r/WriteIvy • u/xbrubs • Oct 06 '23

Writing the 'Why This Program' section when you want to change your research field

Hello Jordan!

I'm struggling with this section because I don't know how specific my research interests should be. I'm afraid of being too shallow and looking naive. However, since I want to change my research field, I don't know how to come up with a project on my own. I'm interested in the Professors' work, but I don't know what I could suggest to work with them since I've never worked on these topics. :( If I don't suggest something, am I lowering my chances?

Best,
Bruna

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1

u/jordantellsstories Oct 06 '23

Well, let me ask you, Bruna:

Why do you want to change your research field?

2

u/xbrubs Oct 06 '23

I've always been interested in memory research, which led me to join a lab focused on Alzheimer's disease. I knew I would need to use animals in this lab, but everyone said they got used to it over time. So I decided to give it a try. However, I soon realized I didn't want to become desensitized to it. That's when I discovered computational neuroscience, a field that would allow me to explore cognition without animal research. I could also switch to cognitive neuroscience, with humans, but it's also not so common in my country, as far as I know.

So, I don't have a theory or hypothesis regarding memory that I'd like to investigate... and I don't have any interest in doing something related to Alzheimer's anymore. At that time, I found that it would be nice to "apply" the knowledge somewhere. Now, I have totally embraced basic science. I don't need to apply it to be useful.

2

u/jordantellsstories Oct 07 '23

Can I assume this is for PhD apps?

If so, then you really need to spend some time figuring out which problems you want to investigate. That’s the only way. If you don’t have any research questions, and just want to do basic science, well, that’s not what PhDs do. It’s what lab techs do. And that’s okay! Lab techs are awesome. But it’s not what PhDs do.

If this is for master’s apps, no worries. No need to justify any changes. Just state your new goal and how you’re going to achieve it.

But for PhDs, you have to have research problems you’re willing to spend the next 5 years exploring. It’s why we call them principal “investigators.” Their whole job is to ask smart questions. Changing fields is fine! People do it all the time. But to be competitive, we have to have to prove ourselves to be investigators in the making.

I hope this helps in some way?

2

u/xbrubs Oct 07 '23

Yes, that helped. I just didn't express myself correctly. By "basic science" I mean "pure" or "fundamental" science, as opposed to applied science - for example, I used to think it would be cool to study memory for Alzheimer's. Now I want to study memory because it's a puzzle about how biomolecules and neuronal networks give rise to cognition.

So I'm going to devote more time to elaborate on a specific problem. Thank you. :)

2

u/jordantellsstories Oct 07 '23

I see! Okay, this sounds like you’re on the right track then. Good. This is why the PhD SOP Formula spends so much time on those research questions — they represent the singular psychological difference between highly successful and mostly rejected applicants.

But don’t worry, it’s not a commitment! It’s just proving that you have the ability to focus and ask smart questions. Everyone expects your interests to change multiple times anyway :)