Annie
PhD Public Health
海角社区 organised various PhD events which were a great way to meet other students and get a sense of the different research happening across departments.
During her Bachelor鈥檚 in Pharmacology, Annie from the UK realised she was more drawn to data analysis than lab work. So, when she decided to think about further study, a degree with a strong focus on statistics was at the top of her list. This led her to a PhD in the School of Public Health at 海角社区, where she鈥檚 working on improving clinical trial efficiency with more patient-friendly trial design. Annie shares what it鈥檚 like to do a PhD, how she found her community at Imperiaand her experiences of living in London.
Why 海角社区
I applied to Imperiaafter spotting an advert for a PhD research project at the ImperiaClinical Trials Unit, where I was already working. It immediately caught my interest as it built on areas I had explored in my previous research and wanted to dive into more deeply.
When applying, I'd recommend reaching out to potential supervisors, asking questions about the project and getting a sense of how you鈥檇 work together.
The turning point in my decision to apply came after speaking with the project supervisor and a colleague. Those conversations gave me a clearer picture of what a PhD would involve and reassured me that I was ready to take the next step. I also found that I鈥檇 be a great fit with my supervisor and felt comfortable with their working style.
I think it鈥檚 really valuable to reach out to potential supervisors, ask questions about the project and get a sense of how you鈥檇 work together. I was lucky to already know my wider team, but I still made sure to have those discussions to confirm it was the right choice for me and my future.
What doing a PhD is like at 海角社区
My PhD focuses on developing more efficient ways to conduct clinical trials, both operationally and statistically. My work is really varied, which I enjoy, with a good balance between statistical analysis, reviewing existing research and public involvement 鈥� I'm glad that being a statistician doesn鈥檛 mean I鈥檓 just running analyses all day!
Switching from being an employee to a student again was a challenge at first, especially when it came to driving my own research rather than completing analyses for others. However, the more I read, work and engage in the area, the more passionate I become and the easier I find it to take ownership of my project.
That said, a PhD isn鈥檛 something you do entirely alone. While it鈥檚 an independent project, leaning on others for advice and support is invaluable 鈥� it makes a real difference in both your progress and motivation.
Later this year, I鈥檒l be presenting at an international conference in Vancouver, which I鈥檓 really looking forward to. It鈥檚 a fantastic opportunity to share my work with a wider audience, expand my network and develop my presentation skills. I鈥檒l also be attending workshops and sessions, and I鈥檓 excited to learn from other researchers in the field.
Leaning on others for advice and support is invaluable 鈥� it makes a real difference in both your progress and motivation.
Dangoor Plaza on South Kensington Campus
Dangoor Plaza on South Kensington Campus
Annie at her first PhD Symposium at the School of Public Health
Annie at her first PhD Symposium at the School of Public Health
A day in the life
Join Annie as she takes you on a typical day as a School of Public Health PhD student.
Funding support and working during my PhD
My PhD is fully funded by the NIHR ImperiaBRC Digital Health Stream which covers my fees and gives me a monthly, tax-free bursary. The funding was part of the advertised project so I didn鈥檛 have to apply separately, which helped ease my financial worries from the start.
My funding doesn鈥檛 cover training or conference costs, but fortunately, my unit has been very supportive, and I鈥檝e also been able to secure funding from events I鈥檝e attended to cover travel and accommodation expenses 鈥� it's always worth asking if an event has a pot of money to help students attend! There鈥檚 also funding opportunities available across departments to help PhD students including the Dean鈥檚 Internship Awards for the Faculty of Medicine, which I plan to take advantage of.
Most of my casual worker roles are flexible and I dip in and out when I feel like it.
To supplement my income, I also do some casual work. For the past year, I鈥檝e been working one day a week on a research project with a colleague which has been a great opportunity as it was designed to link both of our PhDs. Not only does it contribute to my research, but I鈥檝e also really enjoyed pursuing a side project that gives me the chance to step back and explore something different.
