Hi

Can someone explain to me how a PhD by Publication works and what universities offer it?

How many significant published papers must one have to be considered for a PhD by publication program?

I have one very significant paper published in the field of Forensic Entomology - the paper and my findings significantly changed the methods by which entomologists estimate time since death in murder cases. This paper has been cited in a large number of research papers and has been the inspiration behind many published work. In summary, it is a very important and well known piece of research in Forensics.

I am not familiar with the PhD by publication program and its criteria. Its possible that what I believe to be a significant piece of work may not be enough in reality. Therefore, I would appreciate any feedback on this matter.

Thank you for taking the time to read my long post and reply.

You are not the first person to mention the possibility of doing a PhD were you analyse data that has already been collected. However, I have found difficulty convincing PIs to make a long terms commitment that a part time PhD would require.

May I ask the field of Science that your colleagues who are doing such PhDs are working in?

======= Date Modified 07 07 2010 15:07:12 =======
I am 31 years old. I have a BSc in Molecular Biology and MSc in Forensic Science. After graduating I was head hunted and employed by a major Forensic DNA testing company in the UK, and during the 5 years that I worked there worked on many important cases such as the London Bombings and Asian Tsunami. However, as you can imagine, the pay was terrible and I ended up leaving my job for a better pay.

I am now employed as a Scientific Consultant for a Biotech company based in the US. I am their UK contact, and my role is to provide technical/product advise to life science researchers in the UK interested in the products that the company I work for creates. I often refered to as a sales rep, and I can understand why, but I am under no pressure to sell. I am employed as a UK point of contact for scientists interested in or using our products, and only a small part of my job involves selling. I am currently earning £31k with bonuses. I was very lucky to get the job, I applied and impressed them at the interview and they gave it to me!

One of my biggest regrets is that I never studied for a PhD. Its not that I did not want to, at the time I just could not find a project that interests me and then when I got the Forensics job I just put this dream on the back burner. Now, its become even more difficult since due to family commitments I can not quit this job to go back to being a student and earn around 16-20k - i have a bills ect to pay

I have enquired about part-time PhD options but there are no many supervisors who want to commit to someone for 6-8yrs for a lab based PhD. In addition, the personal costs would be insane and I can not afford it!

This leaves the only option a non lab based PhD but these are very difficult to find within the Science sector, if they even exist! One option would be a qualitative social science approach and do a PhD on an important issue within science eg ethical problems with DNA database. However, is this realistic?

Yes, I do not actually need a PhD but it is just a dream and ambition. If I dont do it now I would regret it always. So what PhD options do I have? Any advise in regards to topics - not actual thesis titles, Im not that cheeky, but advise in terms areas or fields I can look into would be helpfull. Or are my dreams over? 

Thank you both for your advise.

Unfortunately, I would rather go straight into a PhD. I see your point in regards to a MSc since it would help but I can only do this part-time and I dont want to spend close to 10 years (2 for Msc + 5-8 yrs PhD)!

I will look into the reading material that you suggested. My main problem is coming up with a original proposal. I know the subject area is Forensic SCience (i.e. DNA profiling) but applying that to a original "social" question is prooving tough.

I can think of a hundread interesting ideas but all require lab work but unfortunately I need to do this P/T so its not possible time wise and I can not afford the additional 3-7k bench fees on top of tuition.

Hi

Can someone tell me where I can find information on such course? So assume the Masters that these courses offer is a MPhil, and then after succesful completion I go onto a PhD?

e.g. If I was doint it full time....

1 year studing for MPhil
2-3 years studying for PhD?

Or have I got the wrong end of the stick and do I have to first study a Msc and then register for MPhil, then PhD....

So confused.

======= Date Modified 27 27 2009 19:27:16 =======
======= Date Modified 27 19 2009 19:19:50 =======
Hi,

I would like to do a PhD but due to family commitments can only do it part-time. My background is in Molcular Biology. Quiting work is to do a full time Phd is out of the question, I can not do that to the family. However, my current job is home based (Accounts Manager for a Foresnic company) and I get lots of free time and my hours are flexible, so I think P/T is the best option for me and my family.

I have come across a number of Social Science supervisors whose research interests include biotechnology and Foresnic DNA profiling and one of them has agreed to supervise me if I can think of a thesis! However I am finding it difficult to think of a project since my mind is more quantitative then qualitative.

Im not asking anyone to give me a project idea, I will think of one my self. However, is there anyone here who is or has been in a simmilar situation to me who can be kind enough to offer some tips in how I can come up with a original thesis? How should my research proposal be structured?

May be I'm being a little cheeky asking this but can any of you lab research based PhD students recomend a good forum where people discuss current techniques in molecular biology and genetics?

lol....i'm gonna give up:$

======= Date Modified 07 Oct 2008 22:26:17 =======
sorry that was a typo, I was typing so fast I ended up typing ribbish. I meant since my work is flexible I could easily fit it around my lab work. I usually only work around 4 hours a day in my current job, the rest is admin which dont take me long.

======= Date Modified 07 41 2008 15:41:00 =======
Is this possible?

I'm currently working as an Account Manager for a company that specilises in providing Molecular Biology and Protein analysis research tools (i.e viral gene expression vectors, PCR enzymes, Cloning systems). I guess my job can be best described as sales, but I am in no pressure to sell, I mostly have to visit various researchers in London finding out about their research and then discussing technologies that we have that could help them. If they are interested, I pass them to the sales rep who discuss price. My job does involve a lot of lab based trouble shooting and a very broad knowledge of molecular biology since I need to answer very tough technical questions put forward by researchers in person.

I kind of fell into this job by accident. I have a BSc in Genetics and a MSc in Forensic Science. I worked in R&D for a Forensic DNA analysis company for 3 years and then 1 year a research assistant for a Molecular Biology Dept in Oxford NHS. As you can imagine, it was very low paid. I started looking for a way out since I wanted to earn more money, since I was getting married and wanted a better more secure job. I sent my CV to various job sites. I was contacted by a recruitment agent, who got me my current job. I stood out from all other candidates since in addition to by lab experience I also had experience in sales since I worked p/t in telesales when i was a student.

I enjoy my current job very much. It is very well paid and I can see my self spend the rest of my career with them. However to progress to the higher positions, I believe a PhD would help me. All the top bosses in my company have PhD.

Therefore I was wondering what you guys think my chances our? Do Supervisors often consider people from scientific sales backgrounds and is it possible to do a P/T lab based project? My job is very flexible and I get to set my hours, so I can easily fit in 4 hours of lab work a day.

Look forward to reading your thoughts