• Question: What is a phd

    Asked by anon-256741 to Jonny on 9 Jun 2020.
    • Photo: Jonny Furze

      Jonny Furze answered on 9 Jun 2020:

      A PhD is a higher level of research-based study that you can do after completing an undergraduate degree at university. You look deep into one area of interest (it doesn’t have to be science) and you’re trying to discover new ideas to add to the worldwide body of knowledge. You get paid to study something that you’re really interested in, which is the best!

Comments

  • Photo: Kat

    Kat commented on :

    Yep exactly what Jonny said. Basically think about it as a 3-4 year long research project. For a chemistry PhD you focus on one topic and try find out new information that no one else knows! You become a member of a research group so you have other PhD students and Post Doc and Professors around you for support. In the same research group there is always a common theme of research and everyone has their slightly different area of the work they are working on. It’s a big learning curve where you learn how to become a good researcher. The skills you pick up are useful for both academia and industry jobs in the future.

  • Photo: Julie

    Julie commented on :

    I agree with Jonny and Kat, it is 3-4 years of research into a topic. You have to find out something new and know why it is important. You do not have to do a PhD immediately after an undergraduate degree, or even in the same subject. Most people choose to expand on what they already know, but you do not have to. During a undergraduate degree you usually do some research that no-one has done before and you can decide if you like this or not. You really have to like something to research it for 3 or 4 years! My PhD project was a joint Chemistry and Engineering topic, which was really good as I like learning new things and asking questions. Getting a PhD means you can use the title ‘Dr’ instead or Miss/Mrs/Mr.

  • Photo: Andy

    Andy commented on :

    Never got to do one but if I could have done it would either be on plastics in terms of pollution or a topic allied to the interface between Chemistry and Management as now play a greater part of my freelance time in that area.