DIY: the PhD Edition. Chapter II: So I've decided to do a PhD, now what?

Hello dear friends,

Let's say you've already read my post from last week, you've read it and thought "Yes, I want to have Science's babies" (Science or whatever). What's your next step? How do you decide what do you want to study? How do you decide where? HOW DO YOU DECIDE?!

Full disclosure, I'm really bad at making decisions, but, sometimes, I make some that are right. 

So here's the list of things you need to take into account. (I'll use Biology examples because that's what I'm familiar with).

1) The topic: is there any specific disease you really want to research on? Are you passionate about evolution? Do you like to code? Your plan is to do this so you can become a mad scientist?

2) The lab: once you've decided what do you want to work on, you'll need to see which labs/departments nearby are working on it. Read their papers, read other papers on the matter, read, read, read. If you can do an internship in that lab, that's the best way to know if you'll like it there. Actually, doing an internship is the best way to know whether you want to work in research or not, and you still have time to run away from the madness.

3) The project: if you have any choice at that, that is. You need to look into which opportunities the project is going to give you, which techniques, and whether it gives you the chance to cause small explosions.

4) The city/country: it might sound superfluous, but it can be important. Spending time outside of the lab is healthy if you are in a place you hate you're going to be depressed. If you need to see the sea try to find a place near it. If you love the outdoors don't go to a big city. If you need cold to be happy just don't fucking go to a warm place. And if you want to learn a new language you can always go somewhere far away and exotic where no one speaks your language.

Now you're ready to take this huge decision. But don't worry, if you happen to end up hating your research topic you can always change topics after the PhD, or in the meantime. I mean, starting your PhD doesn't mean you have to finish it, right? (I know, I'm very helpful)