Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students are required to begin building their program of research to graduate. A program of research can be defined as a focused area of study that has public health significance and advances nursing practice. Each PhD student defines one that is related to their PhD track and area of interest.

But, there’s more to it than just picking a topic for your program of research – there is much more that goes into building it and this goes beyond simply earning a degree.

University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus Assistant Professor Samantha Stonbraker, PhD, MPH, RN, says PhD students should think about what they want to do when they graduate so they can start building a program of research to lead them in a direction that will help accomplish their specific goals.

But how do you start a program of research?

“You build from the published research literature in the field that has relevance for clinical nursing practice and capture the passion and commitment to the research,” Stonbraker says. “There are stepping stones in PhD programs to help you start, but it is important to remember the process isn’t linear.”

She also points out that building a program of research can take quite a bit of time.

There are a few questions Stonbraker suggests every PhD student creating a program of research ask themselves:

• What are you interested in?
• What do you hope to learn or accomplish?
• Why does this research matter?
• What are your short-term and long-term goals?

“I was woefully underprepared to begin building my program of research,” she says. “I didn’t spend much time being a nurse before starting my PhD program, so these are things I started thinking about during my program.”

Becoming an Expert

The next step is looking into published research and literature in your area of interest to learn more about the topic.

“You really do need to be an expert and understand your field. This is such a fun part because it’s great to read and expand your brain,” she says. “I had never done anything like that before, but it was exciting to get to the point that I was able to choose a dissertation topic and research question.”

Stonbraker recommends picking a dissertation topic and research question that’s interesting to you, the student.

“You’re going to be spending a lot of time on it, so you want to make sure you like it,” she says.

Prepare to Find Funding

Another part about research: finding and securing funding.

Stonbraker put off learning how to write and apply for grants because she believed she wasn’t going to do any once she graduated. She was wrong, and soon came to realize that if you are doing research, you need to find a way to fund it. There are several ways to apply for funding, depending on your research.

“The first application I sent was funded, but my next five were not,” she says. “You get way more rejections than you get funding. It’s something you have to get used to and make sure to keep a healthy perspective. I’ve learned to be very persistent. It’s about numbers and it’s about getting lucky. Just submitting over and over and over again is the key to success.”

Stonbraker says it’s important to listen to feedback if a grant proposal is rejected – and submit it again.

“Get feedback from as many people who will give it to you,” she says. “Ask them what they think so you can make changes.”  

Finding a Career

In the middle of PhD research, students will need to figure out their next step: finding a position for post-graduation.

“You’re going to graduate and then you have to find another position because you can’t train forever…and you run out of funding. Postdoctoral Fellowships or faculty positions are common options. But it is important to remember that everyone is different, so you must pick the right thing for you, and beware because everyone is going to point you in different directions,” she says.

Once you get that postdoctoral fellowship or faculty position, it’s important to keep building on your previous program of research and branch out to broaden your reach and impact.

“That’s a big part of having a program of research – it’s not about having one project but having a cohesive package that shows everything you’re trying to do.”

Lessons Learned

Stonbraker learned several things from her journey to build a program of research. One is being persistent and resilient.   You will have to ask people for help or ask them questions. Ask and ask again, and some may not return your call or email, but identify the ones that do reply and rely on them for help.

And it takes a village. She recommends finding good mentors, collaborators, and friends. Stonbraker still texts her PhD cohort when she runs into problems and asks for their advice. Remember to accept (and crave) in-depth feedback. Students should be prepared for different types of feedback. For example, a lot from one person, and minimal feedback from someone else.  

Students should also pursue diverse opportunities and remember to say yes…a lot. Stonbraker says saying yes will lead to meeting new people and learning different things, but students should also know when to say no so they don’t take on too much at once.

Be patient because a program of research takes time – it won’t happen overnight. But as much as possible, try to think ahead, imagine where you are going, then plan your journey to get there.

“Everyone is trying to help and give you options, but at the end of the day, it’s your dissertation. It’s your life and it’s your career. You have to figure out what works best for you,” she says.  

“The first step is to always take a deep breath,” she adds. “Everyone starts Day One of their project of research by looking up this huge mountain that they are somehow supposed to climb. You’re thinking, ‘Are you joking? Are we going to do this?’ and in the end, yes you are, and yes, you did."