That's because you're an idiot
That's the last time you undermine me eh?
Have you identified faculty at ETH you'd like to do research with (for)? That's really the place to start. These are the guys that will ultimately hire you for your PhD.
Also, since you're fluent in German, why not comb through the ETH website and look at the student info?
I've done that already. *sigh*
I was asking for "insider" information from people who actually attend ETH or know someone who does or know anything specific about it.
I've posted like 3 times in this thread that I want to join the lifescience graduate school, lifescience-graduateschool.com; their admission process is stated online, too.
I can read, I was just wondering if you have to be a superhypergenius in order to get in, like say first publication during your BSc studies, or if it's enough to be outstanding for where you have studied. I don't know what they are looking for in PhD applicants - GPA? Publications? Prizes? Recommendations? Plain references by "friend" professors?...
It's pretty discouraging to hear that it actually helps a lot if your prof knows someone at ETH. That's ... sad, but real life I guess.
Does anyone have any idea about how many people apply?
Being a genius and publishing are not necessarily connected but yes, it helps to have published so try and get something published during your masters.
Im a postdoc in an ETH group where there are PhD students from the MLS & BSM graduate school programs but also students NOT connected to the graduate school. They are from all around the world so it is not necessary and advantage if you are Swiss. Getting into the graduate school programs is difficult and the right combination of ALL that you mention helps, but even more importantly a 'fit' between your profile (experience - possibly demonstrated by publications - and interests) and the positions that are open for a certain round (you don't know which professors have a position open when you apply and they are the ones picking out people for interviews). Then there is a possibility to apply directly to a professor who's research you are interested in and 'go around' the graduate school. If he/she is interested and has funding available you might have a chance. Some MSc students are offered these kind of PhD positions after completing a Diplom-project in the group. If you plan to go that way make sure you write a cover letter WHY you want to work with this person and your CV. My own boss says he does not even reply when these are not included. Good luck
What a professor expects from a PhD student is the same everywhere: a smart and hard working person that thinks out of the box.
How do you prove that you`re a prodigy: name on publications from BSc/ MSc, prizes, glorious recommendations letters (from someone that is known in the field) or by showing your skills during an internship.
They can get the best of the best at ETH, the onus is on you to show that you belong there. Not only send your CV and coverletter to groupleaders but include a statement of research interest. Propose projects for a PhD or internships. Show that it`s their research that attracts you. Show that you have ideas.
Although I`m getting the impression that the reputation of their grad school is what attracts you most...
I'm sure they do but I seem to only get to interact with the ones that can't find their way out of a wet paper bag without some help from mom.
Well, your avatar and nick emphasize the preconception of the scatterbrained scientist.
@mgosia: Thanks a lot, pretty much exactly the information I've been looking for.
@zymogen: Thanks for your information, too. However your "impression" that I only want ETH because of its reputation is wrong. How did you get that??
I'm in my first semester of my Masters, so of course I'm not gonna have detailed research plans. I do, however, have specific interests and some general ideas. The reason I looked at ETH in the first place was because I found the sheer amount of great PhD programs in life sciences they offer incredibly impressive, and I find 4 of the 13 extremely attractive. Naturally, the reputation of ETH adds to that - why would I wanna go lengths just to be accepted into an average school? Why would I wanna join an average program if I'm really interested in what I wanna do? Doesn't make sense. But I'm definitely not just some random student not knowing what to do but wanting financial security and then choosing the top 10 universities of the times ranking, or something like that. So please don't insult me.
You're welcome! At the PhD level a project proposal is really not necessary, but an enthousiastic description of your interests, fitting your experience and the group / program is key. BTW, in your field you should also definetely consider EMBL's International PhD Program - I can highly recommend it! And never get discouraged by claims of 'excellence'. I got into 'one of the most competitive PhD Programs' (self-claimed of course) without publications and without being absolute top of my class (well, maybe top 20% ) but with research experience abroad in a well respected group in my field during my MSc and the right fit with my supervisor (and a bit of luck as being an European instititute they have some quotas on nationalities and I happened to be from one of the underrepresented countries).
