developing phd research questions

• News & Highlights

• Publications and Documents
• Education in C/T Science
• Browse Our Courses
• C/T Research Academy
• K12 Investigator Training
• Harvard Catalyst On-Demand
• SMART IRB Reliance Request
• Biostatistics Consulting
• Regulatory Support
• Pilot Funding
• Informatics Program
• Community Engagement
• Diversity Inclusion
• Research Enrollment and Diversity
• Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Creating a Good Research Question

• Advice & Growth
• Process in Practice

Successful translation of research begins with a strong question. How do you get started? How do good research questions evolve? And where do you find inspiration to generate good questions in the first place?  It’s helpful to understand existing frameworks, guidelines, and standards, as well as hear from researchers who utilize these strategies in their own work.

In the fall and winter of 2020, Naomi Fisher, MD, conducted 10 interviews with clinical and translational researchers at Harvard University and affiliated academic healthcare centers, with the purpose of capturing their experiences developing good research questions. The researchers featured in this project represent various specialties, drawn from every stage of their careers. Below you will find clips from their interviews and additional resources that highlight how to get started, as well as helpful frameworks and factors to consider. Additionally, visit the Advice & Growth section to hear candid advice and explore the Process in Practice section to hear how researchers have applied these recommendations to their published research.

• Naomi Fisher, MD , is associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and clinical staff at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). Fisher is founder and director of Hypertension Services and the Hypertension Specialty Clinic at the BWH, where she is a renowned endocrinologist. She serves as a faculty director for communication-related Boundary-Crossing Skills for Research Careers webinar sessions and the Writing and Communication Center .
• Christopher Gibbons, MD , is associate professor of neurology at HMS, and clinical staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Joslin Diabetes Center. Gibbons’ research focus is on peripheral and autonomic neuropathies.
• Clare Tempany-Afdhal, MD , is professor of radiology at HMS and the Ferenc Jolesz Chair of Research, Radiology at BWH. Her major areas of research are MR imaging of the pelvis and image- guided therapy.
• David Sykes, MD, PhD , is assistant professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), he is also principal investigator at the Sykes Lab at MGH. His special interest area is rare hematologic conditions.
• Elliot Israel, MD , is professor of medicine at HMS, director of the Respiratory Therapy Department, the director of clinical research in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medical Division and associate physician at BWH. Israel’s research interests include therapeutic interventions to alter asthmatic airway hyperactivity and the role of arachidonic acid metabolites in airway narrowing.
• Jonathan Williams, MD, MMSc , is assistant professor of medicine at HMS, and associate physician at BWH. He focuses on endocrinology, specifically unravelling the intricate relationship between genetics and environment with respect to susceptibility to cardiometabolic disease.
• Junichi Tokuda, PhD , is associate professor of radiology at HMS, and is a research scientist at the Department of Radiology, BWH. Tokuda is particularly interested in technologies to support image-guided “closed-loop” interventions. He also serves as a principal investigator leading several projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and industry.
• Osama Rahma, MD , is assistant professor of medicine at HMS and clinical staff member in medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). Rhama is currently a principal investigator at the Center for Immuno-Oncology and Gastroenterology Cancer Center at DFCI. His research focus is on drug development of combinational immune therapeutics.
• Sharmila Dorbala, MD, MPH , is professor of radiology at HMS and clinical staff at BWH in cardiovascular medicine and radiology. She is also the president of the American Society of Nuclear Medicine. Dorbala’s specialty is using nuclear medicine for cardiovascular discoveries.
• Subha Ramani, PhD, MBBS, MMed , is associate professor of medicine at HMS, as well as associate physician in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care at BWH. Ramani’s scholarly interests focus on innovative approaches to teaching, learning and assessment of clinical trainees, faculty development in teaching, and qualitative research methods in medical education.
• Ursula Kaiser, MD , is professor at HMS and chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, and senior physician at BWH. Kaiser’s research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone regulates the expression of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone genes.

Insights on Creating a Good Research Question

Play Junichi Tokuda video

Play Ursula Kaiser video

Start Successfully: Build the Foundation of a Good Research Question

Start Successfully Resources

Ideation in Device Development: Finding Clinical Need Josh Tolkoff, MS A lecture explaining the critical importance of identifying a compelling clinical need before embarking on a research project. Play Ideation in Device Development video .

Radical Innovation Jeff Karp, PhD This ThinkResearch podcast episode focuses on one researcher’s approach using radical simplicity to break down big problems and questions. Play Radical Innovation .

Using Healthcare Data: How can Researchers Come up with Interesting Questions? Anupam Jena, MD, PhD Another ThinkResearch podcast episode addresses how to discover good research questions by using a backward design approach which involves analyzing big data and allowing the research question to unfold from findings. Play Using Healthcare Data .

Important Factors: Consider Feasibility and Novelty

Refining Your Research Question 

Play video of Clare Tempany-Afdhal

Play Elliott Israel video

Frameworks and Structure: Evaluate Research Questions Using Tools and Techniques

Frameworks and Structure Resources

Designing Clinical Research Hulley et al. A comprehensive and practical guide to clinical research, including the FINER framework for evaluating research questions. Learn more about the book .

Translational Medicine Library Guide Queens University Library An introduction to popular frameworks for research questions, including FINER and PICO. Review translational medicine guide .

Asking a Good T3/T4 Question  Niteesh K. Choudhry, MD, PhD This video explains the PICO framework in practice as participants in a workshop propose research questions that compare interventions. Play Asking a Good T3/T4 Question video

Introduction to Designing & Conducting Mixed Methods Research An online course that provides a deeper dive into mixed methods’ research questions and methodologies. Learn more about the course

Network and Support: Find the Collaborators and Stakeholders to Help Evaluate Research Questions

Network & Support Resource

Bench-to-bedside, Bedside-to-bench Christopher Gibbons, MD In this lecture, Gibbons shares his experience of bringing research from bench to bedside, and from bedside to bench. His talk highlights the formation and evolution of research questions based on clinical need. Play Bench-to-bedside. 

Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey

How to Craft a Strong Research Question (With Research Question Examples)

A sound and effective research question is a key element that must be identified and pinned down before researchers can even begin their research study or work. A strong research question lays the foundation for your entire study, guiding your investigation and shaping your findings. Hence, it is critical that researchers spend considerable time assessing and refining the research question based on in-depth reading and comprehensive literature review. In this article, we will discuss how to write a strong research question and provide you with some good examples of research questions across various disciplines.

Table of Contents

The importance of a research question

A research question plays a crucial role in driving scientific inquiry, setting the direction and purpose of your study, and guiding your entire research process. By formulating a clear and focused research question, you lay the foundation for your investigation, ensuring that your research remains on track and aligned with your objectives so you can make meaningful contribution to the existing body of knowledge. A well-crafted research question also helps you define the scope of your study and identify the appropriate methodologies and data collection techniques to employ.

Key components of a strong research question

A good research question possesses several key components that contribute to the quality and impact of your study. Apart from providing a clear framework to generate meaningful results, a well-defined research question allows other researchers to understand the purpose and significance of your work. So, when working on your research question, incorporate the following elements:

• Specificity : A strong research question should be specific about the main focus of your study, enabling you to gather precise data and draw accurate conclusions. It clearly defines the variables, participants, and context involved, leaving no room for ambiguity.
• Clarity : A good research question is clear and easily understood, so articulate the purpose and intent of your study concisely without being generic or vague. Ensuring clarity in your research question helps both you and your readers grasp the research objective.
• Feasibility : While crafting a research question, consider the practicality of conducting the research and availability of necessary data or access to participants. Think whether your study is realistic and achievable within the constraints of time, resources, and ethical considerations.

How to craft a well-defined research question

A first step that will help save time and effort is knowing what your aims are and thinking about a few problem statements on the area or aspect one wants to study or do research on. Contemplating these statements as one undertakes more progressive reading can help the researcher in reassessing and fine-tuning the research question. This can be done over time as they read and learn more about the research topic, along with a broad literature review and parallel discussions with peer researchers and supervisors. In some cases, a researcher can have more than one research question if the research being undertaken is a PhD thesis or dissertation, but try not to cover multiple concerns on a topic.

A strong research question must be researchable, original, complex, and relevant. Here are five simple steps that can make the entire process easier.

• Identify a broad topic from your areas of interest, something that is relevant, and you are passionate about since you’ll be spending a lot of time conducting your research.
• Do a thorough literature review to weed out potential gaps in research and stay updated on what’s currently being done in your chosen topic and subject area.
• Shortlist possible research questions based on the research gaps or see how you can build on or refute previously published ideas and concepts.
• Assess your chosen research question using the FINER criteria that helps you evaluate whether the research is Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant. 1
• Formulate the final research question, while ensuring it is clear, well-written, and addresses all the key elements of a strong research question.

Examples of research questions

Remember to adapt your research question to suit your purpose, whether it’s exploratory, descriptive, comparative, experimental, qualitative, or quantitative. Embrace the iterative nature of the research process, continually evaluating and refining your question as you progress. Here are some good examples of research questions across various disciplines.

Exploratory research question examples

• How does social media impact interpersonal relationships among teenagers?
• What are the potential benefits of incorporating mindfulness practices in the workplace?

Descriptive research question examples

• What factors influence customer loyalty in the e-commerce industry?
• Is there a relationship between socioeconomic status and academic performance among elementary school students?

Comparative research question examples

• How does the effectiveness of traditional teaching methods compare to online learning platforms in mathematics education?
• What is the impact of different healthcare policies on patient outcomes in various countries?

Experimental research question examples

• What are the effects of a new drug on reducing symptoms of a specific medical condition?
• Does a dietary intervention have an impact on weight loss among individuals with obesity?

Qualitative research question examples

• What are the lived experiences of immigrants adapting to a new culture?
• What factors influence job satisfaction among healthcare professionals?

Quantitative research question examples

• Is there a relationship between sleep duration and academic performance among college students?
• How effective is a specific intervention in reducing anxiety levels among individuals with phobias?

With these simple guidelines and inspiring examples of research questions, you are equipped to embark on your research journey with confidence and purpose. Here’s wishing you all the best for your future endeavors!

References:

• How to write a research question: Steps and examples. Indeed Career Guide. Available online at https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-research-questions

R Discovery is a literature search and research reading platform that accelerates your research discovery journey by keeping you updated on the latest, most relevant scholarly content. With 250M+ research articles sourced from trusted aggregators like CrossRef, Unpaywall, PubMed, PubMed Central, Open Alex and top publishing houses like Springer Nature, JAMA, IOP, Taylor & Francis, NEJM, BMJ, Karger, SAGE, Emerald Publishing and more, R Discovery puts a world of research at your fingertips.  

Try R Discovery Prime FREE for 1 week or upgrade at just US$72 a year to access premium features that let you listen to research on the go, read in your language, collaborate with peers, auto sync with reference managers, and much more. Choose a simpler, smarter way to find and read research – Download the app and start your free 7-day trial today !  

Related Posts

Research in Shorts: R Discovery’s New Feature Helps Academics Assess Relevant Papers in 2mins 

How Does R Discovery’s Interplatform Capability Enhance Research Accessibility 

• How to Choose a PhD Research Topic
• Finding a PhD

Introduction

Whilst there are plenty of resources available to help prospective PhD students find doctoral programmes, deciding on a research topic is a process students often find more difficult.

Some advertised PhD programmes have predefined titles, so the exact topic is decided already. Generally, these programmes exist mainly in STEM, though other fields also have them. Funded projects are more likely to have defined titles, and structured aims and objectives.

Self funded projects, and those in fields such as arts and humanities, are less likely to have defined titles. The flexibility of topic selection means more scope exists for applicants to propose research ideas and suit the topic of research to their interests.

A middle ground also exists where Universities advertise funded PhD programmes in subjects without a defined scope, for example: “PhD Studentship in Biomechanics”. The applicant can then liaise with the project supervisor to choose a particular title such as “A study of fatigue and impact resistance of biodegradable knee implants”.

If a predefined programme is not right for you, then you need to propose your own research topic. There are several factors to consider when choosing a good research topic, which will be outlined in this article.

