What to know about undertaking a PhD split between two institutions
By Poppy White, a first-year PhD student
Author biography: During my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Liverpool I discovered a fascination in reproductive health. To pursue this interest further, I completed a master’s by research at the University of Edinburgh in Reproductive Sciences. This experience consolidated my passion for reproductive health and scientific research, ultimately leading me to my PhD which aims to characterise the layers of the human myometrium with the hope of better understanding their role in the pathophysiology of conditions such as adenomyosis.
Each PhD is unique and comes with its own challenges as well as advantages. For me, that means a PhD that is split between two institutions – Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Liverpool. While I am primarily based at Manchester Metropolitan along with my principal supervisor, my project depends on a collaboration with the University of Liverpool where I receive additional supervisory support and have access to samples required for my research. Now that I am 8 months into navigating a PhD divided between two places, I wanted to share my thoughts for anyone considering a PhD that is bilocated.
Settling in – twice!
Starting a PhD often means new beginnings. Meeting your new team, being shown around a new lab, and perhaps even moving to a new city. This was certainly the case for me, only twice!
In my first few weeks I eagerly introduced myself to fellow PhD students in Manchester, attended lab inductions and set up things at my desk. Then, after receiving my honorary contract, I arrived in Liverpool where I was introduced to another group of new faces, I set up at another desk, and I attended another lab induction.
Being new can be difficult and being new in two places can feel overwhelming. I worried that not being in one place all the time would hold me back from making connections with my colleagues and feeling fully settled. Instead, I found that I was welcomed with open arms and made to feel part of the team whichever desk I was at.
In fact, I noticed that fellow PhD students had clinical commitments, relied on other university departments for lab work, or were also part of another research group. I realised being split between several places wasn’t a disadvantage but rather an integral part of research.
A part of the (train) journey
We often hear that completing a PhD is a journey, both personal and academic. When you’re split between two institutions part of that journey manifests itself into something more tangible – the commute. Although my commute between Manchester and Liverpool can mean early starts and late finishes it has become a valuable and even enjoyable part of my working day.
I’m learning to use these moments to my advantage and that looks different day to day. Sometimes when I’m feeling focused that means catching up on emails before a day in the lab or organising the week ahead but often it means disappearing into a book or staring out the window and listening to a podcast. I would urge anybody in a similar situation not to pressure themself to maximise their commute or see it as lost time but instead view it as a flexible window that they can use in whatever way suits them on the day.
Unfortunately, late and unpredictable finishes are common for many PhD students and not just those with long commutes. This can make it difficult to maintain a work-life balance and avoid burnout. To help manage this, I would advise people to make the most of those longer evenings when you haven’t commuted, by meeting friends, making time for a hobby, or meal prepping for the week. Then, on days when you finish later, save time by making something quick and easy for tea and use the rest of the evening to unwind with your favourite show.
Out with the old in with the new?
With each institution comes its own research culture. For Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) this means a rapidly developing research environment that has begun to gain recognition as an international figure. In contrast, the University of Liverpool (UoL) is an established centre for research that has long been recognised for world-leading innovation.
The Department of Life Sciences at MMU is comparatively small but hugely diverse in its research. Being exposed to research in areas ranging from neurodegeneration to coronary artery disease has allowed me to step outside of my research question and place it in the wider context. Crucially, this has taught me the importance of not conducting research in a vacuum and using the expertise of scientists from various disciplines to enhance the quality of my work.
In contrast, at the University of Liverpool I have been able to draw on the expertise of specialists in my field at the Centre for Women’s Health Research. By working closely with experts in women’s reproductive health, I am able to use their wealth of knowledge to troubleshoot and fine-tune my research.
The more the merrier
Fundamentally, being split between two places means double the positives as well as double the negatives.
Perhaps one of your institutions has purchased a new machine that’s perfect for your next set of experiments or the other has the exact software required for your analysis. Maybe you’re learning a new technique, and somebody in your group is an expert, or you need help with a new dataset and your department has a dedicated team to support you. Access to double the equipment, knowledge, and facilities is a luxury not everyone has.
On the other hand, ensuring you’re complying with the legal and ethical standards of two institutions can feel impossible. This can look like endless emails between institutions to draft contracts, duplicate risk assessments, and learning two versions of every lab technique. To get ahead of any delays my advice would be to get things moving as early as possible. Even a brief conversation with your supervisor before your start date to ensure you’re both aware of any specific agreements or ethical approvals that need to be in place would be valuable. It’s also important to note that this process provides a unique insight into the logistics behind scientific collaboration which will ultimately leave you better equipped to pursue these partnerships in future.
Importantly, being part of two distinct research environments provides you with double the networking opportunities. Whether you’re engaging with industry partners, fellow researchers, or clinical staff, establishing yourself as a member of the research community and forming connections is crucial for high quality research as well as career progression so try to be brave and put yourself out there.
A PhD split between two institutions can sometimes feel like an obstacle course of long days, extra paperwork, and wishing you could be in two places at once, but I believe it’s a unique opportunity to gain insight into collaborative work, to access double the expertise and knowledge, and engage with a large and diverse network of researchers.
