synbio Ph.D, host of /synbio 🧬, co-host /science 👩🏽‍🔬, genetically modified organism, blog: editlife.substack.com

i have an email in my drafts folder addressed to a university, requesting more information about a PhD programme

but i'm terrified to send it out LOL

anyone here have experience applying to doctoral programmes?

*cough* @gmo

₊‧°𐐪♡𐑂°‧₊ writing about digital art & curating things 
₊‧°𐐪♡𐑂°‧₊ Artistic Manager @ Artpoint.
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Omg benna my super accomplished creative visionary what are you scared of?? I technically didn’t apply to my doctoral program but I went through a post doc application process which I think has given me some insight! What are you weighing? Also miss you🌸🌸

I promise academia needs you more than you need it! I think the most important part of this process is finding a supervisor and environment that will help you activate or fulfil whatever goals you have. Reaching out to ask questions is a great early step. 

I would find labs/groups/spaces you're interested in and try to reach out to the current PhDs/postdocs/researchers in that lab, they will have the real tea and can probably even give you an intro to the supervisor, which is a nicer way to meet.

If you're reaching out to the supervisor directly I would ask questions, but also you're a beautiful writer so write why you're interested in their work with specifics. 

Some bigger labs also have admin so an easy thing is to reach out to admin and ask your questions to them, they are usually super helpful and its way less pressure. 

Sometimes some institutes also have events & that's a good way to meet people in that space IRL. And useeee your nework!! Someone you know will know someone somewhere! you got this!!

scared of quitting my job to go back into academia ! the uncertainty ! the possible rejection ! the reaching out to suss out if they might be interested in me and not having the proper phd etiquette (?!) LOL i basically have no idea how to ask for a supervisor or anything i feel like such a noob loool

i miss you too!!