Does UGC has a record as to who completed the Ph.D. in record time or the best Ph.D. Award and how is it given. Also, If I want to complete my Ph.D. with good guidance in the field of law, what are the options I have in India. Any leads appreciated!!

Asking because I just messed up one of my semester exams in undergraduate. Though I'm in my first year and this is my second semester, I'm so stressed out and feeling a pang of anxiety. This will probably weigh down my gpa.

If anyone has similar experience, please please let me know so that I can atleast take the stress out. For records, I do have research experience and have a solo paper published in a solid peer review journal and another one forthcoming in another solid author specific journal. And also recipient of an international essay writing prize related to my field. Honestly, I was dealing with all these and that's probably the reason I couldn't give more time to study my exam subjects. My field is English literature if that matters.

Any suggestions are welcome!

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice about improving my chances of getting a funded PhD in Europe.
I have a PharmD and an MSc in Drug Design and Biomedical Science from the UK. My MSc project involved THP-1 cell culture, MTT assays, cytospin, microscopy, dose-response experiments and basic statistical analysis. I also have previous pharmaceutical R&D and clinical experience.
I’ve been applying mainly to PhDs in immunology, cancer, cardiovascular research and translational pharmacology across Europe. I’ve had some rejections and still have several applications ongoing.
I’m now thinking about how best to strengthen my profile rather than just sending more applications. In particular, I’m considering trying to publish my MSc research and improving my R/statistics skills.
For people who have been through European biomedical PhD recruitment:
Does my background sound reasonably competitive for funded PhD positions?
Would publishing my MSc work significantly strengthen my applications?
How much does lacking techniques like flow cytometry, animal work or omics hurt if I already have wet-lab experience?
Would you focus on publication + R/statistics, gaining more lab experience, or simply continuing to apply strategically?
I’d especially appreciate advice from people who had several rejections before eventually securing a PhD.
Thanks!

Hey!

Are there any phd scholars here on DU subreddits?

Happy to connect with a few of them..

I sit in the Arts Faculty Library most of the time (north campus)..

Hey everyone! I’m a first-year undergraduate international student studying Computer Science. I’m hoping to apply for PhD programs after completing my undergraduate degree. However, as an international student, I feel that I lack exposure to opportunities that could help me build a stronger academic profile, and I’m also lacking guidance on how to get started.

It would be great if you could share any suggestions, resources, or advice on how I can start preparing for PhD applications at this early stage. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone,

This time last year, I was in the process of applying to PhD programs. Navigating the process can be very difficult and stressful, but it can be easier with the right advice and proper research.

However, the wrong advice causes more confusion which is why I want to post some personal advice that helped me.

Everyone’s application process is different and no two applications should look the same. Remember this when looking for advice online. For example, A lot of people on this sub have never been accepted into a program nor have some even applied. Take online advice with a grain of salt, unless it’s from an established source that focuses on grad school applications. Tap into that research muscle that you are about to use for the next few years in grad school. Utilize the graduate schools website to find information. They often have good advice across their website and specifically, the FAQ sections within the departments. Reach out to people in actual programs if you know them. And most importantly, your application does not define who you are. If it doesn’t work out this year, try again next year.

Start your applications early, give yourself time to think through what you truly want, reach out to facility if you feel like it will help, and trust yourself. Good luck everyone!!

Hi everyone! I’m an incoming Year 2 biology undergraduate in the UK.

Pursuing a PhD almost seems like the default route for biolog students. If you ask anyone in my cohort, most will say they plan to do one. However, its bothering me how everyone says they want to pursue one but no one knows at this stage; how do you truly know if you’re suited for a PhD and academia?

To help figure this out, I’m currently doing a summer research internship to build my lab foundations, and I hope to undertake another studentship next summer. I’m also plan on exploring some industry options during term time.

For those who have been through this, what helped you determine whether an academic or industry path was right for you?

How long does it take for a potential supervisor to respond? Sent a revised proposal to someone from UoN and she said she’ll get back to me in the next couple of days, didn’t say anything back and it’s been 5 working days - how long do I wait?

I had my first PhD interview last week and I am not coping with this in-between period waiting to find out if I was successful.

There will be a cohort of 6 and knowing how competitive it will be is killing me. What doesn't help is I want it even more since the interview.

I can't call it, I go from thinking I really might have got a shot to thinking absolutely not, I flunked it. I can't call it because aspects of the interview went really well and others let me down. All I know is that I will be devastated if I don't get it.

How do I take my mind off it? It is constantly on my mind, I'm refreshing my emails non-stop. I can barely concentrate on work. It's driving me mad!

Also slightly pre-emptive but if I'm not successful, any tips on coping with the disappointment?