Find support and guidance for your PhD journey
Ou coaching can help you with every step of the PhD application processApply for coaching
As a nonprofit organisation, we have assisted hundreds of talented students. We can help plan your PhD journey through free, one-on-one coaching, whether you're deciding on a research topic, searching for funding, supervision or a PhD programme. Talking to a coach can be immensely helpful; we can help you navigate academic challenges, connect you to resources and – most importantly – help you make decisions that lead you to excel in your career.
Interested? Apply to talk to our PhD coaches
How can coaching help you?
Find a research topic that’s right for you.
Select an impactful research question.
Get connected to expert researchers to guide you.
Network and exchange ideas with our global community of early-career researchers.
Learn more about us
We’re confidential and friendly
Our coaches are experienced and really care about how to help you meet your academic goals. Your details are confidential and never shared without your permission.
We help critical thinkers who care about the world
We support talented and passionate early-career researchers who want to make a big difference with their research.
We believe in being multidisciplinary
We think there are a lot of interesting ways that different research areas can converge - we help you discover important gaps you can fill with your PhD research.
We believe some research directions are particularly likely to improve the world
Before you apply for coaching, take a look at the research directions we're most able to support you in exploring – and let us know which ones you're interested in on your application.
If you're interested in a profile that isn’t listed under your discipline below, we still encourage you to explore it if you think you could make progress in this direction!
- All
- Agricultural science
- Basic medicine
- Biological Sciences
- Business
- Chemical sciences
- Computer and information sciences
- Earth and environmental sciences
- Economics
- Engineering
- Health sciences
- History
- Law
- Maths
- Media and communications
- Philosophy and ethics
- Physical sciences
- Political science
- Psychology
- Sociology
Alternative meat research and development
The consumption of animal products causes suffering to billions of animals each year. Alternatives could shift consumer demand away from animal products.
Anti-ageing research
Aging is a major risk factor for many diseases that medical interventions try to prevent. Can we target aging as an underlying cause of disease?
Antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance already kills tens of thousands each year, and could kill millions without innovation. What are the best strategies to prevent it?
Applied mental health research
It’s estimated that around 10% of the population suffers from diagnosable mental health conditions, with most of them not receiving treatment.
Behavioural and attitudinal change in animal products consumption
How do attitudes towards animals affect animal product consumption and what interventions are effective in decreasing it?
Interested? Apply to talk to our expert coaches
Students we've advised
Effective thesis did a fantastic job in broadening my perspective on topics I could be researching and then making the relevant connections to deepen my understanding of the field I felt most excited about.JonaPhD studentI have already recommended ET to friends as a fantastic organisation dedicated to helping students find impactful theses, and to connect with like-minded researchers.JérémyPhD StudentI spoke with an Effective Thesis coach about funding options for my PhD. He gave me tons of advice on how to ask for funding from different organisations. It definitely worked, as I won a scholarship and I am now fully funded.DiegoPhD student
Learn more about our coaching service
Want to learn more about how coaching can help? Watch this short video for an overview of the coaching process.
Apply for coachinghttps://youtu.be/q32BdNL1Tcc