Preparing for PhD Graduate School: Are You Ready?

Are you thinking about pursuing a PhD degree but not quite sure where to start?

Embarking on a PhD candidature is unlike applying for a typical coursework programme, and it also requires a significant commitment. In addition to the choice of educational institution, there are considerations such as of the choice of department and the specific research topic. Applicants may be required to undertake assessments (such as the Graduate Record Examinations, GRE) as part of the application process for some PhD programmes.

Join us for this session to learn more about what are the things to consider before embarking on a PhD candidature, and how you can start preparing and getting ready for the application.

In this session, you will:

• Understand the motivation and career planning considerations that will enable you to embark on a successful PhD candidature.
• Gain insights on a typical PhD application timeline and the other essential aspects such as choice of research topic, funding options, and additional assessments required as part of the application process.
• Hear from our guest speaker on his personal considerations, expectations and learnings of from embarking on a PhD candidature.

Who should attend?

• Year 2 and 3 Undergraduates who are planning to pursue PhD studies.
• Year 4 Undergraduates or Masters students who may be considering pursuing PhD studies in the near future.

This workshop is one of the event day talks happening at NUS Career Fest 2024.

Speakers

Benjamin Tan
Doctor of Philosophy (Organic Chemistry),University of Oxford
Bachelor of Science (Honours First Class) in Chemistry, with Minor in Life Sciences,National University of Singapore
Postgraduate Career Advisor, NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates

Benjamin believes that education is not just about equipping oneself with the required technical knowledge, but also a process of personal growth.

He is keen to use his experiences from being a PhD student, research scientist, and research administrator to partner students in their journey of curating a distinct combination of relevant skills as their unique selling point, and to develop a keen sense of career opportunities available which would serve to benefit regardless of their career stage.

Cheah Yan Ling
Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science & Engineering,Nanyang Technological University
Masters in Materials Science,Erasmus Mundus MaMaSELF Université de Rennes 1, France and Universita degli Studi di Torino, Italy
Industry Relations Manager, NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates

A career is a journey.

As an Industry Relations Manager, Yan Ling enjoys working with industry stakeholders and facilitating students in discovering their professional pathways. Drawing from her own transformative journey—from being an uncertain undergraduate to a dedicated researcher and engineer, and presently as a career practitioner—Yan Ling is passionate about empowering others to continually develop and progress in both their personal and professional lives.

May Koh
Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science & Engineering,Nanyang Technological University
Postgraduate Career Advisor, NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates

May brings over a decade of profound scientific research expertise in biomedical materials for the Medtech industry, coupled with the successful completion of two postdoctoral fellowships at Linköping University, Sweden and National University of Singapore. As she pivoted from a research scientist to a career advisor, she unveiled a deep-seated passion for nurturing and developing the untapped potential within individuals guiding them on a journey of self-discovery. Outside of work, she engages in volunteer work as a befriender, proactively connecting with the social community to collect and preserve interesting stories that contribute significantly to the preservation of Singapore's diverse cultural heritage.

Hadi Osni
Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture, National University of Singapore
Senior Community Researcher (Heritage, Design and Architecture), My Community

Hadi graduated with a PhD in 2023, while starting a family and managing a full-time job at My Community. Dedicated to preserving community heritage, Hadi's doctoral research focused on digitally reconstructing lost architecture through the memories of past residents. Beyond academia, he actively volunteered with organisations involving children, youth, and adults. As a Senior Community Researcher at My Community, he fosters partnerships, manages cultural mapping initiatives, and leads heritage research projects aimed at preserving and sharing community narratives.