How to Choose a Research Topic

Our first piece of advice is to PhD candidates is to stop thinking about ‘finding’ a research topic, as it is unlikely that you will. Instead, think about developing a research topic (from research and conversations with advisors).

Consider several ideas and critically appraise them:

• You must be able to explain to others why your chosen topic is worth studying.
• You must be genuinely interested in the subject area.
• You must be competent and equipped to answer the research question.
• You must set achievable and measurable aims and objectives.
• You need to be able to achieve your objectives within a given timeframe.
• Your research question must be original and contribute to the field of study.

We have outlined the key considerations you should use when developing possible topics. We explore these below:

Focus on your interests and career aspirations

It is important to choose a topic of research that you are genuinely interested in. The decision you make will shape the rest of your career. Remember, a full-time programme lasts 3-4 years, and there will be unforeseen challenges during this time. If you are not passionate about the study, you will struggle to find motivation during these difficult periods.

You should also look to your academic and professional background. If there are any modules you undertook as part of your Undergraduate/Master degree that you particularly enjoyed or excelled in? These could form part of your PhD research topic. Similarly, if you have professional work experience, this could lead to you asking questions which can only be answered through research.

When deciding on a PhD research topic you should always consider your long-term career aspirations. For example, as a physicist, if you wish to become an astrophysicist, a research project studying black holes would be more relevant to you than a research project studying nuclear fission.

Read dissertations and published journals

Reading dissertations and published journals is a great way to identify potential PhD topics. When reviewing existing research ask yourself:

• What has been done and what do existing results show?
• What did previous projects involve (e.g. lab-work or fieldwork)?
• How often are papers published in the field?
• Are your research ideas original?
• Is there value in your research question?
• Could I expand on or put my own spin on this research?

Reading dissertations will also give you an insight into the practical aspects of doctoral study, such as what methodology the author used, how much data analysis was required and how was information presented.

You can also think of this process as a miniature literature review . You are searching for gaps in knowledge and developing a PhD project to address them. Focus on recent publications (e.g. in the last five years). In particular, the literature review of recent publications will give an excellent summary of the state of existing knowledge, and what research questions remain unanswered.

If you have the opportunity to attend an academic conference, go for it! This is often an excellent way to find out current theories in the industry and the research direction. This knowledge could reveal a possible research idea or topic for further study.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Discuss research topic ideas with a PhD supervisor

Discuss your research topic ideas with a supervisor. This could be your current undergraduate/masters supervisor, or potential supervisors of advertised PhD programmes at different institutions. Come to these meetings prepared with initial PhD topic ideas, and your findings from reading published journals. PhD supervisors will be more receptive to your ideas if you can demonstrate you have thought about them and are committed to your research.

You should discuss your research interests, what you have found through reading publications, and what you are proposing to research. Supervisors who have expertise in your chosen field will have insight into the gaps in knowledge that exist, what is being done to address them, and if there is any overlap between your proposed research ideas and ongoing research projects.

Talking to an expert in the field can shape your research topic to something more tangible, which has clear aims and objectives. It can also find potential shortfalls of your PhD ideas.

It is important to remember, however, that although it is good to develop your research topic based on feedback, you should not let the supervisor decide a topic for you. An interesting topic for a supervisor may not be interesting to you, and a supervisor is more likely to advise on a topic title which lends itself to a career in academia.

Another tip is to talk to a PhD student or researcher who is involved in a similar research project. Alternatively, you can usually find a relevant research group within your University to talk to. They can explain in more detail their experiences and suggest what your PhD programme could involve with respect to daily routines and challenges.

Look at advertised PhD Programmes

Use our Search tool , or look on University PhD listing pages to identify advertised PhD programmes for ideas.

• What kind of PhD research topics are available?
• Are these similar to your ideas?
• Are you interested in any of these topics?
• What do these programmes entail?

The popularity of similar PhD programmes to your proposed topic is a good indicator that universities see value in the research area. The final bullet point is perhaps the most valuable takeaway from looking at advertised listings. Review what similar programmes involve, and whether this is something you would like to do. If so, a similar research topic would allow you to do this.

Writing a Research Proposal

As part of the PhD application process , you may be asked to summarise your proposed research topic in a research proposal. This is a document which summarises your intended research and will include the title of your proposed project, an Abstract, Background and Rationale, Research Aims and Objectives, Research Methodology, Timetable, and a Bibliography. If you are required to submit this document then read our guidance on how to write a research proposal for your PhD application.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Starting the research process

How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow

Published on November 11, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 20, 2023.

Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it’s important to consider:

• Your institution and department’s requirements
• Your areas of knowledge and interest
• The scientific, social, or practical relevance
• The availability of data and resources
• The timeframe of your dissertation
• The relevance of your topic

You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.

Table of contents

Step 1: check the requirements, step 2: choose a broad field of research, step 3: look for books and articles, step 4: find a niche, step 5: consider the type of research, step 6: determine the relevance, step 7: make sure it’s plausible, step 8: get your topic approved, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about dissertation topics.

The very first step is to check your program’s requirements. This determines the scope of what it is possible for you to research.

• Is there a minimum and maximum word count?
• When is the deadline?
• Should the research have an academic or a professional orientation?
• Are there any methodological conditions? Do you have to conduct fieldwork, or use specific types of sources?

Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.

Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you’re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:

• Twentieth-century literature
• Economic history
• Health policy

To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the top journals in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search Google Scholar , subject-specific databases , and your university library’s resources.

As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you’ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.

After doing some initial reading, it’s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:

• Twentieth-century literature   Twentieth-century Irish literature   Post-war Irish poetry
• Economic history   European economic history   German labor union history
• Health policy   Reproductive health policy   Reproductive rights in South America

All of these topics are still broad enough that you’ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that’s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.

At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas — there’s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn’t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your problem statement and research questions .

There are many different types of research , so at this stage, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you’ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:

• Collecting original data (e.g., experimental or field research)?
• Analyzing existing data (e.g., national statistics, public records, or archives)?
• Interpreting cultural objects (e.g., novels, films, or paintings)?
• Comparing scholarly approaches (e.g., theories, methods, or interpretations)?

Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyze public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through interviews and surveys .

You don’t have to finalize your research design and methods yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it’s possible to address, so it’s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.

It’s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you’ll also have to make sure it’s academically, socially or practically relevant to your field.

• Academic relevance means that the research can fill a gap in knowledge or contribute to a scholarly debate in your field.
• Social relevance means that the research can advance our understanding of society and inform social change.
• Practical relevance means that the research can be applied to solve concrete problems or improve real-life processes.

The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you define your research problem .

Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.

Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there’s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.

Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.

Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.

Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it’s important to choose something you’re enthusiastic about!

Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a research prospectus or proposal .

Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it’s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 20). How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow. Scribbr. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/dissertation-topic/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to define a research problem | ideas & examples, what is a research design | types, guide & examples, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Developing a research question

Your research questions are perhaps the most important part of your study. They guide your choice of methodology and underpin each chapter in your thesis or dissertation. It’s worth investing time to develop robust questions that will guide your research.

Identifying an effective research question

While the criteria for an effective research question vary considerably, generally, a research question should be:

• focused – its scope should be adequately narrow to allow you to carry out your research within the available timeframe and using available resources.
• analytical (as opposed to descriptive) – your research question needs to display enough complexity so that the answers to it cannot be easily obtained. For example, it cannot be answered through a simple internet search or fact check. An effective research question would require answers which are subject to interpretation, analysis and synthesis.
• effectively expressed – the research question needs to use clear, specific and concise language so that it is accessbile to the reader.

Strategies for developing effective research questions

To develop effective research questions, you may like to try one of the following two key strategies:

I) Convert your topic into one or more research questions by:

• breaking down your topic into its different features
• choosing a feature that interests you to narrow down your topic scope
• brainstorming and reading literature around this feature to focus it further
• convert this focused feature into question form.

II) Formulate a problem statement and then convert it into question form. Use the following template as a guide to writing your problem statement:

• I am examining …
• It matters because…

The following presentation shows how to use the above discussed strategies for developing robust research questions. Work through each section of the webinar. Feel free to pause the video at suitable points and complete the included activities.

Presentation on developing research questions (12:54 min)

Developing your research questions (12:54 min) by RMIT University ( YouTube )

Further resources

For more information on research questions, consult the following resources:

• How Research Questions Can Make or Break Your Project (8:36 min) by Professor James Arvanitakis ( YouTube )
• Research Questions Hypothesis and Variables: Connecting the Dots (7:55 min) by Associate Professor Ron Wallace  ( YouTube )

Research and Writing Skills for Academic and Graduate Researchers Copyright © 2022 by RMIT University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

How To Find A High-Quality Research Topic

6 steps to find & evaluate high-quality dissertation/thesis topics.

By: Caroline Osella (PhD, BA)  and Derek Jansen (MBA) | July 2019

So, you’re finally nearing the end of your degree and it’s now time to find a suitable topic for your dissertation or thesis. Or perhaps you’re just starting out on your PhD research proposal and need to find a suitable area of research for your application proposal.

In this post, we’ll provide a straightforward 6-step process that you can follow to ensure you arrive at a high-quality research topic . Follow these steps and you will formulate a well-suited, well-defined core research question .

There’s a helpful clue already: your research ‘topic’ is best understood as a research question or a problem . Your aim is not to create an encyclopedia entry into your field, but rather to shed light on an acknowledged issue that’s being debated (or needs to be). Think research  questions , not research  topics  (we’ll come back to this later).

Overview: How To Find A Research Topic

• Get an understanding of the research process
• Review previous dissertations from your university
• Review the academic literature to start the ideation process
• Identify your potential research questions (topics) and shortlist
• Narrow down, then evaluate your research topic shortlist
• Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Step 1: Understand the research process

It may sound horribly obvious, but it’s an extremely common mistake – students skip past the fundamentals straight to the ideation phase (and then pay dearly for it).

Start by looking at whatever handouts and instructions you’ve been given regarding what your university/department expects of a dissertation. For example, the course handbook, online information and verbal in-class instructions. I know it’s tempting to just dive into the ideation process, but it’s essential to start with the prescribed material first.

There are two important reasons for this:

First , you need to have a basic understanding of the research process , research methodologies , fieldwork options and analysis methods before you start the ideation process, or you will simply not be equipped to think about your own research adequately. If you don’t understand the basics of  quantitative , qualitative and mixed methods BEFORE you start ideating, you’re wasting your time.

Second , your university/department will have specific requirements for your research – for example, requirements in terms of topic originality, word count, data requirements, ethical adherence , methodology, etc. If you are not aware of these from the outset, you will again end up wasting a lot of time on irrelevant ideas/topics.

So, the most important first step is to get your head around both the basics of research (especially methodologies), as well as your institution’s specific requirements . Don’t give in to the temptation to jump ahead before you do this. As a starting point, be sure to check out our free dissertation course.

Step 2: Review past dissertations/theses

Unless you’re undertaking a completely new course, there will be many, many students who have gone through the research process before and have produced successful dissertations, which you can use to orient yourself. This is hugely beneficial – imagine being able to see previous students’ assignments and essays when you were doing your coursework!

Take a look at some well-graded (65% and above) past dissertations from your course (ideally more recent ones, as university requirements may change over time). These are usually available in the university’s online library. Past dissertations will act as a helpful model for all kinds of things, from how long a bibliography needs to be, to what a good literature review looks like, through to what kinds of methods you can use – and how to leverage them to support your argument.

As you peruse past dissertations, ask yourself the following questions:

• What kinds of topics did these dissertations cover and how did they turn the topic into questions?
• How broad or narrow were the topics?
• How original were the topics? Were they truly groundbreaking or just a localised twist on well-established theory?
• How well justified were the topics? Did they seem important or just nice to know?
• How much literature did they draw on as a theoretical base? Was the literature more academic or applied in nature?
• What kinds of research methods did they use and what data did they draw on?
• How did they analyse that data and bring it into the discussion of the academic literature?
• Which of the dissertations are most readable to you – why? How were they presented?
• Can you see why these dissertations were successful? Can you relate what they’ve done back to the university’s instructions/brief?