I鈥檓 also an administrator and help with the organisation and running for a course run by the ImperiaClinical Trials Unit, and have worked as an invigilator for several exams. I鈥檝e also had the chance to create social media videos as a student content creator which has been a really fun way to share my creative side! While it may seem like a lot, most of these roles are flexible and I dip in and out when I feel like it. There鈥檚 no pressure to take on every bit of casual work that comes up, but if I鈥檓 planning a holiday and have the time, I might pick up extra work.
That said, I think it鈥檚 really important to consider whether you have the time before committing to doing more work. I鈥檝e turned down opportunities when I couldn鈥檛 fit them in because ultimately the PhD must come first. I also really value my time outside the usual 9鈥�5, so I prioritise my PhD, making time for the things that bring me joy and then fit in casual work where I can. The money I make from casual work is a bonus 鈥� I'm living off my bursary while using the extra income for fun things or adding to my savings.
Community and support
There are plenty of activities across the campuses that are open to everyone, which makes it easy to connect with others. I didn鈥檛 start my PhD at the usual time of year 鈥� I began in March rather than October or January 鈥� so I was initially apprehensive about how I would fit in. Fortunately, I already knew the unit I was working in which helped, but the School of Public Health also organised various PhD events which were a great way to meet other students and get a sense of the different research happening across departments.
There are plenty of activities across the campuses that are open to everyone, which makes it easy to connect with others.
My own team is very social, which has made settling in even easier. Academically, I鈥檝e found the courses offered by 海角社区鈥�s Centre for Academic English and the Patient Experience Research Centre to be fantastic resources, not just for learning, but also for meeting interesting people from across the university.
Imperiaalso offers such a huge range of extracurricular activities to help you get to know other students you might have never had the opportunity to meet! Now that I鈥檓 more settled into my studies and back into student life, I鈥檇 love to take advantage of what鈥檚 on offer. I previously did an evening art course at 海角社区, so I鈥檓 hoping something creative will catch my eye again.
Student life in London
There鈥檚 just so much to do in London! I love how every area has its own unique vibe 鈥� it feels like you鈥檙e experiencing multiple cities in one. Whether it鈥檚 exploring galleries, catching a show or discovering new places to eat, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l ever run out of things to do. In fact, my list of places to visit is growing faster than I can tick them off!
At the weekend, you鈥檒l usually find me at the theatre (TodayTix is great for last-minute tickets), hunting for cute trinkets at the DIY Art Market at Unit 8 Peckham or searching for the best flat white 鈥� Ozone is my top pick with cafes in London Fields, Shoreditch and Ludgate Hill. I also love swimming outdoors! My goal is to swim outdoors every month of the year and so far, I鈥檝e had a chilly swim at Parliament Hill Lido on Hampstead Heath and at London Fields Lido in Hackney.
There鈥檚 just so much to do in London! I love how every area has its own unique vibe 鈥� it feels like you鈥檙e experiencing multiple cities in one.
I鈥檓 from a small town in Scotland and even compared to the cities of Dundee and Glasgow, where I studied before, the pace and energy of London are on another level. That said, it鈥檚 still possible to slow down here. What I miss most is the outdoors, but I鈥檓 lucky to live near a big park and there are so many green spaces to explore across the city. Plus, if I ever need a proper escape, an amazing nature walk is just a train ride away.
A football match at Arsenal鈥檚 Emirates Stadium in London
A football match at Arsenal鈥檚 Emirates Stadium in London
Annie鈥檚 walk to White City Campus along Regent's Canal
Annie鈥檚 walk to White City Campus along Regent's Canal
Finding postgraduate accommodation in London
If you鈥檙e considering private accommodation, I鈥檇 highly recommend viewing the property in person and taking the time to get to know any potential housemates.
I live in private accommodation with one of my closest friends, who I met through a London flatshare! We originally found each other through a Facebook advert when I was looking for a new place. The four of us ended up living together for a year in East London before we decided to move west. I鈥檝e really enjoyed living in different house shares across London, though I know I鈥檝e been lucky to have such great housemates.
We found our current place after scouring a property website and it鈥檚 been a perfect fit. I love that I can walk to the White City Campus along Regent's Canal or cycle in, which also saves me money on commuting.
