Suggestions for a PhD field?

[DeadCactus]

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Hey everyone,

I'm basically looking for some suggestions on PhD fields to look into that suit my interests and would mesh well with a clinical career. Being only an undergrad, my research experience is limited so it is a bit daunting to pick a field, but I have managed to narrow down the major themes that I have found most interesting.

I don't have the exposure really to know what sort of curriculum would be best to open up avenues of research for the optimal combination of my interests. My hope was to post my interests and get some feedback on routes to consider.

The top two for me are mathematical modeling/analysis and electromagnetics (specifically optics and lasers). The papers, seminars, lectures, etc that I have found consistently most interesting are those dealing with the modeling and computation of fluid flow and the use of lasers for imaging and ablation/surgery.

Second on the list are biomedical instrumentation/device design and non-laser forms of imaging.

It seems like a Biomedical Engineering degree would be the route to go, but I wonder if an Applied Mathematics degree might be something to consider (assuming I can get a program to approve it).

Does it even really matter? I mean when it really gets down to it, would it really matter what specific Math, Science, or Engineering PhD I have?

 

[gbwillner]

Bioengineering sounds like a perfect fit for you. Applied mathematics is tough since I doubt many programs would allow you to do it as part of an MSTP. I'm sure there are some exceptions (perhaps the UCLA/CalTech program).

 

[FoxTrot12]

I agree, biomedical engineering would probably leave a lot more doors open. And you're right, it might not matter specifically what your degree is since so many of the projects can be addressed from a number of directions. There is SO much cool work going on in imaging right now I'm sure you'll have no problem finding something that flips your lid!

 

[solitude]

Bioengineering sounds like a perfect fit for you. Applied mathematics is tough since I doubt many programs would allow you to do it as part of an MSTP. I'm sure there are some exceptions (perhaps the UCLA/CalTech program).

Anecdotally, I also met people doing math PhDs at WashU and Michigan. Before you decide, it wouldn't hurt to e-mail prospective programs across the board and see which ones are open to the idea. (They might even say on their websites of course.)

 

[DeadCactus]

On a side note:

I recently made a thread asking about whether doing an Engineering PhD would on average take longer than one of the more traditional fields (due to the likelihood that more coursework would be required due to less overlap).

The general consensus was that while the course load may or may not be higher, the nature of research in engineering leads to shorter research length.

I was curious if anyone had any similar insight into Mathematics research?

 

[gbwillner]

On a side note:

I recently made a thread asking about whether doing an Engineering PhD would on average take longer than one of the more traditional fields (due to the likelihood that more coursework would be required due to less overlap).

The general consensus was that while the course load may or may not be higher, the nature of research in engineering leads to shorter research length.

I was curious if anyone had any similar insight into Mathematics research?

From what I've seen at my institution this seems to hold true (about engineering, anyway). I emagine mathematics to be similar. Anytime you are working with computer models or calculations the time restrictions are basically how much you are willing to work each day. You don't have to worry about your animals dying, your cells not growing, and you hypotheses being plain wrong (or maybe not as much).

 

[RxnMan]

...The general consensus was that while the course load may or may not be higher, the nature of research in engineering leads to shorter research length...

I think that there is less overlap, and that'll add a year to your classroom studies, but an engineering PhD will still take ~3 years in the lab. If in comparison to the 4-5 years in the lab for the med science PhDs that post here, I think you're just robbing Peter to pay Paul - the overall time to graduation may be the same.

The best thing to do is to check with your schools and see exactly what their requirements are. If you have some contact/temporary advisor, talk to them and have them help you. From my experience, the department you get your degree can some times be just a title - part of it is due to your interests, but degree requirements, and which department your project is located plays a part too.

...I was curious if anyone had any similar insight into Mathematics research?

If you're talking pure math PhD, the thesis defense is usually easier - because nobody on your committee will understand what you did, so they'll just give you a pass. And the thesis usually ends up being <50 pages, 'cause all you have is the manipulations you derived (I'm joking, of course).

 

[mudphudwannabe]

I am doing mathematical/computational biology research, and I'm in the biophysics graduate program. My philosophy is that your PhD is going to be more about your research project than the classes you take, so don't worry too much about what department your degree will come from. For me, biophysics was a good fit because they are very flexible about course requirements (there aren't many required courses), no qualifying exams, and the program is very interdisciplinary. My advisor is in the math department, and in general people from lots of different departments are trainers in the program. Keep in mind that you don't have to get a math or engineering PhD to do math/engineering research - you should only go that route if you think the coursework and requirements of those programs will be beneficial to you.

I personally wouldn't dream of doing a math PhD - even though I was a math major in undergrad, I don't really have the math background to put me on par with math graduate students. The math department here has a ton of course requirements, plus qualifying exams and teaching requirements that in my opinion would mostly distract me from the main reason I am getting a PhD, which is to do research. From talking to people in the math department, it seems math PhD's typically take 6-8 years, but applied math tends to be on the shorter end.

So, I guess my general advice is to consider doing math/engineering research but getting your PhD from an interdisciplinary biological science program to make your life easier (and your PhD shorter..). 😀 I'd be happy to answer any questions, either here or via PM. 🙂

 

[DeadCactus]

That's a good point.

For the purposes of applying, does my intended PhD field matter? I mean, can I just focus on what schools are conducting research I'm interested, pick a PhD in that general area, and then if I get in start worrying about possibly changing fields to make things more efficient? Or is it difficult to change fields?

 

[mudphudwannabe]

I think for most schools you do not have to pick a PhD program when you apply. I'm not sure what the timeline of different schools is, but at my school people generally start thinking about what PhD program they would like to join during 2nd year of med school after they have done their lab rotations and picked out a lab. Professors are often trainers in multiple PhD programs, and becoming a trainer in a program that is at least loosely related to their research is usually just a matter of paperwork.

You might want to have some stock responses in mind in case you are asked what PhD program you are interested in on the interview trail - I think I was asked a couple of times. I said something general that indicated that I was flexible - that I would be able to do the research I wanted to do with in a biological science PhD program. Unless you know for sure that the particular MSTP you are looking at encourages people to get Math PhD's, I would not say Math if you are asked in an interview (even if you are considering it). It may reflect badly on you depending on your interviewer's thoughts on the issue, plus it might just be awkward if the interviewer knows they will not support people in a Math PhD. Biomedical engineering is actually a fairly common PhD program, so I don't think you would need to avoid talking about that.

Anyway, in general, I would not worry too much about a PhD program right now. It may be helpful to look at schools that at least have a math department (and a biomedical engineering program) so you could look for potential PhD advisors in math and/or collaborate with people in the department even if you don't end up doing a math PhD.