Seeing a variety of dissertations (at least 5, ideally in your area of interest) will also help you understand whether your university has very rigid expectations in terms of structure and format , or whether they expect and allow variety in the number of chapters, chapter headings, order of content, style of presentation and so on.

Some departments accept graphic novels; some are willing to grade free-flow continental-philosophy style arguments; some want a highly rigid, standardised structure.  Many offer a dissertation template , with information on how marks are split between sections. Check right away whether you have been given one of those templates – and if you do, then use it and don’t try to deviate or reinvent the wheel.

Step 3: Review the academic literature

Now that you (1) understand the research process, (2) understand your university’s specific requirements for your dissertation or thesis, and (3) have a feel for what a good dissertation looks like, you can start the ideation process. This is done by reviewing the current literature and looking for opportunities to add something original to the academic conversation.

Kick start the ideation process

So, where should you start your literature hunt? The best starting point is to get back to your modules. Look at your coursework and the assignments you did. Using your coursework is the best theoretical base, as you are assured that (1) the literature is of a high enough calibre for your university and (2) the topics are relevant to your specific course.

Start by identifying the modules that interested you the most and that you understood well (i.e. earned good marks for). What were your strongest assignments, essays or reports? Which areas within these were particularly interesting to you? For example, within a marketing module, you may have found consumer decision making or organisation trust to be interesting. Create a shortlist of those areas that you were both interested in and academically strong at. It’s no use picking an area that does not genuinely interest you – you’ll run out of motivation if you’re not excited by a topic.

Understand the current state of knowledge

Once you’ve done that, you need to get an understanding of the current state of the literature for your chosen interest areas. What you’re aiming to understand is this: what is the academic conversation here and what critical questions are yet unanswered? These unanswered questions are prime opportunities for a unique, meaningful research topic . A quick review of the literature on your favourite topics will help you understand this.

Grab your reading list from the relevant section of the modules, or simply enter the topics into Google Scholar . Skim-read 3-5 journal articles from the past 5 years which have at least 5 citations each (Google Scholar or a citations index will show you how many citations any given article has – i.e., how many other people have referred to it in their own bibliography). Also, check to see if your discipline has an ‘annual review’ type of journal, which gathers together surveys of the state of knowledge on a chosen topic. This can be a great tool for fast-tracking your understanding of the current state of the knowledge in any given area.

Start from your course’s reading list and work outwards. At the end of every journal article, you’ll find a reference list. Scan this reference list for more relevant articles and read those. Then repeat the process (known as snowballing) until you’ve built up a base of 20-30 quality articles per area of interest.

Absorb, don’t hunt

At this stage, your objective is to read and understand the current state of the theory for your area(s) of interest – you don’t need to be in topic-hunting mode yet. Don’t jump the gun and try to identify research topics before you are well familiarised with the literature.

As you read, try to understand what kinds of questions people are asking and how they are trying to answer them. What matters do the researchers agree on, and more importantly, what are they in disagreement about? Disagreements are prime research territory. Can you identify different ‘schools of thought’ or different ‘approaches’? Do you know what your own approach or slant is? What kinds of articles appeal to you and which ones bore you or leave you feeling like you’ve not really grasped them? Which ones interest you and point towards directions you’d like to research and know more about?

Once you understand the fundamental fact that academic knowledge is a conversation, things get easier.

Think of it like a party. There are groups of people in the room, enjoying conversations about various things. Which group do you want to join?  You don’t want to be that person in the corner, talking to themself. And you don’t want to be the hanger-on, laughing at the big-shot’s jokes and repeating everything they say.

Do you want to join a large group and try to make a small contribution to what’s going on, or are you drawn to a smaller group that’s having a more niche conversation, but where you feel you might more easily find something original to contribute? How many conversations can you identify? Which ones feel closer to you and more attractive? Which ones repel you or leave you cold? Are there some that, frankly, you just don’t understand?

Now, choose a couple of groups who are discussing something you feel interested in and where you feel like you might want to contribute. You want to make your entry into this group by asking a question – a question that will make the other people in the group turn around and look at you, listen to you, and think, “That’s interesting”.

Your dissertation will be the process of setting that question and then trying to find at least a partial answer to that question – but don’t worry about that now.  Right now, you need to work out what conversations are going on, whether any of them are related or overlapping, and which ones you might be able to walk into. I’ll explain how you find that question in the next step.

Need a helping hand?

Step 4: Identify potential research questions

Now that you have a decent understanding of the state of the literature in your area(s) of interest, it’s time to start developing your list of possible research topics. There are (at least) three approaches you can follow here, and they are not mutually exclusive:

Approach 1: Leverage the FRIN

Towards the end of most quality journal articles, you will find a section labelled “ further research ” or something similar. Generally, researchers will clearly outline where they feel further research is needed (FRIN), following on from their own research. So, essentially, every journal article presents you with a list of potential research opportunities.

Of course, only a handful of these will be both practical and of interest to you, so it’s not a quick-fix solution to finding a research topic. However, the benefit of going this route is that you will be able to find a genuinely original and meaningful research topic (which is particularly important for PhD-level research).

The upside to this approach is originality, but the downside is that you might not find something that really interests you , or that you have the means to execute. If you do go this route, make sure that you pay attention to the journal article dates, as the FRIN may already have been “solved” by other researchers if the article is old.

Approach 2: Put a context-based spin on an existing topic

The second option is to consider whether a theory which is already well established is relevant within a local or industry-specific context. For example, a theory about the antecedents (drivers) of trust is very well established, but there may be unique or uniquely important drivers within a specific national context or industry (for example, within the financial services industry in an emerging market).

If that industry or national context has not yet been covered by researchers and there is a good reason to believe there may be meaningful differences within that context, then you have an opportunity to take a unique angle on well-established theory, which can make for a great piece of research. It is however imperative that you have a good reason to believe that the existing theory may not be wholly relevant within your chosen context, or your research will not be justified.

The upside to this approach is that you can potentially find a topic that is “closer to home” and more relevant and interesting to you , while still being able to draw on a well-established body of theory. However, the downside is that this approach will likely not produce the level of originality as approach #1.

Approach 3: Uncensored brainstorming

The third option is to skip the FRIN, as well as the local/industry-specific angle and simply engage in a freeform brainstorming or mind-mapping session, using your newfound knowledge of the theory to formulate potential research ideas. What’s important here is that you do not censor yourself . However crazy, unfeasible, or plain stupid your topic appears – write it down. All that matters right now is that you are interested in this thing.

Next, try to turn the topic(s) into a question or problem. For example:

• What is the relationship between X, Y & Z?
• What are the drivers/antecedents of X?
• What are the outcomes of Y?
• What are the key success factors for Z?

Re-word your list of topics or issues into a list of questions .  You might find at this stage that one research topic throws up three questions (which then become sub-topics and even new separate topics in their own right) and in so doing, the list grows. Let it. Don’t hold back or try to start evaluating your ideas yet – just let them flow onto paper.

Once you’ve got a few topics and questions on paper, check the literature again to see whether any of these have been covered by the existing research. Since you came up with these from scratch, there is a possibility that your original literature search did not cover them, so it’s important to revisit that phase to ensure that you’re familiar with the relevant literature for each idea. You may also then find that approach #1 and #2 can be used to build on these ideas.

Try use all three approaches

As mentioned earlier, the three approaches discussed here are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the more, the merrier. Hopefully, you manage to utilise all three, as this will give you the best odds of producing a rich list of ideas, which you can then narrow down and evaluate, which is the next step.

Step 5: Narrow down, then evaluate

By this stage, you should have a healthy list of research topics. Step away from the ideation and thinking for a few days, clear your mind. The key is to get some distance from your ideas, so that you can sit down with your list and review it with a more objective view. The unbridled ideation phase is over and now it’s time to take a reality check .

Look at your list and see if any options can be crossed off right away .  Maybe you don’t want to do that topic anymore. Maybe the topic turned out to be too broad and threw up 20 hard to answer questions. Maybe all the literature you found about it was 30 years old and you suspect it might not be a very engaging contemporary issue . Maybe this topic is so over-researched that you’ll struggle to find anything fresh to say. Also, after stepping back, it’s quite common to notice that 2 or 3 of your topics are really the same one, the same question, which you’ve written down in slightly different ways. You can try to amalgamate these into one succinct topic.

Narrow down to the top 5, then evaluate

Now, take your streamlined list and narrow it down to the ‘top 5’ that interest you the most. Personal interest is your key evaluation criterion at this stage. Got your ‘top 5’?  Great!  Now, with a cool head and your best analytical mind engaged, go systematically through each option and evaluate them against the following criteria:

Research questions – what is the main research question, and what are the supporting sub-questions? It’s critically important that you can define these questions clearly and concisely. If you cannot do this, it means you haven’t thought the topic through sufficiently.

Originality – is the topic sufficiently original, as per your university’s originality requirements? Are you able to add something unique to the existing conversation? As mentioned earlier, originality can come in many forms, and it doesn’t mean that you need to find a completely new, cutting-edge topic. However, your university’s requirements should guide your decision-making here.

Importance – is the topic of real significance, or is it just a “nice to know”? If it’s significant, why? Who will benefit from finding the answer to your desired questions and how will they benefit? Justifying your research will be a key requirement for your research proposal , so it’s really important to develop a convincing argument here.

Literature – is there a contemporary (current) body of academic literature around this issue? Is there enough literature for you to base your investigation on, but not too much that the topic is “overdone”? Will you be able to navigate this literature or is it overwhelming?

Data requirements – What kind of data would you need access to in order to answer your key questions?  Would you need to adopt a qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approach to answer your questions? At this stage, you don’t need to be able to map out your exact research design, but you should be able to articulate how you would approach it in high-level terms. Will you use qual, quant or mixed methods? Why?

Feasibility – How feasible would it be to gather the data that would be needed in the time-frame that you have – and do you have the will power and the skills to do it? If you’re not confident with the theory, you don’t want something that’s going to draw you into a debate about the relative importance of epistemology and ontology. If you are shy, you won’t want to be doing ethnographic interviews. If you feel this question calls for a 100-person survey, do you have the time to plan, organise and conduct it and then analyse it? What will you do if you don’t get the response rate you expect? Be very realistic here and also ask advice from your supervisor and other experts – poor response rates are extremely common and can derail even the best research projects.

Personal attraction – On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about this topic? Will addressing it add value to your life and/or career? Will undertaking the project help you build a skill you’ve previously wanted to work on (for example, interview skills, statistical analysis skills, software skills, etc.)?

The last point is particularly important. You will have to engage with your dissertation in a very sustained and deep way, face challenges and difficulties, and get it to completion. If you don’t start out enthusiastic about it, you’re setting yourself up for problems like ‘writer’s block’ or ‘burnout’ down the line. This is the reason personal interest was the sole evaluation criterion when we chose the top 5. So, don’t underestimate the importance of personal attraction to a topic – at the same time, don’t let personal attraction lead you to choose a topic that is not relevant to your course or feasible given your resources. 

Narrow down to 3, then get human feedback

We’re almost at the finishing line. The next step is to narrow down to 2 or 3 shortlisted topics. No more!  Write a short paragraph about each topic, addressing the following:

Firstly,  WHAT will this study be about? Frame the topic as a question or a problem. Write it as a dissertation title. No more than two clauses and no more than 15 words. Less than 15 is better (go back to good journal articles for inspiration on appropriate title styles).

Secondly, WHY this is interesting (original) and important – as proven by existing academic literature? Are people talking about this and is there an acknowledged problem, debate or gap in the literature?

Lastly,  HOW do you plan to answer the question? What sub-questions will you use? What methods does this call for and how competent and confident are you in those methods? Do you have the time to gather the data this calls for?

Show the shortlist and accompanying paragraphs to a couple of your peers from your course and also to an expert or two if at all possible (you’re welcome to reach out to us ), explaining what you will investigate, why this is original and important and how you will go about investigating it. 

Once you’ve pitched your ideas, ask for the following thoughts :

• Which is most interesting and appealing to them?
• Why do they feel this way?
• What problems do they foresee with the execution of the research?

