Boris B.
About me
| Boris B. | |
| Biology | |
| Ecology (Biology) | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Derwent | |
| 2015 | |
| Bulgaria |
My employment
| PhD | |
| PhD in Plant Sciences | |
| University of Cambridge | |
| United Kingdom | |
| 2015 | |
| 2019 |
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Tropical ecologist/PhD student
Why I continued studying
I like ecology and I am passionate about tropical research, hence a research/academic careers is something that would be a good fit for me. A doctoral degree is an essential component for the would of academia and I have not considered any alternatives to be honest.
What my course is like
Unlike some other PhD programmes, I am not required to take any classes, so I can focus on my research project full time. I have a lot of freedom to choose which direction to go and what questions to tackle. My first year is probationary, which means the progress I make and the feasibility of my project are assessed after the first three terms before I am allowed to continue.
I have the opportunity to lead supervisions (tutorials) for undergraduate students and also demonstrate in practical classes.
How I have funded my studies
My course is funded by a NERC Doctoral training partnership. This covers my tuition fees, research costs and also includes a stipend (c. £14 000/a). I was also offered the Vice Chancellor scholarship by the Cambridge Trust, which has similar conditions, but had to decline it since I could only accept one.
What I like most
I like that I am given the freedom to do what I like; that I have the opportunity to be involved in teaching and also have access to numerous networking opportunities.
What I like least
Cambridge is a very decentralised university, which often means you need to go through a fair bit of bureaucracy even for small things to ensure everyone is on the same page. This may feel a bit frustrating at first, but once you learn the right course of action for your request, this is not a big issue, especially since everyone is very happy to help you.
Where I hope to be in 5 years
Plans after I finish my course:
It is difficult to create plans so far in the future, but the usual progression includes working as a post-doctoral researcher. I would also enjoy getting involved in forming environmental policy or in science outreach.
My advice to students considering further study
I think the most successful strategy is to find something that you are passionate about and try to make a career out of it. This will make all intermediate steps (like doing further study) much easier. Furthermore, knowing where you are headed to would make other people more willing to help you. Keep an eye open for opportunities, go for the ones you like, and if you cannot find anything that suits you, create your own. I did not do a year in industry or one in Europe, which are great way to gather some experience outside your course, so I made the most out of the summer between my second and third year to compensate. I did an internship at the National University of Singapore, which the Centre for Global Programmes was kind to fund in a large part. I was then invited to join a research project in SE Asia as a field assistant, which was also a great experience. Such experiences not only develop a handful of skills but also show the people looking at your application that you are serious about what you do (I like to think of it as honest signalling - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_theory#Honest_signals).
Contacting me
I will be very happy to talk to you if you are considering further study. Do feel free to send me a message!
Next steps...
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