My PhD Journey - Omar

Did you ever doubt it was right for you? 

Omar shares that he never fundamentally doubted pursuing a PhD, as the aspiration had been present since before university. Initially, his motivation was rooted in the prestige associated with earning a doctorate and the appeal of becoming an expert. However, over time, that desire matured into a deeper understanding: a PhD must be driven by genuine passion for a subject, not simply a title.

His computer science teacher once told him that a PhD is for those who truly love their subject, which helped reframe his perspective. By the time he was in his final undergraduate year, a conversation with a lecturer about AI in healthcare reignited his interest—this time grounded in a clear sense of purpose: contributing meaningfully to health systems through applied AI.

 

What gave you the idea? 

The idea evolved through multiple influences: 

• A long-standing desire to specialise deeply in a field. 

• Encouragement from a lecturer who suggested he apply. 

• His father’s influence—emphasising mastery and purpose in any field. 

• Exposure to healthcare problems, particularly those affecting low-resource settings. 

He realised that although he didn’t pursue medicine, he could still contribute to patient care through technical research. 

 

Have you met any other PhD students? 

Yes, Omar interacts frequently with fellow PhD students through his CDT cohort, shared office space, research groups, and broader university networks. He highlights the value of peer support, noting that many students share similar struggles, from time management to mental health. However, speaking to those ahead in the journey helped him prepare and set realistic expectations.

He recommends that anyone considering a PhD should reach out to current or former students, even informally, to gain honest insights into the experience.

 

What area should I research? 

Omar stresses the importance of choosing a research topic that aligns with both your interests and available funding. While competitiveness and resource constraints can limit options—especially in popular fields like AI—he advises finding a field that genuinely motivates you, then proactively identifying supervisors and institutions aligned with your vision.

In his case, although he did not create his project from scratch, he specified an interest in surgical video analysis, and the university matched him with a CDT project focused on AI-driven surgical skill assessment in resource-constrained environments.

He emphasises that the supervisor is more important than the institution, and advises students to identify shared interests with potential supervisors and engage early, even if funding isn’t immediately available.

 

Your understanding of what a PhD can be (methodologies, structure, etc.) 

Omar describes two main structural models: 

1. Traditional thesis structure – a linear narrative that progresses chapter-by-chapter through the research journey. 

1. Thesis by publication – a series of loosely connected but thematically related studies, each potentially published independently, collectively demonstrating contribution to the field. 

He also distinguishes between: 

• Theoretical PhDs, which focus on abstract constructs, foundational models, or policy-related frameworks. 

• Applied PhDs, like his own, which aim to develop practical tools or systems directly usable in real-world contexts (e.g. clinical training support tools). 

Regardless of structure or type, Omar urges prospective candidates not to be deterred by doubts or others’ perceptions. If there’s a clear gap in knowledge or a real-world problem to be solved, and you feel passionate about addressing it, then the PhD path is worth pursuing. What matters most is the personal alignment between the research, the problem space, and your motivation to tackle it.

What is a Centre for Doctoral Training / Doctoral Training Partnership? 

A CDT (Centre for Doctoral Training) and a DTP (Doctoral Training Partnership) are UKRI-funded doctoral programmes that allocate PhD funding to universities across specific thematic areas. Omar is part of a CDT focused on Artificial Intelligence in Medical Diagnosis and Care, based at the University of Leeds. The CDT secured funding for 50 PhD studentships to be distributed over five years, with 10 students recruited annually. These seats are fully funded, with approximately 30% reserved for international students. 

The CDT combines one year of integrated MSc-level training with three subsequent years of PhD research. The initial year equips students with foundational technical skills in AI, computer science, and healthcare, enabling them to engage more effectively with their research projects. 

 

Are they a good thing to be part of? Why? 

According to Omar, the CDT structure offers numerous advantages that make it an ideal environment for doctoral training: 

• Full funding: All tuition fees are covered, and students receive a monthly stipend adjusted annually in line with UKRI rates. 

• RTSG support: The Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), typically around £10,000, funds essential research activities such as hardware, travel, conference attendance, and participant compensation. 

• Cohort-based model: Students progress through the programme as part of a cohort, fostering a strong community ethos. This was particularly evident at Leeds, where shared modules and lab work contributed to a rich and collaborative research culture. 

• Research culture: Omar notes a marked difference between institutions; while Leeds maintained a strong sense of community, other institutions (e.g., UCL and Imperial) sometimes lacked this due to limited cohort interaction. 

• Engagement opportunities: The CDT encouraged public engagement through school visits, patient interactions, and science outreach events. Students were positioned as experts and ambassadors, providing real-world communication experience. 