Take advice and feedback and sit on it for another day. Let it simmer in your mind overnight before you make the final decision.  

Step 6: Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Then, make the commitment. Choose the one that you feel most confident about, having now considered both your opinion and the feedback from others.

Once you’ve made a decision, don’t doubt your judgement, don’t shift.  Don’t be tempted by the ones you left behind. You’ve planned and thought things through, checked feasibility and now you can start.  You have your research topic. Trust your own decision-making process and stick with it now. It’s time to get started on your research proposal!

Let’s recap…

In this post, I’ve proposed a straightforward 6-step plan to finding relevant research topic ideas and then narrowing them down to finally choose one winner. To recap:

• Understand the basics of academic research, as well as your university’s specific requirements for a dissertation, thesis or research project.
• Review previous dissertations for your course to get an idea of both topics and structure.
• Start the ideation process by familiarising yourself with the literature.
• Identify your potential research questions (topics).
• Narrow down your options, then evaluate systematically.
• Make your decision (and don’t look back!)

If you follow these steps, you’ll find that they also set you up for what’s coming next – both the proposal and the first three chapters of your dissertation. But that’s for future posts!

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

24 Comments

I would love to get a topic under teachers performance. I am a student of MSC Monitoring and Evaluations and I need a topic in the line of monitoring and evaluations

I just we put for some full notes that are payable

Thank you very much Dr Caroline

I need a project topics on transfer of learning

I would like to get a simple and direct research topic in integrated water resources management ( water quality and innovative water treatment technologies)

m a PhD Student I would like to be assisted inn formulating a title around: Internet of Things for online education in higher education – STEM (Science, technology, engineering and Mathematics, digital divide ) Thank you, would appreciate your guidance

Well structured guide on the topic… Good materials for beginners in research writing…

Hello Iam kindly seeking for help in formulating a researchable topic for masters degree program in line with teaching GRAPHIC ART

I read a thesis about a problem in a particular. Can I use the same topic just referring to my own country? Is that being original? The interview questions will mostly be the same as the other thesis.

Hi, thanks I managed to listen to the video so helpful indeed. I am currently an MBA student looking for a specific topic and I have different ideas that not sure they can be turned to be a study.

I am doing a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counselling and I felt like doing research on Spiritual problem cause by substance abuse among Youth. Can I get help to formulate the Thesis Title in line with it…please

Hello, I am kindly seeking help in formulating a researchable topic for a National diploma program

As a beginner in research, I am very grateful for this well-structured material on research writing.

Hello, I watched the video and its very helpful. I’m a student in Nursing (degree). May you please help me with any research problems (in Namibian society or Nursing) that need to be evaluate or solved?

I have been greatly impacted. Thank you.

more than useful… there will be no justification if someone fails to get a topic for his thesis

I watched the video and its really helpful.

How can i started discovery

Analysing the significance of Integrated reporting in Zimbabwe. A case of institutional investors. this is my topic for PHD Accounting sciences need help with research questions

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts.

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts

It was a nice one thank you

Wow, This helped a lot not only with how to find a research topic but inspired me to kick it off from now, I am a final year student of environmental science. And have to complete my project in the coming six months.

I was really stressed and thinking about different topics that I don’t know nothing about and having more than a hundred topics in the baggage, couldn’t make the tradeoff among them, however, reading this scrubbed the fuzzy layer off my head and now it seems like really easy.

Thanks GRADCOACH, you saved me from getting into the rabbit hole.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• Dissertation vs Thesis: What's the difference? - Grad Coach - […] we receive questions about dissertation and thesis writing on a daily basis – everything from how to find a…

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Print Friendly

Imperial College London Imperial College London

Latest news.

Imperial retains top spot in UK university league table

Award shortlists and interdisciplinary research grants: News from Imperial

5 lessons to level up conservation successfully

• Research groups

For PhD students - how to formulate a research question

Different students enter the PhD program with different backgrounds. Some students take research-oriented modules (courses in US) at undergraduate level. Some other do a research masters before doing a PhD. However, the kind of research questions we address in a PhD are very new and requires a long period of deeper investigation. Therefore, it is important to know how to find a good question that gets you excited.

Direct encounter : Usually, a good question comes from an experience. In my case, I experienced how hard it is to derive the dynamics of a robot with high degrees of freedom (DoF). I actually tried to manually derive dynamics of a 4-DoF manipulator called Mark-II from Yasakawa Corporation, and then ran a Mathematica program to do a symbolic derivation for a 7-DoF robot manipulator called PA-10. I experienced how long the equations grew and thought how the brain might be dealing with a body of about 37 DoFs for model based predictive control. This direct encounter with the problem is very important, because it gives you a cause to work towards.

Look around : After finding a problem worthy of addressing, look around to see how others have approached to solve it. This is where you will see different schools of thought. Be careful. There are glaring band-waggons out there. It is so tempting to get in one of them. Don’t blindly follow them unless you have a good reason. Usually following is tiring. Think carefully trying out simple derivations and doing simulations or even doing simple physical experiments to see what kind of approaches get you excited. Some approaches appear very exciting, but direct usage will prove to be not so effective. At this point, it is very important to consult your supervisor. The supervisor may have a favorite approach. Most experienced supervisors are open for change and a good reasoned discussion will help you to benefit from their experience to polish up your research question and the method you want to address it. You should always check if there are quantifiable methods to address your research question. For instance, if you want to test whether there is a particular class of mechanisms available to minimise the size of collision force when a robot is dropped from a height, you should think about testing methods, candidate mechanisms, and the range of design paramaters to assess the scope of analysis. Sometimes, your laboratory may not have the full capacity to help you. This is where you can look for collaborations. Try to reach this level of planning logistics within the first 4-6 months in your PhD.

First experiment is important : Once you know your cause for the PhD and once the approach and collaborations are established, break your approach down to smaller steps. Don’t worry too much about how the last experiment will be done. Worry about your first experiment. Distill out a refined research question that needs a novel answer that you can reach in about 6 months. This is important to boost confidence. Temptations will be high to find the ultimate answer to bring your field to a conclusion, but even in that case, it is important to make a first firm step. In this first step, master the tools and techniques involved in your field. In my lab, students take this time to master robot design and fabrication skills, coding skills, data analysis skills, and cool math you can use to solve difficult problems. Develop the habit of reading at least one paper a week that empowers you with powerful tools to solve problems.

Documentation : It is important to develop the habit of keeping things in a well sorted file structure. Open a folder for each project. Have sub-folders for data, reports, codes, papers you read (using a repository like Madeley is also great), designs, and other resources. This is going to save time when you write a paper at some point. Now you have cloud resources like Box and Onedrive. Back up everything securely.

Writing the first paper : If everything works out, after about one year into the PhD, you will have some new results worthy of publishing. Sometimes, the first attempt doesn’t work out. But all failed attempts teach us lessons. Don’t get discouraged if the first experiment doesn’t work out. Develop the resilience to come back with a different approach or to formulate the question in a different way. Then when you write the first paper, you will have comparative results. The importance of reading papers at least one per week is that in 6 months, you would have read at least 25 papers. This is enough to write your first paper. Start writing why the question you addressed is new and important, and back it up with papers you read. Write down your methods very clearly keeping in mind that somebody should be able to read your paper and be able to replicate it for independent verification. Results and interpretations need to be as sharp and consistent as possible. Plan to go through several rounds of revisions with your supervisor and lab mates before any submission deadlines. I ask my PhD students to have the paper in a reasonable level for revision at least one month before the deadline. Have this as a ballpark period for revision in your first paper. This is the time where you develop the skills of articulating a concept clearly, present it to an audience, receive criticisms, and develop good habits of critical reflection.

Completing the cycle : You will of course get review feedback. Some suggestions I have  given in this note can be useful to go the rest of the journey. Once you get your first paper published, you will have your next research questions coming up easily. The advantage of taking an approach you are passionate about to serve the cause you selected is that it will naturally line up the next set of questions and methods you should be pursuing. My advise is to go through this full cycle of raising a question to publishing results at least 3 times during your PhD. It will give you a seasoned experience of the art of formulating good research questions.

How to Write a Research Question: Types and Examples 

The first step in any research project is framing the research question. It can be considered the core of any systematic investigation as the research outcomes are tied to asking the right questions. Thus, this primary interrogation point sets the pace for your research as it helps collect relevant and insightful information that ultimately influences your work.   

Typically, the research question guides the stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting. Depending on the use of quantifiable or quantitative data, research questions are broadly categorized into quantitative or qualitative research questions. Both types of research questions can be used independently or together, considering the overall focus and objectives of your research.  

What is a research question?

A research question is a clear, focused, concise, and arguable question on which your research and writing are centered. 1 It states various aspects of the study, including the population and variables to be studied and the problem the study addresses. These questions also set the boundaries of the study, ensuring cohesion. 

Designing the research question is a dynamic process where the researcher can change or refine the research question as they review related literature and develop a framework for the study. Depending on the scale of your research, the study can include single or multiple research questions. 

A good research question has the following features: 

• It is relevant to the chosen field of study. 
• The question posed is arguable and open for debate, requiring synthesizing and analysis of ideas. 
• It is focused and concisely framed. 
• A feasible solution is possible within the given practical constraint and timeframe. 

A poorly formulated research question poses several risks. 1   

• Researchers can adopt an erroneous design. 
• It can create confusion and hinder the thought process, including developing a clear protocol.  
• It can jeopardize publication efforts.  
• It causes difficulty in determining the relevance of the study findings.  
• It causes difficulty in whether the study fulfils the inclusion criteria for systematic review and meta-analysis. This creates challenges in determining whether additional studies or data collection is needed to answer the question.  
• Readers may fail to understand the objective of the study. This reduces the likelihood of the study being cited by others. 

Now that you know “What is a research question?”, let’s look at the different types of research questions. 

Types of research questions

Depending on the type of research to be done, research questions can be classified broadly into quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies. Knowing the type of research helps determine the best type of research question that reflects the direction and epistemological underpinnings of your research. 

The structure and wording of quantitative 2 and qualitative research 3 questions differ significantly. The quantitative study looks at causal relationships, whereas the qualitative study aims at exploring a phenomenon. 

• Quantitative research questions:  
• Seeks to investigate social, familial, or educational experiences or processes in a particular context and/or location.  
• Answers ‘how,’ ‘what,’ or ‘why’ questions. 
• Investigates connections, relations, or comparisons between independent and dependent variables. 

Quantitative research questions can be further categorized into descriptive, comparative, and relationship, as explained in the Table below. 

• Qualitative research questions  

Qualitative research questions are adaptable, non-directional, and more flexible. It concerns broad areas of research or more specific areas of study to discover, explain, or explore a phenomenon. These are further classified as follows: 

• Mixed-methods studies  

Mixed-methods studies use both quantitative and qualitative research questions to answer your research question. Mixed methods provide a complete picture than standalone quantitative or qualitative research, as it integrates the benefits of both methods. Mixed methods research is often used in multidisciplinary settings and complex situational or societal research, especially in the behavioral, health, and social science fields. 

What makes a good research question

A good research question should be clear and focused to guide your research. It should synthesize multiple sources to present your unique argument, and should ideally be something that you are interested in. But avoid questions that can be answered in a few factual statements. The following are the main attributes of a good research question. 

• Specific: The research question should not be a fishing expedition performed in the hopes that some new information will be found that will benefit the researcher. The central research question should work with your research problem to keep your work focused. If using multiple questions, they should all tie back to the central aim. 
• Measurable: The research question must be answerable using quantitative and/or qualitative data or from scholarly sources to develop your research question. If such data is impossible to access, it is better to rethink your question. 
• Attainable: Ensure you have enough time and resources to do all research required to answer your question. If it seems you will not be able to gain access to the data you need, consider narrowing down your question to be more specific. 
• You have the expertise 
• You have the equipment and resources 
• Realistic: Developing your research question should be based on initial reading about your topic. It should focus on addressing a problem or gap in the existing knowledge in your field or discipline. 
• Based on some sort of rational physics 
• Can be done in a reasonable time frame 
• Timely: The research question should contribute to an existing and current debate in your field or in society at large. It should produce knowledge that future researchers or practitioners can later build on. 
• Novel 
• Based on current technologies. 
• Important to answer current problems or concerns. 
• Lead to new directions. 
• Important: Your question should have some aspect of originality. Incremental research is as important as exploring disruptive technologies. For example, you can focus on a specific location or explore a new angle. 
• Meaningful whether the answer is “Yes” or “No.” Closed-ended, yes/no questions are too simple to work as good research questions. Such questions do not provide enough scope for robust investigation and discussion. A good research question requires original data, synthesis of multiple sources, and original interpretation and argumentation before providing an answer. 

