh chemistry graduate? Thinking of joining for a PhD? then here are some tips which i can recollect based on my past experiences.

For those who wish to join for a PhD, my first advice is that be sure you are ENOUGH Motivated. Its a long term 'struggle' spaning your mid twenties or even more! Eventhough the grants and fellowships are fair enough to make an income for a PhD student (in EU), its hard to be in the turbulent stream of Research for more than 4 years. But this doesnt matter if you are enough motivated. After all the final 'Fruit' is yours! getting a prefix 'Dr' and building an excellent career there onwards is really exciting and much more eazy nowadays.

Finding an area of interest is your next task. Eventhough it seems difficult for a first timer, a phd supervisor can easily find an existing problem of study/interest which he is experienced for decades. After all most funded research projects are available nowadays in universities which will provide you a solid existing problem or area of research. In this case your only job is to identify whether this is suitable for your expertise or not. A mere discussion with your supervisor and lab mates will solve this problem in a day.

Selecting your PhD supervisor ! I feel this is the most herculian task one phd student need to do before his actual research! And it will most probably decide your research future. So be sure you enough know about your guide. Ask for advise from his own present/past students is the best idea. Make a casual enquiry about the research atmosphere in his laboratory, number of publications, frequency of international publications and how often he conducts a group meeting or discussions. make sure how he helps other students in a difficult situation. A friendly supervisor and a friendly relationship between you and your supervisor is the most important for your research career. I'll write more in next blog how to select your phd supervisor....

Take a quick tour of the lab. Make sure the lab has full facilities and ask about current fundings. Do a research on alumnis of the lab. How they placed, how long they took to conclude their research etc. Compare this with other universities and supervisors. select only after you feel satisfied. Because you are going to spend 4-5 years of your life there! thats simple! And keep motivated. Beeing a 'Dr' is always make you distinct from other folks. Cheers....!!! Pls do comment....[i'll back soon with my next blog...keep in touch]..