1.

Have scholarship choose a university

(If you have scholarship any university will accept you, if not restricted by funding source)

2. Choose a university and get scholarship

(Good number of positions are not advertised; they are filled through references.)

1: How to search for scholarship (How to keep up with the sources?)

– Google ………
– Subscription to the Email lists
– Updates from the organizations or departments
– Magazine subscriptions
– SOCIAL MEDIA
– Any personal contacts (VERY IMPORTANT)
– Seminars
– Education Fairs
THIS IS SUBJECTIVE TO INDIVIDUAL FILED OF INTEREST. BETTER BE PREPARED
TO SPEND SOMETIME FINDING A RIGH POSITION FOR YOU.
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– Read the requirements of scholarships
– Read the requirements of university
– If nothing is clear email
– Don’t assume
– Communication is the key
TO MINIMIZE ANY CHANCES OF ERROR OR MISUNDERSTANDING WHICH MAY
LEADS TO AN IMCOMPLETE APPLICATION.
 Choosing University
• Matches your interest
• Have good course work
• Read the profile of researcher/lab helps
YOU DON’T WANT TO ENDUP IN A PROGRAM OR RESEARCH YOU CAN’T KEEP UP
WITH.
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2: Choose a university and get scholarship

 Google……
 Look up for universities
i.e university offering PhD in Biochemistry.
- Go to graduate school website read about funded positions.
-Go to department website read the requirement for PhD/MS
 Read requirements carefully
• Email if nothing is clear
• keep deadlines in mind
 Apply for PhD admission, only funded position
 DO NOT APPLY FOR ADMISSION IF NO FUNDED POSITIONS ARE
ADVERTISED
80% of the positions are filled through references. Especially in the case where professor
has the grant and he is looking for candidate for phd positions. This is completely
different than the position which is funded by a scholarships form different organization.
 If you find any professor which has research goal of your interest email hi/her tell her
what you currently are doing and what have you done before. Include your CV. Start
communication with them.

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 Best sources for PhD positions
 University Websites
 Conferences Websites
 Websites of Organization
 Email List of Organization
 Group Email list
 Science Magazines
 Scholarship providing institution and organizations

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 Applying for non-advertise Positions
 NEVER ask admission department about funds
 Start correspondence with the professor
• Avoid contacting the students or postdoc in the lab
• Don’t mention about funds or PhD position
• Jut show your interest
 Read the requirements and course work
 Read the bio of the lab/professor
 If possible read the paper
• At least the abstract
• Title of the papers to get familiar with the research object
 DON’T APPLY FOR ADMISSION UNLESS YOU START CORRESPONDENCE
WITH THE PROFESSOR OR PI.
 Once you application goes to the department it gets a little tricky because of procedures
and rules.
 Unless there is deadline than better apply and start communication with the professor.
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• Most Efficient way
• Jobs at conferences
– Meet the professor
– Interview
– Over view of position
– One to one meeting
– Meeting more than one person from the lab
EASY FOR THEM TO INTEVIEW AS MANY STUDENTS AND DECIDE.
SAVE THEM TONS OF MONEY AND TIME AND RESOURCES.
FOR STUDETN SAME IS TRUE, YOU GET AS MANY INTERVIEWS AND YOU GET
TO CHOES FROM IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OFFERS.
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• How to make it to the conference?
• Submit paper
• Ask your institution to pay for expense
 • Apply for travel fund from the conference
– Write strong cover letter
– Read the requirements
• Search for travel grants
– There are grants available for travelling to conferences, internships, etc.
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 What constitute a Strong Application?
 Any prior research activity
 Projects during MS or BS
 THESIS BASED MS
 ANY PUBLICATION; even as 5th or 6th author
 ANY RESEARCH TALK
 Part of any research organization at University
 Poster presentation

THIS SHOWS YOUR AWARENESS OF RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT,

EAGERNESS TO LEARN AND KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC RESEARCH
REQUIREMENTS I.E STATISTICS, WRITING SKILLS
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 How to prepare for strong application?
 Choose thesis based MS, projects
 Read literature about area of interest
– Doesn’t have to be Research Paper, May be an article
 Be part of any team or group or lab which conduct research
– As volunteer, part timer, etc.
 Explore different options to be part of research community
– Attend research seminars, conferences, workshops, etc.
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 It is too late to prepare?
 Highlight your projects in application
• i.e Approach, uniqueness, Main points, Brief but precise description of the
thought behind it.
 Write a strong cover later
• Short introduction, followed by MS and BS education, major courses, final year
project.
• How it will link with the courses and research object of the lab/university you are
applying
• Why you choose this university, may be the courses are relevant? Is it research
objective if so? Read about the professor or principle investigator and write
something about his/her research.

 Why should you be selected?

 It all depends on your
– Approach (in terms of correspondence)
– Presentation (how you write your email)
– CV writing style
• Specially the placement of the sections
• Highlighting the main point relevant
 – Cover letter
• Intro about you
• Your research work
• Linking to the post research objective

 Preparation
 IELTS (required in most cases)
 TOEFL
 GRE
 Already taken:
– Shows preparation and determination
– Serious and better planner
 If not taken:
– Please prepare for it and take as soon as possible
 Expectation:
– You have already taken
– Will affect the decision
– You may take English courses before start Degree courses
 IN SOME CASES THE VISA OFFICER MAY EVEN ASK FOR THESE TESTS
 YOU MAY GET BETTER POSITINO LATER AND THEY MAY HAVE
REQUIREMENTS
 DON’T MINIMIZE YOUR CHANCES JUST BECAUSE OF ONE TEST
 DON’T MNIMIZE YOUR OPTIONS BECAUSE OF ONE TEST
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 Stay focus
 Don’t apply for every and any positions
 Short list 5 or 6 close to your research interest and concentrate on them
 Have patience: it could take easily an year or more.
 Don’t apply for position not relevant to you
 Apply few and strong applications
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 Things not to do…
1. Don't write long email.
• These days people use phone to read emails, long email takes time to
scroll and in general long emails bore you anyway.
2. Don't ask for position right away in email.
• Just show them your interest in their research and start communication
with them.
3. Don't ask for simple questions.
• that you can find on the website of the department or university.
4. Never expect an email reply in one day or even one week.
• WAIT FOR FEW WEEKS before you send a follow up email
•
5. Sometime professor are busy
• They are travelling, or they are in conferences or on vacation. IF they don't
reply don't bombard them with tons of emails. (follow rule 4)
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  To do list
 Applying for scholarships or phd is long process. IT could take 1 year or even longer so
have SABR (patience).
 Please, always attach cover letter with you CV
• Write about your interests and your plan of work and why you choosing
this university and lab.
• This way you can write one paragraph email: tell them what have you
done, what you want to do and talk to them about their research area and
why are you interested in it.
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• Know your self
• Know your strength
• Use your strength to overcome shortcoming
• Better planning is important
• Better SEARCH before research
– Position search
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• Choosing the right lab
• It is not the ranking of the university
• Rather it is:
– Research goal of the lab
– The Quality of research
– The Principal investigator
– Facilities
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• Consideration of University
• Prefer university where you know someone already
• Avoid any expensive city
• Avoid any less known city or university
• Target mediocre institutions
– Less competition
– Less stress in terms of research and study
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Help with CV, Email, Cove letter, etc

• I am willing to help you with all three
• Send me your CV, Email, letters
• Let’s plan for chat to:
– Discuss your plans
– Any further questions
– Comments on your CV, Email, letters