I'm currently applying for a PhD in Neuroscience, and have found a rather ambiguous question. After asking about my general details, and my educational history, there is a question asking for "Other Interests and Skills". There are other questions which ask for details of my research interests and experience, and techniques which I have used, so I'm baffled as to what this means.

The only thing I can think of is that they're asking about "non-academic" (outside) interests, but I've never seen this on an application form, and would be surprised if this is what they actually want.

Any advice?

i guess they're after other interests you have that support your application. eg.:

1. like chess tournaments
2. like reading books by Freud
3. like dissecting monkey's brains
4. good at leading teams as shown by my xyz activity

etc.

HI Matthew82

Just to let you know that our studentship will be advertised on FindaPhD shortly (next couple of weeks hopefully) if you're interested in a pharmacology/toxicology type project...

Ann

Hi! I've recently completed a similar form (molecular biol PhD)- was successful so must have done something right! In my case they wanted to know about relevant skills outside academia which could be useful to me as a researcher. I do a lot of climbing which involves careful planning and attention to detail, both of which I feel are useful in scientific research when you are designing and carrying out experiments, so I put that on the form. At my interview they used this as the 'ice breaker ' question before they moved onto the more serious stuffm so I think that's why the question is on your form- it's so they have something you are familiar with to talk to you about to put you at ease. So may ve a good idea to remember what you wrote when you go for your interview! Good luck, by the way.

Hi Ann,

I may well be interested - keep me posted!! Any more details by the way? I'm aware that the answer to that might be "no" though...

Hi Ann,

I may well be interested - keep me posted!! Any more details by the way? I'm aware that the answer to that might be "no" though...