I am now in the final year of my PhD in biomedical research here at the University of Glasgow and I have found it a very rewarding experience. Of course, you need to work hard and every year the graduate school expects PhD students to hand in reports, present posters and attend skills courses. And in my particular field, as most projects are experimental and lab-based, you are expected to show up and work in the lab every day. So there is not a lot of room for a part time job, for example.
But there is a large network of PhD and Master’s students and I have found the community and support very enjoyable and helpful. Every project has good times and bad times, but in most cases it is worth fighting through setbacks, you will learn a lot.
My grad school (Institute for Biomedical and Life Sciences) is very well organised and all students receive as much guidance as they want. The annual deadlines, reports and meetings with course coordinators ensure that problems are dealt with and the students are encouraged and supported so they can complete the project in 3 to 4 years.
So if you are considering a PhD in Life Sciences, I can only recommend it. If you are a little curious, willing to learn and to “get stuck in” to a project, this might be the right choice for you. And you don’t need a lot of experience, in the lab for example, this is what the PhD is for and it is incredible what you learn along the way.
Daniela Tonn, 3rd year PhD IBLS
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