• Structured flexibility: Despite the structure, the programme allows significant freedom to shape one’s own project trajectory and refine it over time. 

Overall, Omar concludes that the CDT model—owing to its funding, structure, community, and emphasis on engagement—is one of the best ways to undertake a PhD. 

 

How do I carve out my own research area within the programme? 

Students within the CDT often select their projects after joining. At Leeds, Omar attended presentations from over 40 potential supervisors before ranking his top three choices. After allocation, his Master’s project flowed directly into the PhD. 

Over the first year, he refined his project focus: AI-driven surgical skill assessment for training in low- and middle-income countries. Importantly, while supervisor-proposed projects tend to be broad in scope, students have the autonomy to shape the technical direction based on their interests, emerging evidence, and feasibility. 

Omar’s approach prioritises real-world impact over incremental innovation. He consciously avoids chasing small performance improvements in state-of-the-art models and instead focuses on developing a practical system that surgical trainers could use. His goal is to deliver a complete, usable tool within the time constraints of a three-year PhD. 

He advises future students not to chase publication counts or novelty for its own sake, but to choose a research area where their work can have the greatest real-world effect. The aim is to produce research outputs—systems, tools, articles—that serve a purpose beyond the thesis, which, in his words, “no one will ever read except your supervisors and examiners.” 

What do you hope to do after the PhD? 

Omar initially aspired to become a teacher—one who teaches both students and future teachers—driven by a belief in the compounding societal impact of education. However, pursuing a PhD broadened this vision. He now sees the potential to teach and inspire at the university level, working with students who are already passionate about their field and equipping them with advanced skills to maximise their future impact. 

Over time, this evolved further into a desire to pursue applied research, whether through academia, industry, or entrepreneurship. Omar expresses a strong commitment to seeing his research through to implementation, especially within healthcare and AI. He is open to multiple pathways, including academic positions, spin-outs supported by the university, or independent start-ups—provided they allow him to pursue work that generates meaningful real-world impact. 

He values multi-project engagement, likening his approach to running multiple ventures with shared commitment rather than investing exclusively in a single endeavour. His ultimate goal is to build systems that work, empower others to continue the work, and move on to new impactful problems. 

 

What options are you considering? 

Omar is exploring three primary avenues: 

1. Academia, if a suitable grant allows continuation of research with purpose. 

1. Industry, especially where applied research can remain central. 

1. Entrepreneurship, including spin-outs and independent start-ups aligned with his research in AI for global health. 

He is also drawn to international development, with aspirations to one day establish an academic institution or training centre in a low-resource country. His intention is to unlock untapped research potential and provide educational infrastructure where it is most needed. 

 

Concerns around the precarious nature of an academic career 

He voices concern over academia’s increasing emphasis on metrics—publications, citations, and impact factors—often at the expense of genuine real-world benefit. Omar does not align with this values system, stressing that his motivation lies not in prestige but in practical relevance and impact. He critiques the performative nature of some academic environments, noting that impressive metrics often mask a lack of substance. 

He also recognises that academic roles are increasingly difficult to secure, and that such careers may not support the kind of innovation and freedom he seeks. For Omar, these limitations make entrepreneurship particularly attractive. 

 

What help is there for career guidance? 

Omar believes structured career guidance is often limited. He reflects on the scarcity of personal career support during his own academic journey, citing only a single conversation with a teacher that influenced his university choice. His message is that meaningful guidance is not always readily offered—students must seek it out. 

He recommends: 

• Making full use of university career services 

• Speaking with mentors, lecturers, managers, and peers 

• Asking for informal conversations to understand others’ career pathways and decision-making 

• Reflecting deeply on personal values such as work-life balance, risk tolerance, and desired impact 

Ultimately, Omar sees career exploration as a personal process of alignment between one’s goals, temperament, and values. 

 

Is the PhD really worth it? 

For Omar, the PhD has been invaluable. It brought him: 

• Prestige and pride within his family and community, especially as someone from an underrepresented background 

• A dramatic improvement in skills: academic writing, reading complex literature, problem-solving, attention span, presentation, and public speaking 

• Exposure to diverse perspectives, including clinicians and researchers across disciplines 

• Enhanced cultural awareness, particularly through the contrast between academic cultures in different regions of the UK 

• Opportunities to engage with public outreach, including work with school children, undergraduates, and hackathon participants 

Most importantly, Omar found the PhD experience to be personally transformative—not just intellectually, but socially and emotionally. The connections formed with peers and supervisors often resembled a second family, offering support far beyond academic matters. 

He concludes that while the value of a PhD is not in its metrics or even necessarily its output, it lies in the personal growth, skill development, and human connection it enables. For those who share his values and aspirations, he affirms: “Yes, the PhD is really worth it.”