Dr Ajantha Abey - PhD Application Advice: Assessing & Approaching a New Lab

About this episode

Dr Ajantha Abey discusses critical advice for choosing the right lab and supervisor for PhD applications.

Dr Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this second instalment, Ajantha shifts focus from preparing for PhD applications to one of the most critical decisions in the process: choosing the right lab and supervisor. He walks through how to search effectively, what to look for when assessing potential environments, and how to approach academics with well-structured, thoughtful emails. The blog balances practical advice with honest reflection on supervision styles, lab culture, and long-term career impact, offering a clear framework for making a well-informed choice. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-phd-application-advice-assessing-approaching-a-new-lab/ -- Dr Ajantha Abey is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal…

People in this episode

Host: Dementia Researcher

Guest: Dr Ajantha Abey

Topics covered

• PhD applications
• lab selection
• academic supervision
• career advice
• neurodegenerative diseases

Keywords

• PhD application
• lab culture
• supervision styles
• career impact
• neurodegenerative diseases

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dementia Researcher, Kavli Institute, University of Oxford

Places: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia

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