Steps for developing a good research question

The importance of research questions cannot be understated. When drafting a research question, use the following frameworks to guide the components of your question to ease the process. 4  

• Determine the requirements: Before constructing a good research question, set your research requirements. What is the purpose? Is it descriptive, comparative, or explorative research? Determining the research aim will help you choose the most appropriate topic and word your question appropriately. 
• Select a broad research topic: Identify a broader subject area of interest that requires investigation. Techniques such as brainstorming or concept mapping can help identify relevant connections and themes within a broad research topic. For example, how to learn and help students learn. 
• Perform preliminary investigation: Preliminary research is needed to obtain up-to-date and relevant knowledge on your topic. It also helps identify issues currently being discussed from which information gaps can be identified. 
• Narrow your focus: Narrow the scope and focus of your research to a specific niche. This involves focusing on gaps in existing knowledge or recent literature or extending or complementing the findings of existing literature. Another approach involves constructing strong research questions that challenge your views or knowledge of the area of study (Example: Is learning consistent with the existing learning theory and research). 
• Identify the research problem: Once the research question has been framed, one should evaluate it. This is to realize the importance of the research questions and if there is a need for more revising (Example: How do your beliefs on learning theory and research impact your instructional practices). 

How to write a research question

Those struggling to understand how to write a research question, these simple steps can help you simplify the process of writing a research question. 

Sample Research Questions

The following are some bad and good research question examples 

• Example 1 

• Example 2 

References:  

• Thabane, L., Thomas, T., Ye, C., & Paul, J. (2009). Posing the research question: not so simple.  Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d’anesthésie ,  56 (1), 71-79. 
• Rutberg, S., & Bouikidis, C. D. (2018). Focusing on the fundamentals: A simplistic differentiation between qualitative and quantitative research.  Nephrology Nursing Journal ,  45 (2), 209-213. 
• Kyngäs, H. (2020). Qualitative research and content analysis.  The application of content analysis in nursing science research , 3-11. 
• Mattick, K., Johnston, J., & de la Croix, A. (2018). How to… write a good research question.  The clinical teacher ,  15 (2), 104-108. 
• Fandino, W. (2019). Formulating a good research question: Pearls and pitfalls.  Indian Journal of Anaesthesia ,  63 (8), 611. 
• Richardson, W. S., Wilson, M. C., Nishikawa, J., & Hayward, R. S. (1995). The well-built clinical question: a key to evidence-based decisions.  ACP journal club ,  123 (3), A12-A13 

Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 21+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster.  

Get accurate academic translations, rewriting support, grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, and generative AI assistance that delivers human precision at machine speed. Try for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime starting at US$19 a month to access premium features, including consistency, plagiarism, and 30+ submission readiness checks to help you succeed.  

Experience the future of academic writing – Sign up to Paperpal and start writing for free!  

Related Reads:

• Scientific Writing Style Guides Explained
• Ethical Research Practices For Research with Human Subjects
• 8 Most Effective Ways to Increase Motivation for Thesis Writing 
• 6 Tips for Post-Doc Researchers to Take Their Career to the Next Level

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs in the World of Research

Language and grammar rules for academic writing, you may also like, how to cite in apa format (7th edition):..., how to write your research paper in apa..., how to choose a dissertation topic, how to write a phd research proposal, how to write an academic paragraph (step-by-step guide), research funding basics: what should a grant proposal..., how to write the first draft of a..., mla works cited page: format, template & examples, academic editing: how to self-edit academic text with..., measuring academic success: definition & strategies for excellence.

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Tips for developing PhD research questions

Time management skills and extensive reading can help students develop a sophisticated set of research questions. plus the latest higher education jobs and appointments.

• Share on linkedin
• Share on mail

Researching a PhD for the first time is like a quest for which you have no map or overarching strategy to guide you, according to Victoria ­Perselli, associate professor in the School of Education at Kingston University .

Students are expected to lay down the theories that will underpin their research on their own, and many find this a struggle.

“Nobody can really pre-specify what that [theory] will be, or what sort of theory might fit best with what you want to know,” said Dr Perselli.

An important starting point to developing theory is reading, she added. “Right from the beginning, reading very widely and deeply is key because that helps you see exactly who else has researched that area already, which is something that you need to know,” she said. It also flags up the key thinkers in a particular area from the past and present day and shows how they describe what they know.

“That desk-based element of the research is very important because it broadens your own vocabulary and it enables you to think and to talk about theories that are already out there,” she said.

Armed with this information, doctoral students can then seek to understand what they could add to the field with the design of their own research questions. One way of getting a grip on this could be to look at people currently working in the field who have taken theory from the past and reframed it for the present, Dr Perselli suggested. This can help to further expand an individual’s lexicon, which in turn helps them to develop more sophisticated research questions.

Many students are caught out by exactly how much time and space is needed for this in-depth thinking. One of the most common pitfalls for PhD students is to underestimate the extent to which his or her life needs to be organised in order to provide necessary space and quality time to develop a theory.

Regularly discussing desk-based research with a supervisor will eventually lead to the development of a theory that fits your ideas and methodologies together. But a supervisor cannot tell you what to do or how to find solutions. Students must take ownership of the research and its development at this early stage, Dr Perselli said.

The theory is mapped on to an individual’s investigation, which is ongoing in an iterative process. The gathering and analysis of data during this stage should then be synthesised with time spent reading and writing along the way.

“You are thinking and discussing and writing all the way through…The thesis that you end up with will not be the sum of that work,” she said, adding that only a portion of it will make the final cut.

Students should be encouraged when their findings do not correlate with the theory, added Dr Perselli. “That is where it gets exciting,” she said. There would be nothing new to say if the findings had a direct and obvious relationship to the theory, she added.

It is the surprises “that take your breath away” that allow a researcher to take stock of what is known already and to look at how the findings relate to the theory. Using the new vocabulary gleaned from the exhaustive reading of the field can help figure out this enigma, she said.

[email protected]

Appointments

Judith Squires has been appointed a council member for the Economic and Social Research Council by Greg Clark, the universities minister. Professor Squires is pro vice-chancellor for education and students at the University of Bristol .

The University of Huddersfield has made two new professorial appointments to the School of Art, Design and Architecture. Dilanthi Amaratunga and Richard Haigh are both experts in the built environment.

Donna Lee has joined the University of Bradford as dean of social and international studies. Professor Lee was previously at the University of Kent , where she was professor of international political economy and diplomacy.

The Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford have made Lucie Burgess associate director for digital libraries. Ms Burgess, who will join in November, is currently head of online services at the British Library.

A University of Manchester professor has been made the president of the European Association for Cancer Research. Richard Marais will hold the position from 2014 to 2016.

Register to continue

Why register?

• Registration is free and only takes a moment
• Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
• Sign up for our newsletter

Or subscribe for unlimited access to:

• Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
• Digital editions
• Digital access to THE’s university and college rankings analysis

Already registered or a current subscriber? Login

You might also like

Monash seeks to improve postgraduate progression in Indonesia

New partnership with local universities gives ‘priority’ pathway to Indonesian campus, plus PhD training for lecturers

Years on edge, no cigar: the lot of foreign doctoral applicants

After waiting years for their visas, Australia-bound PhD candidates find that their university places have evaporated

Junior researchers ‘cited more if PhD supervisor is well known’

Success of those mentored by highly regarded scholars suggests ‘chaperone effect’ is increasingly important, finds study

Featured jobs

• Affiliate Program

• UNITED STATES
• 台灣 (TAIWAN)
• TÜRKIYE (TURKEY)
• Academic Editing Services
• - Research Paper
• - Journal Manuscript
• - Dissertation
• - College & University Assignments
• Admissions Editing Services
• - Application Essay
• - Personal Statement
• - Recommendation Letter
• - Cover Letter
• - CV/Resume
• Business Editing Services
• - Business Documents
• - Report & Brochure
• - Website & Blog
• Writer Editing Services
• - Script & Screenplay
• Our Editors
• Client Reviews
• Editing & Proofreading Prices
• Wordvice Points
• Partner Discount
• Plagiarism Checker
• APA Citation Generator
• MLA Citation Generator
• Chicago Citation Generator
• Vancouver Citation Generator
• - APA Style
• - MLA Style
• - Chicago Style
• - Vancouver Style
• Writing & Editing Guide
• Academic Resources
• Admissions Resources

How to Write a Good Research Question (w/ Examples)

What is a Research Question?

A research question is the main question that your study sought or is seeking to answer. A clear research question guides your research paper or thesis and states exactly what you want to find out, giving your work a focus and objective. Learning  how to write a hypothesis or research question is the start to composing any thesis, dissertation, or research paper. It is also one of the most important sections of a research proposal . 

A good research question not only clarifies the writing in your study; it provides your readers with a clear focus and facilitates their understanding of your research topic, as well as outlining your study’s objectives. Before drafting the paper and receiving research paper editing (and usually before performing your study), you should write a concise statement of what this study intends to accomplish or reveal.

Research Question Writing Tips

Listed below are the important characteristics of a good research question:

A good research question should:

• Be clear and provide specific information so readers can easily understand the purpose.
• Be focused in its scope and narrow enough to be addressed in the space allowed by your paper
• Be relevant and concise and express your main ideas in as few words as possible, like a hypothesis.
• Be precise and complex enough that it does not simply answer a closed “yes or no” question, but requires an analysis of arguments and literature prior to its being considered acceptable. 
• Be arguable or testable so that answers to the research question are open to scrutiny and specific questions and counterarguments.

Some of these characteristics might be difficult to understand in the form of a list. Let’s go into more detail about what a research question must do and look at some examples of research questions.

The research question should be specific and focused 

Research questions that are too broad are not suitable to be addressed in a single study. One reason for this can be if there are many factors or variables to consider. In addition, a sample data set that is too large or an experimental timeline that is too long may suggest that the research question is not focused enough.

A specific research question means that the collective data and observations come together to either confirm or deny the chosen hypothesis in a clear manner. If a research question is too vague, then the data might end up creating an alternate research problem or hypothesis that you haven’t addressed in your Introduction section .

The research question should be based on the literature 

An effective research question should be answerable and verifiable based on prior research because an effective scientific study must be placed in the context of a wider academic consensus. This means that conspiracy or fringe theories are not good research paper topics.

Instead, a good research question must extend, examine, and verify the context of your research field. It should fit naturally within the literature and be searchable by other research authors.

References to the literature can be in different citation styles and must be properly formatted according to the guidelines set forth by the publishing journal, university, or academic institution. This includes in-text citations as well as the Reference section . 

The research question should be realistic in time, scope, and budget

There are two main constraints to the research process: timeframe and budget.

A proper research question will include study or experimental procedures that can be executed within a feasible time frame, typically by a graduate doctoral or master’s student or lab technician. Research that requires future technology, expensive resources, or follow-up procedures is problematic.

A researcher’s budget is also a major constraint to performing timely research. Research at many large universities or institutions is publicly funded and is thus accountable to funding restrictions. 

The research question should be in-depth

Research papers, dissertations and theses , and academic journal articles are usually dozens if not hundreds of pages in length.

A good research question or thesis statement must be sufficiently complex to warrant such a length, as it must stand up to the scrutiny of peer review and be reproducible by other scientists and researchers.

Research Question Types

Qualitative and quantitative research are the two major types of research, and it is essential to develop research questions for each type of study. 

Quantitative Research Questions

Quantitative research questions are specific. A typical research question involves the population to be studied, dependent and independent variables, and the research design.

