Okay a simple one here for ppl.I am sure this would have individual perspectives but I waned to put up this query anyways. The situation is that I have a interview scheduled in few days. I have been told that I wud be paid the to and fro charges along with a one-night hotel stay. I waned to know is there a limit as to what I am allowed to afford ? (I am sure i wud hv one). The train and flight charges vary a lot,also the train journey seems to be really long(8 hours).I tried to clarify this with the secretary of the school and she seems to be on a long easter holiday, not answering any of my queries regarding tickets.(The prof. had asked me to contact her anything regarding my travel plans).Another Q is that : Is it okay if I travel a 4-5 days before the interview date ? Would the dates of travel matter at all when I apply for reimbursement ?

Try www.voipcheap.com, the cheapest that I hv come across offlate.

hey richmond, sorry for a dealyed reply.

Is there a lack of positions? Or is it that none interest you?

I would opt for the second one.

And thats what I am doing right now, i.e. whether or not the concerned department has any topic for me to work on.unfortunately with less success yet but am optimistic.

Yeah,thats indeed a good suggestion of picking up a project and then trying to negotiate with the professor.I have rarely seen / heard professors deviating much from the actual topic but again it depends on the prof and the source of funding he has.

Is anyone doing a PhD in Aerodynamic Design optimization in our members at all ?!?! coz I waned to know I not the odd one out and also the states option is more or less ruled out for me due to some other constraints ans also i never fancied working or studying there.Dont know why..!

@ Richmond,

Unfortunately I dont know any of me seniors doing a PhD may be due to the fact that I am graduating from a German Univ of applied sciences and the immidieate step in almost all the cases is a job in the industry instead of a PhD.

I indeed have already queried in my workplace (where I am currently doing my Master thesis) and I do get a few suggestions.Thats some help indeed.

It could also be a scenario that most of the profs feel I am too young(as in experience) to actaully decide on a topic as my cv does not boast big names and univs in it.possible.

@ coastman , Thanks for the 'imperial' link.

But what I want to know is : I have thoroughly gone through some of the posts in the forum.Considering the fact that I am compromising on the topic and am searching only for the general area as in 'aerodynamics',I am unable to find a topic currently which intrests me.I am searching in www.findaphd.com,www.dfg.de,www.jobs.ac.uk,www.science-jobs.de and a few more.What do i do as I know I am running short of time ? Could anyone suggest some more websites and search criterions ?

Thanks for simplifying the situation.I understand what u mean.I intend to do my PhD preferably in Germany/Netherlands/Swiss.Now there's something which I need to clarify.I always thought the start of the PhD depends on the univ (mostly they follow the normal routine of the semesters )But I also observed a few of 'em offering PhD's all thru the year,though less in number.(no particular deadline as such).Do the afore mentioned have any preferences in ur opinion? Coming back to my actual query,I have less success at finding the univs offering a PhD with the topic that enthuses me though it has a huge department dedicated to aerodynamics.For ex. 'Aerodyanamic Contour determination using experimantal techniques(wind tunnels)' juss to mention .....ever came across such situation or am I sounding stupid ?

True.I came across this notion as well.I am currently doing Msc final sem.Want to pursue a PhD in Aerodynamics.But,In my case,I am wanting to let the profs know what I am intrested in, the sort of work,the topic or topics that I would want to deal with.In mentioning the 'general area' while I am trying to convey my intrests would that suffice the needs ?

Hey guys,all am certain about at the moment is that i want to do a PhD for sure.But am somehow unable to find the univ offering the exact topic of my intrests.Am apprehensive may be its my search thats flawed.I tried out another way,instead of searching for ads on the net and then applying for a specific ad,I tried looking out for departments / labs working on topics same as my intrests and started contacting the profs and am yet waiting for some positive replies.All this leads me to think whether it is so difficult to match your exact intrests and that ultimately you gotto compromise on what you have to do? Please guide.