Postgraduate research at Manchester's Faculty of Science and Engineering

"What you're looking out for is, what are they actually doing and what do they need right now in their research group?" Lois gives her advice on what to talk to a potential supervisor about, and how to decide which supervisor is for you.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d k...

"You have to understand what your supervisor really wants from you, and you have to develop a relationship with your supervisor." Lois reflects on her experience of building a relationship with her PhD supervisor. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started....

"Self-discipline, time management and the ability to encourage yourself. That's the biggest difference between undergrad and PhD work." Lois discusses the importance of motivation, and how to deal with pressure and workload as a PhD researcher. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished th...

"After two months, I realised that it was my own initiative - it was my own timeframe that I needed to abide by" Toufic gives his advice on how to structure your working day as a PhD researcher, and reflects on the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and wh...

"It's my CV that got enhanced when I came to Manchester... the more one engages, the more you can use that knowledge and these skills to apply elsewhere" Toufic reflects on his initial application, and how much his CV has changed since then. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’...

"Researchers shouldn't be afraid of raising what they're concerned about, the more people talk about their projects or their lives, the better they can keep going" Toufic shares his experience of making connections with fellow researchers at Manchester. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they...

"Try to choose, from your department, the things that you are most interested in. They don't have to be the final track of your career - you're just choosing a place to start from" Toufic talks through the process he followed to find a research project that he loves. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips,...

"Take advantage of the social life behind research - it's all about connection" Toufic gives his advice on the opportunities of the PGR life outside of your research. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read the full transcript of this inter...

"You get used to things, and get to know that they’re not as scary as you might have thought when you were back in your country.”  Chithrambary gives her advice on how to settle into a new place, and on getting used to new ways of doing things.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished t...

“People are always very happy to help, and they'll always make you feel at home" Chithrambary advocates for being brave, and reaching out to your future project team in advance of starting your work.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read...

"I always saw the impact of research which she had in the particular field, so that also gave me a booster – knowing my research could somehow help society." Chithrambary talks through her own experience of finding a supervisor, and the key factors behind her decision. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips...

"I used to go through the university website, and search for which funding opportunities I could get for this particular project"  Chithrambary recalls the process she followed to secure funding for her postgraduate research.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before...

“To do research and be interested in that particular field of research, that’s the basic and the primary motive for your doing a PhD" Chithrambary tells us why she thinks the best place to start, is with the themes that you're most passionate about. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wish...

"You’ll automatically learn things slowly. It will happen slowly, but it will happen.” Chithrambary talks through the process she went through to pick up on the techniques and knowledge she'd need for her project.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started...

“I think you should always search for these opportunities as early as possible" Chithrambary gives her advice on the value of searching for your next challenge as early as possible.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read the full transcri...

"You can start collecting pieces of evidence from all those groups and putting it together like a jigsaw" Charlotte gives her advice on why the process of designing your own reading list can be a useful one, and how she approached it.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d know...

"With your PhD, your routine is something that's really unique to you" Charlotte talks through her process of forming a routine around PhD project work, which started in the summer before her first year.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can...

"A little bit closer to the time I asked if I could do something more, because I wanted to feel prepared, and he gave me a list of synthetic targets to try and make, and asked me to come up with a method of making them." Charlotte recalls her experience of preparing for a PhD during the summer before her first year.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to cur...

"Don't underestimate the fact that your supervisor has gone through this before you and knows how scary it is to be sitting at home thinking ‘how do I even start that?’" Charlotte shares her advice on learning to work with your supervisor during the first few months.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips,...

"Every time you walk in you have to be willing to think ‘ok, what am I going to do when this doesn't work?’" Charlotte discusses the mindset that has helped her in her chemistry lab work. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read the full tra...

"It will help you to go into it with a clearer idea of how you want it to be" Charlotte talks through the importance of thinking through what you want your PhD to look like, and what's going to make you happy.  Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. Yo...

"I really wanted to do research that had some sort of genuine real-world applications" Charlotte talks through the channels and thought-processes that led her to her PhD project at Manchester. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read the ful...

"A PhD is about the research, the supervisor and the location" Charlotte talks through how she decided on a PhD project. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read the full transcript here: https://bit.ly/PhD_research_tips3  

"Every PhD is a different journey". Jie talks about the importance of finding out your own best way to approach a project. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read the full transcript here: https://bit.ly/PhD_research_tips2  

Jie shares her experience of how you can build an effective working partnership with your PhD supervisor. Want to start preparing for your postgraduate research? We've been talking to current Manchester students about their top PhD tips, and what they wished they’d known before they started. You can read the full transcript here: https://bit.ly/PhD_research_tips2