Good academic record, experience abroad, or international competition (olympiad), master thesis closely related to the topic of the PhD and keen interest on the topic - a combination of some of those can get you in.
You have to contact the professor or another seignior scientist in the group.
Also, a short letter of motivation saying how you can contribute with something you already know could make a difference.
And for references provide e-mail addresses of two professors having good reputation in their research field (related to the field where you want to be).
You can always ask for a short internship for one month in any research group at the ETH, provided they don't have to pay for your expenses (they'd pay only for travel). If you can cover yourself the living costs, a room for one month can usually be arranged (it happened in our group). In this way you show interest and they know you...
For the rest - good luck.
To be honest, I'm of the opinion that the supervisor you have is more important than the institute you're at. Smaller less known institutes can have some excellent PIs who do some really cutting edge research with the added benefit of the supervisor being more available and not being a super star prof. flying all around the globe giving talks etc.
And again if the supervisor you have is well connected it will help you if you choose to go on to do a post doc.
I'd have thought it was worth looking through the professors' research specialities for something that really interests you. Professors sometimes (in general) advertise the PhD subjects available so that you can write an application letter adapted carefully to the subject, just like a job application.
Best advice, right here. Pick your advisor first. Preferably, pick one that is well-regarded and connected so that they'll hopefully help you get a job later. I can vouch for the fact that the friendly absent-minded profs that aren't political animals aren't of much use once you're done.
After doing my PhD I joined industry and am happy with my work as well as financial benefits.
As far as OP is concerned, the best way to go is to find a lab of interest and go work for short term projects. On the other hand, more recently at EPFL they are trying to reduce influence of professors on admission decisions so the academic service short lists the candidates which are then interviewed by the doctoral board. I am personally aware of cases where certain students, even when supported by their profs, did not find a place in doctoral school. But obviously there are exceptions.
Mr porsch1909
Dont spoil these good forums with your idiotic behavior. I did not find anything offensive in my post to warrant your response. In my opinion the salaries in research are peanuts (except for professors), so why is this opinion bothering you.
Threats of physical violence, even if not explicitly against the regulations of EF, are definitely not in the spirit of EF.
right mark, edited and removed. I did provide some good hints wrt OP, and I just did not like mr intellectual porche xxxx to be so rude without a reason.
I was simply stating my point of view that 80K after a PhD is peanuts; and I stand by that statement. That is not to say that I dont want people to do PhD or PostDocs, that is their choice; I personally opted not to go for PostDoc route and am more than happy about it. But it is personal decision and opinion.
Thank for the good laugh.Porsch,I needed that
http://xkcd.com/438/
And thanks again for all the thorough answers!!!!
It would be best if no one were ever rude. In an imperfect world we all do it and have to get past it. The trigger to the harshness was your abrupt statement to the effect that 80k is peanuts. This is a value judgement, which would be understood by many people as a put-down of their own life choices and achievements. You made a different choice and you're happy with it. That's great. But no one else should be criticised for not making the same choices, right?
I'm grateful that you edited your post, it has improved the quality of the thread.
ok, may be I should have put in more details.
It happens to be that I work as an engineer and interact a lot with scientists, so I am quite aware of how academic career works.
When I said that 80K is peanuts, it was not to imply any value-judgement; it is just that in my opinion getting a PhD is hard work (done it myself) and in my opinion it is unfair to get such a low salary after such high degree and effort.
Sure, as I said, most of people doing PhD are passionate about their work, so probably they care less about money and more about their research- that is fine.
I personally found it unjust to be paid so low after so many years of education, so opted out of the system.
One more example, as an engineer I was offered 4 years contract where as my postdoc friends were only given yearly contracts, which again to me was not a fair treatment of such talented people.
so again to clarify, my point of view is that 80K for a PhD qualified person is bit unfair.
As far as OP is concerned, please dont take this as a discouragement. Doing PhD is a fantastic process, and you would learn a lot both professionally and personally. And after finishing, you could always choose if you would want to continue or not. Having these 3 letters in your CV does make a good impression on most of the employers.