In addition, quantitative research questions connect the research question and the research design. In addition, it is not possible to answer these questions definitively with a “yes” or “no” response. For example, scientific fields such as biology, physics, and chemistry often deal with “states,” in which different quantities, amounts, or velocities drastically alter the relevance of the research.

As a consequence, quantitative research questions do not contain qualitative, categorical, or ordinal qualifiers such as “is,” “are,” “does,” or “does not.”

Categories of quantitative research questions

Qualitative Research Questions

In quantitative research, research questions have the potential to relate to broad research areas as well as more specific areas of study. Qualitative research questions are less directional, more flexible, and adaptable compared with their quantitative counterparts. Thus, studies based on these questions tend to focus on “discovering,” “explaining,” “elucidating,” and “exploring.”

Categories of qualitative research questions

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Question Examples

Good and Bad Research Question Examples

Below are some good (and not-so-good) examples of research questions that researchers can use to guide them in crafting their own research questions.

Research Question Example 1

The first research question is too vague in both its independent and dependent variables. There is no specific information on what “exposure” means. Does this refer to comments, likes, engagement, or just how much time is spent on the social media platform?

Second, there is no useful information on what exactly “affected” means. Does the subject’s behavior change in some measurable way? Or does this term refer to another factor such as the user’s emotions?

Research Question Example 2

In this research question, the first example is too simple and not sufficiently complex, making it difficult to assess whether the study answered the question. The author could really only answer this question with a simple “yes” or “no.” Further, the presence of data would not help answer this question more deeply, which is a sure sign of a poorly constructed research topic.

The second research question is specific, complex, and empirically verifiable. One can measure program effectiveness based on metrics such as attendance or grades. Further, “bullying” is made into an empirical, quantitative measurement in the form of recorded disciplinary actions.

Steps for Writing a Research Question

Good research questions are relevant, focused, and meaningful. It can be difficult to come up with a good research question, but there are a few steps you can follow to make it a bit easier.

1. Start with an interesting and relevant topic

Choose a research topic that is interesting but also relevant and aligned with your own country’s culture or your university’s capabilities. Popular academic topics include healthcare and medical-related research. However, if you are attending an engineering school or humanities program, you should obviously choose a research question that pertains to your specific study and major.

Below is an embedded graph of the most popular research fields of study based on publication output according to region. As you can see, healthcare and the basic sciences receive the most funding and earn the highest number of publications. 

2. Do preliminary research  

You can begin doing preliminary research once you have chosen a research topic. Two objectives should be accomplished during this first phase of research. First, you should undertake a preliminary review of related literature to discover issues that scholars and peers are currently discussing. With this method, you show that you are informed about the latest developments in the field.

Secondly, identify knowledge gaps or limitations in your topic by conducting a preliminary literature review . It is possible to later use these gaps to focus your research question after a certain amount of fine-tuning.

3. Narrow your research to determine specific research questions

You can focus on a more specific area of study once you have a good handle on the topic you want to explore. Focusing on recent literature or knowledge gaps is one good option. 

By identifying study limitations in the literature and overlooked areas of study, an author can carve out a good research question. The same is true for choosing research questions that extend or complement existing literature.

4. Evaluate your research question

Make sure you evaluate the research question by asking the following questions:

Is my research question clear?

The resulting data and observations that your study produces should be clear. For quantitative studies, data must be empirical and measurable. For qualitative, the observations should be clearly delineable across categories.

Is my research question focused and specific?

A strong research question should be specific enough that your methodology or testing procedure produces an objective result, not one left to subjective interpretation. Open-ended research questions or those relating to general topics can create ambiguous connections between the results and the aims of the study. 

Is my research question sufficiently complex?

The result of your research should be consequential and substantial (and fall sufficiently within the context of your field) to warrant an academic study. Simply reinforcing or supporting a scientific consensus is superfluous and will likely not be well received by most journal editors.  

Editing Your Research Question

Your research question should be fully formulated well before you begin drafting your research paper. However, you can receive English paper editing and proofreading services at any point in the drafting process. Language editors with expertise in your academic field can assist you with the content and language in your Introduction section or other manuscript sections. And if you need further assistance or information regarding paper compositions, in the meantime, check out our academic resources , which provide dozens of articles and videos on a variety of academic writing and publication topics.

• Interesting
• Scholarships
• UGC-CARE Journals

How to Develop a Research Question?

A Complete Guide to Frame Research Questions

Formulation of the research questions is an important task before starting any research work. The main objective of framing the research question is to understand the existing research gaps in any field of research and to identify the need for extensive investigation. Therefore, it is significant to formulate good research questions.

The very first step in developing a research question is to identify the area of research and then carry out the preliminary study. The researcher needs to do an extensive literature survey to identify gaps in existing research, and based on this gap, research questions can be framed and investigated. Moreover, formulation of a research question is a systematic process and has to be done meticulously as these questions have more impact on the successful completion of your novel research.

Therefore, in this article, iLovePhD discussed how to frame a research question that is specific enough to explore the paths related to your research.

Characteristics of the ideal Research Question

A good research question:

• Elaborates the problem statement
• Describes the problem under investigation
• Improves focus on the problem statement
• Guides data collection and analysis
• Enhances the importance of research.

Ratan et al., 2019 listed ten characteristics of a good research question which is presented below. It is expressed by the acronym ‘FINERMAPS’.

 “Successful and novel research topics are carefully defined and focused but are parts of a broad-ranging, complex problem.” ilovephd.com

How to Formulate the Research Question (Step-by-Step Procedure)

Before framing a research question, the researcher needs to have a broad and deep understanding of the field of research. The formulation of the research question is the result of extensive reading, thinking, and discussing the ideas with the supervisor. It is an iterative process, so, the research question gets revised periodically.

Step 1: Start by identifying a wider area of research for investigation ( For example Wastewater treatment )

Step 2: Do a gap analysis on that topic to understand the existing research works and what is to be investigated further. ( Example: Novel technique for the treatment of wastewater ).

Step 3: What is to be understood still? ( Example: Advantages and limitations of other existing wastewater treatment technologies ).

Step 4: What are the implied questions? ( Example: How this novel technique is unique from other technologies with respect to efficiency and cost ).

Step 5: Narrow down the scope and focus of research ( Example: A pilot-scale study on the treatment of wastewater by a novel technique for reuse ).

Once the research question is framed, the researcher should evaluate it. This is done to understand whether the questions framed are meaningful or need further revision. Helen Kara, 2015 presented the technical requirements to assess the research question as follows:

• Is the research question clear and specific?
• Is the research question simple or complex?
• Is the research question researchable?
• Is the research question relevant?
• Is the research question have social importance?
• Is the research question narrow or broad?
• Is the research question measurable?

Examples of Good Research Questions:

The following questions fulfill the criteria of good research questions , that is, feasible, novel, interesting, ethical, relevant, and social importance.

• What are the novel, safe, and cost-effective methods to transport hydrogen gas to use it as fuel?
• What are the sustainable ways of producing green hydrogen?
• What are the novel methods to treat emerging contaminants in wastewater?
• How to mitigate active security attacks in the Internet of Medical Things?
• What are the economical methods to recycle used batteries?
• How to minimize the impact of macroeconomic conditions such as inflation on essential goods and services?
• What kind of framework is needed to dynamically update the existing university syllabus in-line with emerging technologies?
• How to design and develop pollution-free vehicles to minimize air pollution?

We hope, this article helped you to learn how to formulate your research questions based on the knowledge gained from the literature review. A good research question requires complete gap analysis and deep insight into the problem to be studied. Research work carried out by such questions can have a good impact in the field of social and health sectors for taking policy decisions for the benefit of our society.

Also Read: Top 38 Possible PhD Viva Questions

• Characteristics of Research Question
• Example Research Questions
• Research Methodology
• Research Question

24 Best Online Plagiarism Checker Free – 2024

480 ugc care list of journals – science – 2024, 100 cutting-edge research ideas in civil engineering, leave a reply cancel reply, most popular, indo-sri lanka joint research programme 2024, top 488 scopus indexed journals in computer science – open access, scopus indexed journals list 2024, what is a phd a comprehensive guide for indian scientists and aspiring researchers, the nippon foundation fellowship programme 2025, fellowships in india 2024 -comprehensive guide, agi in research: unraveling the future of artificial intelligence, best for you, popular posts, popular category.

• POSTDOC 317
• Interesting 257
• Journals 236
• Fellowship 134
• Research Methodology 102
• All Scopus Indexed Journals 94

Mail Subscription

iLovePhD is a research education website to know updated research-related information. It helps researchers to find top journals for publishing research articles and get an easy manual for research tools. The main aim of this website is to help Ph.D. scholars who are working in various domains to get more valuable ideas to carry out their research. Learn the current groundbreaking research activities around the world, love the process of getting a Ph.D.

Contact us: [email protected]

Google News

Copyright © 2024 iLovePhD. All rights reserved

• Artificial intelligence

Confused about Career Options?

Our free counselling session is designed to help you discover your strengths and find your dream career path.*/.

• Interact with top research students and scientists in India on live video meetings.
• Mentors from University of Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, IISc, IISERs, NISER, IITs, etc.

PS: Sharing is caring ❤️ Do share it with your loved ones. See you in the meeting 😊

Top 5 Math Research Topics for a PhD Student

So, you’ve decided to pursue a PhD in Mathematics—congratulations! That’s a big step, and an exciting journey awaits you ahead. But now comes the tough question: What should you focus your research on? Choosing a research topic is crucial because it sets the stage for your entire PhD journey. With so many fascinating areas in mathematics, it can be hard to decide. However, don’t worry! We’re here to help you explore some of the best math research topics for PhD students. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Number Theory: The Heart of Pure Mathematics

Let’s start with Number Theory , a classic and timeless area in mathematics . It deals with the properties and relationships of numbers, especially integers. Number theory has fascinated mathematicians for centuries. Why? Because it poses some of the most challenging and fundamental questions in math.

Therefore, some exciting topics in number theory include prime numbers , modular forms , and Diophantine equations . Research in these areas can lead to breakthroughs that impact other fields, such as cryptography and computer science. If you love solving puzzles and exploring patterns in numbers, number theory might be the perfect area for you.

Algebraic Geometry: Where Shapes Meet Algebra

Next up is Algebraic Geometry . This field studies solutions to polynomial equations using geometric methods. It’s a beautiful blend of algebra and geometry, providing deep insights into both areas. In fact, algebraic geometry has applications in many fields, from physics to robotics.

Moreover, some research topics in algebraic geometry include varieties , schemes , and moduli spaces . These topics help us understand complex geometric structures through algebraic expressions. If you enjoy visualising complex shapes and solving equations, algebraic geometry offers a wealth of opportunities.

Topology: Understanding the Fabric of Space

Have you ever wondered how a coffee cup can transform into a doughnut without tearing or cutting? That’s where Topology comes in. Topology is the study of properties that remain unchanged under continuous deformations. It helps us understand the fundamental nature of shapes and spaces.

Consequently, research topics in topology include knot theory , manifolds , and homotopy theory . These topics explore how different shapes relate to each other and how they can transform. Additionally, topology has applications in physics, computer science, and biology. If you’re fascinated by shapes and enjoy abstract thinking, topology could be your ideal research area.

Mathematical Modeling: Applying Math to Real-World Problems

If you want to see the real-world impact of mathematics, Mathematical Modeling might be the right choice for you. Mathematical modelling involves creating mathematical representations of real-world systems. Thus, these models help us understand complex phenomena in fields like biology, economics, and engineering.

For example, some interesting research topics in mathematical modelling include disease modelling , climate modelling , and financial mathematics . These areas use differential equations, probability, and statistics to solve practical problems. Therefore, if you like applying math to solve real-world issues, mathematical modelling offers plenty of opportunities to make a difference.

Cryptography: The Math Behind Secure Communications

Lastly, let’s talk about Cryptography . Cryptography is the science of secure communication, protecting information from unauthorised access. It relies heavily on advanced mathematics, including number theory and algebra. With the rise of digital technology, cryptography has become more important than ever.

