Case studies : Trainee clinical scientist and PhD student: Tom Okell

Tom Okell is a trainee clinical scientist and PhD student. He is undertaking a DPhil in Clinical Neurology while working for an NHS Trust. He has a degree in natural sciences and an MSc in Medical and Radiation Physics.

The NHS is supporting my PhD as it counts towards my Part 2 clinical scientist training. I spend one day a week on NHS work, but mostly concentrate on the PhD, which I hope to complete in three years. The NHS support only lasts for two years, so I also have a grant from the MRC (Medical Research Council). They are paying my tuition fees for the three years and a stipend, which is a maintenance grant to live on and travel expenses.

About a year before starting a PhD it is sensible to meet with your proposed supervisor, to discuss potential research areas. Even better would be to have done an internship or spent some time in the department in which you are interested in finding a PhD position. I met my supervisor through contacts in the hospital department I work for and I already had a particular interest in MRI which is his area of specialism. On enquiring about the possibilities of offering me a PhD placement, he suggested applying for funding from the MRC. If you get funding for a PhD, generally the university offering the PhD will accept you. You’ll find that applications and interviews for funding are often more competitive than setting up a PhD itself.

Choice of supervisor is very important; this can greatly affect your enjoyment of the experience and how successful it might be. It is preferable to have a community of like-minded research students you can talk to and bounce your ideas off, but if you are more isolated it is even more important to have a good relationship with your supervisor.

My MSc was fairly similar to my undergraduate study and not radically more difficult. With a PhD you are much more left to your own devices; you are working towards an end point and creating original work. You have to develop your own methodologies, do your own background reading and make sure you really understand the topic. I am hoping to go on and do more academic research in the future, so the PhD is almost an essential requirement in this respect. My ideal job would be part time NHS, part-time academia.

My tips to other graduates considering a PhD is that you have to be very interested in your research topic and have faith in the value of what you are doing. It is important to really enjoy doing research; it is not enough to want to be a ‘Dr’ or do it merely because you think it will further your career. It is intellectually challenging and you really have to be devoted to make it work. One of the most positive aspects is you are always doing new things, developing your ideas and bouncing them off other people; it is dynamic and exciting.