Hi Jovoy, both projects are good! But I would choose the identification of interactions is a better choice. Many diseases arise from uncontrolled or enhcnaced protein-protein interactions, and if you can identify novel interacting protein, you may design a drug to block the interaction, potentially treating the disease.

Besides the project itself, you also have to consider the resources you can get from your institute or supervisor. You gonna spend your 3 or 4 years for a PhD, the work environment and the support from those people are also important factors that you should also consider.

Remember, doing a PhD is not just for experience and techniques, but also your networking skills with the others. Hope these are helpful.

Thanks guys !!

Sometimes it's hard for her to make a decision as changing to a new work environment could be worse than what she gets now. Do you guys think it's better for her to carry on the project to a PhD level as she doesn't have to set up anything again in a new lab OR

Start it all over again with a new project?

Hi all,

I have a friend who is doing her MSc research degree at a university. She likes her project and she really wants to do a PhD afterwards.

However, she doesn't know if she wants to carry on this research project for PhD after MSc this year, as what she is doing now is following the protocol (the techniques are well-established). She worries this won't be a proper PhD training if she carry on this project for PhD.

Do you guys think she should stay or leave to start a new project elsewhere?

Hi, a bit out of the main topic: I wonder do you still get your degree certificate for completion of your masters degree b4 transferring to your 2nd year of PhD?

To Claudia: Which "brand new building" ? Is it the Wellcome Trust Brenner Building?

To Aloha: Can you tell me more about the St Jame's Hospital site?

Many thanks !! Great advice !! I have made the decision now.

Smilodon
Long-term potential is definitely the project in Leeds.

Do you think if I go for Cambridge in the end (for the name), it is not the actual meaning for a PhD to work for science?

Claudia
I will be based in St James Hospital - developing technique to treat cancer.

I have been to the 2 places and met the supervisors, they are all nice and I had a great time there.

But clearly, the lab in Leeds has more funding and the supervisor in Leeds provides me the very best - the project, the assistants, the equipments and tutor to look after me. While in Cambridge, the lab is smaller with older equipments but the research atmosphere is brilliant... so hard to choose..

Hi all,

I have offered a PhD position in both Cambridge and Leeds.

In Leeds, the supervisor is famous in the UK (He is really good in his research area), while in Cambridge the supervisor is less famous but the university itself has global reputation.

Which one to choose? Please help!

Some people say the reputation of supervisor is far more important than the university itself... is it true?

In academic area, is it always true that the name of your supervisor is far, far more important than the university you study in?

Thank you all for the comments!

Yes, I have actually met them both, but it's hard to choose really. The one in Cambridge is actually at MRC LMB, I found the laboratory (the building i meant) itself very inspiring. However, the group is averaged size but the project certainly interests me !

The other guy was working in MRC LMB too, he has international reputation for his work, and now he takes the position as a director of a newly built institute. He seems to be a busy person but what he told me about the research is truly encouraging. If I do a PhD there, I will likely be supervised by the post-docs on a daily basis. Is it normal??

The supervisor is a Fellow of Royal society and a Fellow of Medical Science, he was previously working in Cambridge but moved to the north to act as a director of an institute.

Sometimes I am struggling to choose between a PhD degree from Oxbridge, but working with a great supervisor is also an advantage...

In terms of job perspective in the future, how would you choose?

What do you guys think if you have to choose between a reputable supervisor in an area but working in a less prestigious university OR a PhD from a prestigious university (e.g. Oxbridge) but with a less reputable guy?