Some research topics in cryptography include elliptic curve cryptography , quantum cryptography , and cryptographic protocols . These topics focus on developing new methods for secure communication in the digital age. Furthermore, if you’re interested in math and cybersecurity, cryptography could be a fascinating research area.

Conclusion:

Choosing a research topic for your PhD in Mathematics is a big decision. However, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re interested in pure mathematics like number theory or applied fields like cryptography, there’s a topic out there that’s perfect for you. Take your time, explore different areas, and choose a topic that excites you. After all, your passion for your research will keep you motivated throughout your PhD journey. Good luck!

Do you want to know which Institute is best for Mathematics? Click here to know the answer.

• What should I consider when choosing a math research topic for my PhD? Consider your interests, the relevance of the topic, and the guidance available from your potential advisors.
• Can I switch my research topic during my PhD? Yes, but it depends on your program and how far you are into your research. Always consult with your advisor first.
• How important is it to choose a trending topic for my PhD? Choosing a trending topic can be beneficial, but it’s more important to select a topic that you find exciting and motivating.
• What are the most challenging areas in math research? Areas like number theory, algebraic geometry, and cryptography can be challenging due to their complexity and abstract nature.
• Can I collaborate with other departments for my math research? Absolutely! Interdisciplinary research is encouraged, especially in areas like mathematical modelling and cryptography.

SciAstra is India’s First & Largest Research Community. We’re a team of scientists and research scholars from IISc, Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge and many more prestigious institutions around the world.

Since 2021, we have guided over 170,000 and taught more than 20,000 students, resulting in more than 2,000 top-ranked selections with AIR 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, and more in IISC Bangalore , IISER , NISER , IACS , and so on. If you are looking to prepare for IAT / NEST, ISI / CMI, IACS, you can check out our courses and get access to live classes, recorded lectures, study material, PYQs with detailed solutions, mock tests, doubt-clearing classes, and much more!

Our vision is to help students achieve their dream careers in science. To know more about us, click here OR download the SciAstra App from the Play Store and App Store!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Address : SciAstra Education Pvt Ltd, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
• [email protected]
• Copyright © 2023 SciAstra
• Web Stories

Our app SciAstra

Copyright © 2023, SciAstra. All rights reserved | Developed by Techsaga Corporations.

Dustin Tingley: Using data and careful thinking to tackle big issues and drive large-scale impact

Tingley brings his expertise on the political economy of climate change and energy transitions to a new HKS joint faculty appointment.

Q: What prompted you to pursue the kind of academic study and outreach work that you have chosen to focus on?

I like to find issues that require careful thinking, interesting data, and have the potential to drive large-scale impact. For me, the changes to our system of producing and using energy tick off those boxes. I think there is a personal motivation as well. These changes will have an impact on communities that have powered our country for well over a century, often at great risk to themselves. These large community-level changes can be very challenging. I grew up for a while in an area in North Carolina that had a lot of tobacco farming and furniture making. Those industries were decimated. And my dad's side of the family is from West Virginia, a historically coal-intensive state, which I visited a lot as a kid.    

Q: What drew you to teaching and to HKS?

First and foremost, the students. I have been at Harvard for almost 15 years, and have loved working with undergraduates, PhD students, and MBA students. I have had a chance to meet a lot of HKS students along the way and have always been impressed both by their skills and experiences but also their commitment. I am also excited to join a faculty that has people from a range of academic and professional backgrounds. I feel like I'll be a student to everyone else.

“I I have had a chance to meet a lot of HKS students along the way and have always been impressed both by their skills and experiences but also their commitment.”

Dustin tingley, q: what’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever come across in your work.

Ha, that is a tough question! One of the things I did a lot for my last book [Uncertain Futures: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse with Alex Gazmaranian] was to interview people. I heard so many interesting ideas and perspectives from folks. In one interview with a county economic development expert in Wyoming, they talked about how maybe we could leverage the fact that rail cars loaded with coal from the area return empty. And that maybe we could load them up with coal ash from coal-fired power plants and bring the waste back to be used for rare earth element extraction. Now, does this make sense from an engineering, economic, or other perspective, I honestly do not know. But it was a really interesting idea and one that only comes out of listening to others.    

Q: What’s the most interesting thing about you that’s not on your CV?

I like to coach youth sports. I was once a high school teacher and that came with a coaching obligation. I loved it. I have kids now, and I help coach their teams. Youth team sports are one great way for kids to learn how to work with each other and just have fun. Right now I am coaching ultimate frisbee. I'm also a guitar player, and love to play all sorts of music.  

Q: What do you want students of public policy to take away from your teaching?

If we are tackling the right set of issues then there will not be easy solutions. If you think your policy prescription or plan is obvious or easy, think again and ask your friends to critique it. We want the best ideas at the table.

— Photography by Lydia Rosenberg

More from HKS

The populism of self-destruction: how better policy can blunt the anti-clean energy backlash that threatens humanity’s future, powering the energy transition, how systems transitions can improve sustainable development.

Get smart & reliable public policy insights right in your inbox. 

UC Davis Awarded $3M Grant to Develop Industrial Biotechnology Training Program

By Albert Liu

The National Science Foundation is awarding the University of California, Davis, $3 million to create a new research traineeship program focusing on industrial biotechnology.  The five-year grant will fund the development of the Bioindustrial Engineering for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) program and create a curriculum for graduate students to acquire new technical and professional skills, preparing them for the rapidly expanding U.S. biotechnology market.

Facing a growing population and a changing climate, humanity will need to create innovative solutions and train highly skilled individuals to enact them.  In response to these challenges, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order in the fall of 2022 directing the advancement of biotechnology and biomanufacturing.  By harnessing the principles of biology to manufacture food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and more, the activities outlined in this Executive Order aim to improve the American economy, environment and quality of life.  To this end, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected the UC Davis BEST program for funding as part of the NSF Research Traineeship Program to address these directives and train a future biotechnology workforce.

The UC Davis Biotechnology Program is working closely with principal investigator Juliana de Moura-Bell to spearhead the BEST program. The leadership team includes Denneal Jamison-McClung , director of the Biotechnology Program, David Block , director of the Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein, Anna Denicol , Somen Nandi and several other UC Davis faculty members with a range of research expertise, including industrial bioengineering and precision fermentation, food science, plant science and related fields. On forming this campus-wide collaboration, De Moura Bell said, “Tackling complex problems like this will require a wide range of expertise that you can only get by bringing people from different research areas together.”

The BEST program will start at the graduate student level and continue through entry into the workforce, with the goal of creating a community of industrial biotechnology practitioners.  Master’s and doctoral students will select from one of three focus areas: Cultivated Meat, Alternative Proteins for Human and Animal Nutrition, and Natural or Recombinant Plant/Algal Proteins and Small Molecules for Industrial Applications. Trainees will acquire new skills in their focus area through guided coursework and workshops, in addition to participating in experiential opportunities such as internships and outreach to prepare them for a future career.

Graduate student researcher Madison Stewart in Professor Lucas Smith’s lab.

UC Davis has a historical commitment to enhancing graduate learning in biotechnology, with the Biotechnology Program serving as the home to several successful interdisciplinary training programs since the 1990s. The BEST team will build on this foundational expertise and continue longstanding work to broaden participation in STEM fields by engaging students from underrepresented and underserved communities. “Our goal is to develop a community of diverse, technically excellent graduate trainees who understand translational research and can communicate their science to non-specialist audiences,” said Jamison-McClung.

Along with technical expertise in bio-industrial engineering, the BEST leadership team has expertise in building inclusive research and training teams – de Moura-Bell has been recognized as a Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Science (CAMPOS) faculty scholar and Jamison-McClung serves as a CAMPOS affiliate, highlighting the investment by BEST leadership in creating an inclusive and diverse environment to help students to succeed.

At the institutional level, UC Davis serves as a governing member of BioMADE , a national institute focused on enabling American biomanufacturing. The BEST program will share BioMADE’s commitment to their 4S Social Dimensions: Safety, Security, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility.  BEST trainees’ required coursework will include modules on bioethics and professionalism, science communication, team science, and project management, ensuring that technical advances serve the interests of society. Additionally, UC Davis is home to the Cultivated Meat Consortium and the Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein (iCAMP) , which are conducting complementary activities to the planned BEST curriculum in similar research spaces.  With increasing investment in biotechnology in the greater Yolo, Solano, and Sacramento County areas, UC Davis will be uniquely poised to train graduate students to lead and staff a rapidly growing industry in our region.

As the BEST program prepares for launch, de Moura-Bell shared her vision for their future direction: “The ultimate goal is to become part of UC Davis, to continue to offer holistic training, and to benefit many more people to come.”

Feature image caption:  Graduate students researchers Cody Yothers and Lin Cao conducting research at the lab.

Latest News & Events

October 4: Proposal Writing Workshop with Suad Joseph

October 24: How to Build a Sustainably Funded Research Program into Your Academic Career Workshop

Quick links.

Looking to support research? Give today. Give

Office Units

Graphic consisting of the Penn State College of Medicine Crescent and Nittany Lion Statue

Institutional Mock Review of Grants (MoRe) Program

The Mock Review of Grants (MoRe) Program is an internal review program open to Principal Investigators (PIs) who hold a faculty appointment at the College of Medicine as well as active Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute KL2 Scholars. The goal is to provide PIs with constructive, actionable feedback on key components of their research proposals that will improve proposal quality and success rate. To be eligible, participating PIs must be committed to an external funding mechanism and target submission date that aligns with the current MoRe cycle. Research Development offers the MoRe Program three times each year to coincide with NIH standard due dates for competing applications. PIs preparing non-NIH proposals are also welcome to use the program.

The MoRe Program considers a limited set of documents with specific emphasis on the Biosketch and Specific Aims Page. These two documents are critically important because they shape reviewers’ first impressions of the PI and the research proposal. Knowledgeable Penn State faculty are recruited to serve as reviewers who share their feedback with participating PIs during a virtual Mock Review Session that is designed to facilitate open dialogue with each PI.

Jump to topic

More program details, approximately 17-18 weeks prior to the nih standard due dates.

Research Development posts a Call for Participants to Penn State InfoReady and broadly distributes the announcement to College of Medicine faculty members via email. PIs must declare their intent to participate in the MoRe Program by submitting the requested documents through the Penn State InfoReady site no later than the advertised deadline. Research Development treats all PI submissions as confidential and proprietary. Requested documents include:

• Current Biosketch – The biosketch must be prepared using the funding sponsor’s required format. The biosketch should also be tailored to the funding opportunity in question.
• Specific Aims Page
• Career Development Awards – PIs are highly encouraged to include a one-page summary of their training plan.
• Resubmission Applications – PIs working on a resubmission application will be expected to submit an Introduction (if required by the funding sponsor) along with the Specific Aims and Summary Statement from the initial submission.

Approximately 12-13 weeks prior to the NIH standard due dates

Ad Hoc Review Assignment – Research Development recruits knowledgeable and generous Penn State faculty to serve as primary, secondary, and tertiary reviewers for each proposal. Effort is made to include early career faculty in the review process as optional fourth reviewers.

Approximately 8-9 weeks prior to the NIH standard due dates

Virtual Review Session – The review session is administered by a session Chair and Scientific Review Officer (SRO). Each proposal is assigned to a 30-minute time slot. Participating PIs and reviewers are welcome to attend the full session proceedings but are only required to be present as their proposal is discussed. We encourage PIs to invite their mentors and/or key co-investigators to their review. All proceedings are treated as confidential.

Each PI’s allotted 30-minute time slot consists of the following components:

• Primary Reviewer (5-min) – The content expert summarizes the general objectives and scientific premises of the study, highlights strengths and weaknesses and provides an impression of the overall impact. The reviewer is also encouraged to provide comments on the applicant’s biosketch and resubmission strategy (if applicable).
• Secondary and Tertiary Reviewers (5-10 min) – Content and near-content experts share additional strengths and weaknesses.
• Fourth Reviewers (2-3 min) – Early career reviewers provide additional comments and suggestions.
• Discussion (10-min) – The floor is open for discussion to identify potential pitfalls in the research strategy, improve scientific inquiry and/or refine the specific aims and hypotheses. During this time, the PI can respond to any questions or ask questions of the reviewers.
• Summary (2-3 min) – The Chair summarizes the discussion and recommendations.

