How a clear research focus earned Nandita to a fully funded Oxford DPhil

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With four international peer-reviewed publications, experience as a university faculty member, and an interest in medical imaging, Nandita Deb transitioned from laboratory-based research to pursue a DPhil at the University of Oxford.

From working on magnetic nanoparticles and their biomedical applications to preparing for research in cardiac MRI and microstructural imaging at Oxford, Nandita's journey reflects how a research career needs to be built gradually rather than expecting quick outcomes.

"I have always been fascinated by how we can use the principles of physics to solve problems in healthcare. That interest naturally led me towards medical imaging, specifically MRI," Nandita said.

"I am really excited about this because it will allow me to see how academic research can connect with the development of real-world medical imaging technologies," she added.

Nandita will work on cardiac MRI and microstructural imaging to improve the diagnosis and understanding of cardiovascular diseases

The project also involves an industrial collaboration with GE HealthCare, and as part of the DPhil, Nandita will have the opportunity to undertake a three-month research placement at GE HealthCare's Munich office.

Knowing what you want to research

For the MRC DTP iCASE project at Oxford, the research proposal had already been developed, so Nandita did not have to design one herself. Instead, she brought experience from her previous research and academic work to a project with an established research plan.

About where to start a research journey, she said, "I think the first step is to have a clear idea of the problem you want to solve and why it is important. You also need to understand the existing literature well enough to identify a research gap. Then, your objectives and methodology should be realistic and achievable within the time, facilities and resources available."

Nandita also emphasised on what kind of outcome the research can produce and whether it has any real scientific and practical impact or not.

"A good proposal should not just say what you want to do. It should clearly explain why the work is needed, how you plan to do it, and what you hope to contribute through it."

Nandita was always quite clear about hers and that was medical imaging.

"I looked for researchers whose current work was related to medical imaging and where I could also see a connection with my previous research experience. I read their recent publications and tried to understand what kind of work they were doing and where my background could fit in."

Making your application stand out

Nandita emphasised the importance of authenticity and consistency. She advised applicants to use their SOP to tell a clear academic and research story, connecting their past experience, reasons for choosing the programme and future goals rather than simply listing achievements.

"I would avoid vague claims like 'I am hardworking' or 'I am passionate about research'. Instead, use specific examples of projects or challenges to demonstrate your qualities rather than simply stating them."

For recommendation letters, Nandita advised approaching professors or supervisors who know the applicant well and can provide specific examples of their academic ability, research experience, work ethic and potential.

Nandita advised applicants to ensure their documents tell a consistent, credible story about their background and suitability for the programme rather than simply trying to impress.

"I think the key is to be targeted and intentional from the beginning. I did not apply to a large number of universities. I knew I wanted to pursue biomedical and medical imaging research, so I focused on projects that genuinely aligned with my background."

Nandita Deb

Nandita would not recommend applying to a large number of universities without a clear direction. 

Applicants should first identify their research interests and assess how their background aligns with them, then target universities with strengths in their chosen field.

"Consider several factors, including research fit, potential supervisors, facilities, funding, programme structure, career prospects and the overall research environment."

For a career in research, the research group and supervisor can sometimes matter more than the university's overall ranking.

"This is my second PhD application. I received a fully funded offer from a Canadian university in 2020, and in both cases, I prioritised supervisors and research groups whose work aligned with my interests before proceeding with the formal application."

However, this can be different for universities that have a central admission process, where one applies to the university or programme first and is matched with a supervisor later.

Nandita is fortunate to have received the MRC DTP iCASE scholarship, which is a fully funded doctoral studentship. It covers her full tuition fees and provides a stipend for her living expenses throughout the DPhil.

Building a profile before applying

Nandita began building her research profile during her undergraduate years by focusing on her studies. She later completed her Master's thesis and published her findings, gradually strengthening her profile long before applying to Oxford.

Having a strong academic record also helped Nandita. At Oxford, a first-class degree is highly valued, so her high CGPA and academic ranking were imperative. Her research publications and her experience as a university faculty member also strengthened her profile.

"When contacting professors, I tailored my research-interest statement to their work and demonstrated my understanding of their research. Preparation is a long-term process that involves consistently building your academic and research profile, not rushing at the last moment."

After one semester as a Teaching Assistant at BRAC University, Nandita worked as a Physics lecturer at American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) for about a year and a half before joining the University of Dhaka.

Those early teaching experiences helped her become more confident in communicating, working with students and taking academic responsibilities.

At the University of Dhaka, Nandita further developed as a teacher and researcher, gaining research experience, publishing work and taking on greater academic responsibilities. These experiences strengthened her confidence and independence to pursue opportunities abroad while building her academic career in Bangladesh.

"I think the key is to be targeted and intentional from the beginning. I did not apply to a large number of universities. I knew I wanted to pursue biomedical and medical imaging research, so I focused on projects that genuinely aligned with my background."

Nandita researched supervisors' publications and ongoing projects before approaching them, tailoring her research statement to their work. She also prepared thoroughly for interviews.

"I read papers, watched conference talks and tried to understand the project from different angles."

When the funding is uncertain

It was a very intense five-month journey for Nandita. She started with a fairly simple goal of finding a PhD opportunity in biomedical research, and it gradually became a much bigger process involving multiple interviews, research presentations and funding competitions.

There were difficult moments, especially when she received the Oxford offer but the funding was still uncertain. She also went through a funding rejection at Manchester, so there was a point when she genuinely wondered whether she would be able to do a PhD abroad at all.

"What kept me going was knowing that I had already given the process everything I could. I had the support of some wonderful supervisors, my family and people around me who kept encouraging me even when I was unsure of myself."

In the end, receiving the fully funded scholarship was obviously a huge achievement, but the process itself taught Nandita something more personal. It made her realise that sometimes even someone is capable of much more than they initially believe.

"For me, that has probably been the most meaningful part of the journey."