How to write a PhD research proposal?
Writing a research proposal is an inherent requirement for PhD applications and other higher-level academic pathways. To get the best start on your future work, your motivations, research question, and potential project value should be communicated in your proposal.
SVMG PhD student Chi shares his experience planning and writing a research proposal for his PhD application.
How did you find the topic you were interested in?
I have a background in Mechanical Engineering, but I've always been passionate about evolving future technologies like artificial intelligence and Big Data. I selected a PhD topic that combines the best of both worlds, where I'll be exploring the automation of labelling for coronary arteries using neural networks.
How do you approach developing a research question
Overall, remember to keep your expected outcomes and impacts in mind - having an idea of your end goal keeps you motivated! Then think about the following:
- Identify the problem statement or a knowledge gap in the existing research domain. You'll find this as you undergo your literature review and get a solid understanding of the field and current developments.
- Brainstorm for solutions - a good start would be to consult the research in related literature (if any) or reach out for expert advice. This could come in the form of your supervisor or other contacts in the field.
- Identify objectives and a methodology for your solution. It's good to have a starting point, but this will evolve as you refine your work.
What makes a research proposal different?
In prior years, you might have written lab reports and research essays; these all rely on existing methods that are proven to work. In the research domain, it isn't that straightforward. Existing methods can always be further improved and developed to push research further. Planning and writing a research proposal gives you the chance to think more creatively and come up with innovative ideas to tackle a problem.
Are there any particular resources you could recommend for writing a proposal?
Research papers - To find research papers, I found Scopus and Google Scholar to be particularly useful. Ensuring the research you find is up-to-date and of high quality is paramount to forming a comprehensive literature review. All articles on Scopus are peer-reviewed, and both sites offer a way to search by 'Publication date' and see a paper's 'Cited by' section. To find the latest, open-source scientific papers arXiv was another useful resource - some of the papers are really interesting! However, use this site with discretion, as not all articles are peer-reviewed on the platform.
Writing tools - Use Grammarly! Even the free version is very helpful in checking minor spelling or grammatical mistakes.
Making figures - You'll want to include your own figures, diagrams and flowcharts in your proposal - draw.io is a very convenient in-browser platform for sketching flowcharts or diagrams.
What writing tips could you give a future student?
- Write your research proposal or thesis in LaTeX - it's like Microsoft Word, but for perfectionists. 10/10 would recommend. There is a bit of a learning curve, but trust me, the outcome is very satisfying. Many people use the online LaTeX editor , and there are a tonne of resources on the internet when it comes to troubleshooting issues.
- Plan ahead and start writing early – you can always write a literature review and introduction section while you wait for your experimental results.
- Be proud of your work! Your research contributes to the knowledge pool of mankind. Who knows, your research might be useful for humans in the future.