PIs receive a recording of their segment along with any written reviews (if applicable) within 3 to 5 days of the review session.

At the discretion of the Principal Investigator (PI)

During the review session, the investigator may have been advised to revise or reconfigure their specific aims and/or study design based on concerns regarding scientific premise, logical design, low potential impact, interdependent aims, low feasibility, or over-ambitious goals. PIs can decide to continue or delay their submission. The MoRe Program is strictly advisory. The decision to submit or delay is solely that of the PI in consultation with mentors and/or collaborators. PIs who decide to continue with their submission are encouraged to reach out to MoRe reviewers and/or other panelists if they desire additional feedback as they develop their full proposal. When possible and as appropriate, subsequent revisions to the Specific Aims and/or additional components may be reviewed to improve the external grant submission.

Program Contact

Megan Jones, PhD, MBA, assistant director of research development, serves as the scientific review officer (SRO) for each MoRe session. Please direct all inquiries to [email protected] .

Research Development

• Investigator Resources
• Mock Review of Grants (MoRe) Program
• Boilerplate Language
• Diversity in Research
• Funding Search Engines
• On-Demand Resources

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about this subject area

PhD Development Studies / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

• View full page
• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation (or overseas equivalent)

For the Development Economics Pathway you will need a Bachelor's and Master’s Degree in Economics or related field.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Select PhD Development Studies then one of the below streams

• PhD Development Studies
• PhD Development Studies (Development Economics)

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 20 January 2025.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

For September 2025 entry: 30 June 2025

Programme options

Programme overview

• The University of Manchester was ranked in the 2nd in the UK for Development Studies research (overall GPA, REF2021).
• Work alongside a range of specialists conducting cutting-edge research in international development.
• Europe's largest dedicated development research and teaching institute.
• Be part of a multidisciplinary and diverse researcher community.
• Access an ever-growing range of lectures, seminars and masterclasses presented by staff, visiting speakers and postgraduate researchers.

To find out what studying on a postgraduate research programme at Manchester is like, visit our Open days and study fairs page and explore our virtual open week or future on-campus and international events.

We will be conducting our Humanities PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out more about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts.

Fees for entry in 2025 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2024 were as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £6,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below. 

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including School of Environment, Education and Development studentships is 20 January 2025 .

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below. 

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more information about funding, visit our  funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• School of Environment, Education and Development Postgraduate Research Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• School of Environment, Education and Development Enhancing Racial Equality (SERE) Studentship - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Development Studies

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

• Contact QUT Contact QUT

Development of Synthetic Photoclick Hydrogels for Advanced 3D Cell and Organoid Culture Applications (CSIRO Industry Phd Scholarship)

Scholarship details, study levels, student type.

Future students

Engineering

Eligibility criteria

Academic performance

Citizenship

Australian or New Zealand

What you'll receive

The CSIRO Industry PhD Program (iPhD) aims to produce the next generation of innovation leaders with the skills to work at the interface of research and industry in Australia.

The program will include:

• admission to QUT's PhD program
• supervision by QUT, CSIRO, and Gelomics (industry partner)
• a four-year scholarship package totalling $47,000 per annum (2025 rate)
• a four-year Research Training Program (RTP) Fee-Offset
• a four-year project expense and development package of $13,000 per annum
• a three-month industry engagement component with Gelomics
• a structured professional development and training program to develop your applied research skills.

Successful students are subject to the policies, procedures and guidelines of QUT in addition to the CSIRO Industry PhD Program terms and conditions. Students will receive a standard PhD on completion.

Eligibility

The applicant must:

• be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident, or a New Zealand citizen
• meet the entry requirements for a QUT  Doctor of Philosophy , including any English language requirements
• not have previously completed a PhD
• be able to commence the program in the year of the offer
• enrol as a full-time PhD student; part-time arrangements may be considered if approved by the supervisory team and in accordance with QUT's policy
• be prepared to be located at the project location(s) that QUT has approved and, if required, comply with QUT's external enrolment procedures
• be prepared to undergo onboarding to CSIRO, which will include passing mandatory government background checks (allow for between four to eight weeks) and complete any other CSIRO requirements.

Essential skills required:

• Robust academic background in biochemistry, materials science, or a related field, underpinned by proven laboratory research experience, particularly in polymer chemistry or tissue engineering.
• Strong skill set for data analysis and interpretation, coupled with excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and possess a proactive, innovative approach to problem-solving in research.

Desirable skills:

• Prior experience with hydrogel development, 3D cell culture techniques, and a thorough understanding of photocrosslinkable materials.
• Familiarity with patent research and literature review processes.

How to apply

Apply for this scholarship at the same time you apply for admission to a QUT  Doctor of Philosophy .

• The first step is to email  Professor Travis Klein detailing your academic and research background, your motivation to research in this field and interest in this scholarship, and include your CV.
• If nominated to apply, you will then submit an expression of interest (EOI) to QUT following the advice at  How to apply for a research degree .
• In your EOI, nominate  Professor Travis Klein as your proposed principal supervisor, and copy the link to this scholarship website into question two of the financial details section.

What happens next?

• Your application will be assessed by the supervisory team and shortlisted applicants are invited for an interview.
• The supervisory team nominates a preferred applicant and informs CSIRO's iPhD office.
• The nominated applicant will be instructed to formally apply to QUT.
• The application is then assessed by QUT against the PhD admission criteria
• QUT will issue a letter of offer for the program if all conditions have been satisfied.

About the scholarship

Project details.

This project aims to develop photoclick synthetic hydrogels, revolutionising 3D cell and organoid culture for pharmaceutical applications. The expected outcome is the creation of a novel class of hydrogels that offer superior control and consistency, aligned to pharmaceutical standards. The potential benefit is to enhance the consistency and predictability of tissue cultures, with implications in ethical, efficient, and reliable alternatives to animal testing.

The supervisory team

• Queensland University of Technology:  Professor Travis Klein
• CSIRO:  Dr Almar Postma
• Gelomics Pty Ltd:  Dr Christoph Meinert

General program information

• Visit the  CSIRO Industry PhD website
• Email QUT's Graduate Research Centre at [email protected]
• Email the  iPhD team

Discover the right scholarship for you

Stay connected.

Get just the information you want on courses, scholarships and events.

By submitting this form, you understand that QUT is collecting your personal information. Please refer to the Privacy Collection Notice for more information.

UC's Eric Vick receives major grants to advance research into combination therapy for leukemia

• Download PDF Copy

The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Eric Vick, MD, PhD, has been awarded a nearly $215,000 Career Development Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and a $50,000 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award to continue research into a combination therapy treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 

A protein called IRAK4 is known to help drive AML cell growth through overactivation, but targeting this protein alone has not proven to be an effective treatment for killing the cancer cells. Research Vick presented at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting last December looked at potential compounds to pair with drugs that target IRAK4 as a more effective combination therapy. 

"After you have combined the loss of IRAK4 with different pharmacologic agents, you create a situation that is lethal for the cells," said Vick, instructor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology in UC's College of Medicine and a UC Health attending physician at the Cancer Center's Blood Cancer Healing Center. 

After testing more than 2,800 small molecules to compare their effectiveness in killing both normal AML cells and those that did not have overactive IRAK4, Vick and colleagues found one compound was especially effective at killing AML cells by reducing the levels of a different protein, called c-Myc, that also drives cancer growth. 

We see that IRAK4 inhibition or deletion has a unique role in decreasing the lifespan of c-Myc. By combining it with different compounds, we can decrease the amount of c-Myc and, by doing so, decrease cell growth in leukemia. A major focus of this grant will be understanding how IRAK4 inhibition decreases c-Myc."  Eric Vick, MD, PhD, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center

The three-year LLS grant will allow Vick to further his research and describe in more detail exactly how targeting IRAK4 affects c-Myc. The one-year ASCO grant will increase the team's bandwidth and include the study of additional potential compounds to use in the combination treatment. 

"c-Myc has been described as untargetable, and there are many groups who have tried to target this protein without clinical success," Vick said. "Our hope is that by understanding how IRAK4 targets c-Myc, we can indirectly lead to a loss of c-Myc. This may be the only way to target something ubiquitous and essential to normal cellular processes, but at the core of so many malignancies." 

With this additional knowledge, the ultimate aim of this grant funding is to move the research from observation in the lab to intervention in the clinic through a trial testing combination therapies targeting IRAK4 and c-Myc. Vick and colleagues will also investigate other diseases with similar protein mechanisms that could benefit from the same proposed treatment. 

Related Stories

• Novel biochip diagnoses deadly brain cancer in under an hour
• Artificial intelligence differentiates cancer cells and detects early viral infections
• Understanding the hormonal paradox in prostate cancer progression

Vick worked as a clinical fellow in Daniel Starczynowski's lab at Cincinnati Children's Hospital prior to joining UC's faculty, and he is continuing the LLS grant-funded research in the Starczynowski lab. Starczynowski said Vick has shown exceptional dedication to his work and a passion for advancing the understanding of blood cancers. 

"Over the course of his time in the lab, I have seen him grow not just as a researcher but also as a leader," said Starczynowski, PhD, associate director of Cincinnati Children's Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, associate director for basic science research at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics in UC's College of Medicine. "He has developed a remarkable ability to approach complex scientific questions with creativity and rigor while also mentoring younger members of our team. His collaborative spirit and willingness to tackle challenges head-on have made him an invaluable asset to our research efforts." 

Vick said he is thankful for the support he has received to help him grow as an early-career investigator. 

"I am exceedingly grateful to my mentors Dan Starczynowski, John Byrd and Emily Curran; Cincinnati Children's; UC; and the members of the Star Lab, without whom none of this would be possible," he said. "The LLS Career Development Program is an incredible honor -; career-defining -; and was also validating as a very new physician scientist." 

Starczynowski noted the LLS Career Development Award is a significant achievement for early-career blood cancer researchers, both in providing crucial funding to further their work and as a strong endorsement of their potential. 

"For Dr. Vick, this award is a testament to the impact he has already made in leukemia research and the promise he holds as a physician-scientist," he said. "It highlights his innovative approach to tackling some of the most challenging problems in cancer biology and positions him well for future successes. I have no doubt that Eric will continue to make significant strides in his career, benefiting both patients and the scientific community."

University of Cincinnati

Posted in: Medical Research News | Medical Condition News

Tags: Acute Myeloid Leukemia , Blood , Blood Cancer , Cancer , Cell , Children , Compound , Drugs , Hematology , Hospital , Leukemia , Lymphoma , Medicine , Myeloid Leukemia , Oncology , Pediatrics , Protein , Research , Small Molecules

Suggested Reading

Cancel reply to comment

• Trending Stories
• Latest Interviews
• Top Health Articles

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Ilona Vuist

In this interview, discover how Charles River uses the power of microdialysis for drug development as well as CNS therapeutics.

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Lindsey Hiebert and James Amugsi

In this interview, we explore global and local efforts to combat viral hepatitis with Lindsey Hiebert, Deputy Director of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE), and James Amugsi, a Mandela Washington Fellow and Physician Assistant at Sandema Hospital in Ghana. Together, they provide valuable insights into the challenges, successes, and the importance of partnerships in the fight against hepatitis.

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2024, we spoke to Professor John Yates about capturing cardiomyocyte cell-to-cell heterogeneity via shotgun top-down proteomics.

Latest News

Newsletters you may be interested in

Your AI Powered Scientific Assistant

Hi, I'm Azthena, you can trust me to find commercial scientific answers from News-Medical.net.

A few things you need to know before we start. Please read and accept to continue.

• Use of “Azthena” is subject to the terms and conditions of use as set out by OpenAI .
• Content provided on any AZoNetwork sites are subject to the site Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .
• Large Language Models can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.

Great. Ask your question.

Azthena may occasionally provide inaccurate responses. Read the full terms .

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions .

Provide Feedback