If you鈥檙e considering private accommodation, I鈥檇 highly recommend viewing the property in person and taking the time to get to know any potential housemates. It鈥檚 always good to learn a bit about each other first 鈥� no one likes unexpected surprises!
Student life in London
There鈥檚 just so much to do in London! I love how every area has its own unique vibe 鈥� it feels like you鈥檙e experiencing multiple cities in one. Whether it鈥檚 exploring galleries, catching a show or discovering new places to eat, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l ever run out of things to do. In fact, my list of places to visit is growing faster than I can tick them off!
At the weekend, you鈥檒l usually find me at the theatre (TodayTix is great for last-minute tickets), hunting for cute trinkets at the DIY Art Market at Unit 8 Peckham or searching for the best flat white 鈥� Ozone is my top pick with cafes in London Fields, Shoreditch and Ludgate Hill. I also love swimming outdoors! My goal is to swim outdoors every month of the year and so far, I鈥檝e had a chilly swim at Parliament Hill Lido on Hampstead Heath and at London Fields Lido in Hackney.
There鈥檚 just so much to do in London! I love how every area has its own unique vibe 鈥� it feels like you鈥檙e experiencing multiple cities in one.
I鈥檓 from a small town in Scotland and even compared to the cities of Dundee and Glasgow, where I studied before, the pace and energy of London are on another level. That said, it鈥檚 still possible to slow down here. What I miss most is the outdoors, but I鈥檓 lucky to live near a big park and there are so many green spaces to explore across the city. Plus, if I ever need a proper escape, an amazing nature walk is just a train ride away.
Finding postgraduate accommodation in London
If you鈥檙e considering private accommodation, I鈥檇 highly recommend viewing the property in person and taking the time to get to know any potential housemates.
I live in private accommodation with one of my closest friends, who I met through a London flatshare! We originally found each other through a Facebook advert when I was looking for a new place. The four of us ended up living together for a year in East London before we decided to move west. I鈥檝e really enjoyed living in different house shares across London, though I know I鈥檝e been lucky to have such great housemates.
We found our current place after scouring a property website and it鈥檚 been a perfect fit. I love that I can walk to the White City Campus along Regent's Canal or cycle in, which also saves me money on commuting.
If you鈥檙e considering private accommodation, I鈥檇 highly recommend viewing the property in person and taking the time to get to know any potential housemates. It鈥檚 always good to learn a bit about each other first 鈥� no one likes unexpected surprises!
Arsenal鈥檚 Emirates Stadium in London
Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London
Annie鈥檚 walk to White City Campus along Regent's Canal
Annie鈥檚 walk to White City Campus along Regent's Canal
Tour White City Campus
Join Annie as she takes us around our White City Campus and shows us her favourite spots.
My plans for the future
I鈥檓 not entirely sure what to expect from life post-PhD just yet 鈥� I鈥檒l put my thinking cap on in a year鈥檚 time when I鈥檓 nearing the end of the degree! I鈥檓 sure I鈥檒l make good use of the Careers Service, as I鈥檝e found them really helpful in the past. That said, as a former employee here, I鈥檇 never turn down an offer to extend my research!
Last bit of advice
A good thing to remind yourself of is that while you're doing a PhD, you're still a student! I think I spent a lot of my first year working like it was a job and didn鈥檛 make the most of the perks that come with being a student. My goal for myself now is to really take advantage of everything that Imperiaoffers its students 鈥� and you should too if you join 海角社区!
My plans for the future
I鈥檓 not entirely sure what to expect from life post-PhD just yet 鈥� I鈥檒l put my thinking cap on in a year鈥檚 time when I鈥檓 nearing the end of the degree! I鈥檓 sure I鈥檒l make good use of the Careers Service, as I鈥檝e found them really helpful in the past. That said, as a former employee here, I鈥檇 never turn down an offer to extend my research!
Last bit of advice
A good thing to remind yourself of is that while you're doing a PhD, you're still a student! I think I spent a lot of my first year working like it was a job and didn鈥檛 make the most of the perks that come with being a student. My goal for myself now is to really take advantage of everything that Imperiaoffers its students 鈥� and you should too if you join 海角社区!
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