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I’m 31 years old and currently employed as a Business Development Manager for a Biotech company who develop and create specialist research tools for the life science research sector.



I have a BSc in Genetics and an MSc in Forensics. I have around 4 years lab based R&D experience within the diagnostic sector and almost 3 years experience in the sales sector. One of my biggest regrets was not doing a PhD. I have a young family and get well paid in my current job and therefore not willing to quit and pursue a full time PhD. Although, even if I did I doubt I will get a studentship since despite being employed very technical consultative role it’s been ages since I have been in a lab. Therefore, my realistic option would be to do a part-time PhD, however I cannot afford to pay the £7-14k lab fees on top of the tuition fees for 6 years!!



So that only leaves me with the option of a “non-lab based Scientific PhD” – Im finding it very difficult to come up with an interesting research proposal. I would like it to be within the topic of Forensics and have identified a potential supervisor but coming up with something original is proving more difficult than I thought!! I can think of some good ideas for lab based Forenisc Phds's but when it comes to non lab based one, Im drawing a blank. Another option is the social science approach and looking to ethical side of Forensics but the ideas that I come up with are so cliched and unoriginal. I would be very grateful if someone could recommend some good websites on the topic and also some hints and tips of proposal writing and how I should approach try to think of a good idea for a thesis.

As somebody who knows nothing about Forensics or lab based science and not all that much about writing a proposal, but who is starting on a project very much within the social sciences...
READ.
Until you have some idea as to what you are interested in I suggest reading books and journals. Writing a proposal that 'ticks the boxes' is probably going to be the easy part. If you do not have a question that you think is interesting and useful but you cannot find an answer to then you are probably not going to be that excited about embarking on a PhD.

Have you already got experience doing non-lab based research? Just because you aren't using expensive chemicals does not mean you do not need to have a solid background in methodology. Are you going to do a grad certificate first to cover the relevant fields?

Also, I know you are being honest, but if you say you are going to look at a non-lab based question as a 'cheaper option' then you are probably not going to make many friends.

======= Date Modified 29 May 2010 12:55:19 =======
Maybe I'm being dense here but if you have good ideas for lab based forensic projects could you not aapply for funding to cover research costs?

Other than that agree with the idea of reading lots til you find something that really interests you. I like my PhD but don't find it fascinating, and am finding motivation to finish my third year waning. Anyway I know you were asking for reccommedations of things to read to think about but I don't know a huge amount about foresics to point you in any direction. The only thing I know even avague amount is forensic psychology (which I guess wuld be non lab based) but don't know if this is the sort of thing that would interest you or follow from your previous experience.


editted to say good luck finding a topic

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