| I've done that, mostly because my position felt stagnant and repetitive. Some things to keep in mind: - It's a full-time job. Unless you're really brilliant, or your current position has a huge overlap with the research you want to work on, expect to drop your current position. - You have a steady income at this point, so you're not in a rush. Be patient and research where to apply. - If you can use your position to first network with your future advisor, do it. Can you set-up some small collaboration relevant to your current position? Even better. Trust can get you a long way, and lift any doubts. - Your strong card is that you will probably need much less "babysitting" than a younger student. Play that well. - Writing is essential part of the PhD. If you already have strong technical writing skills, that's a huge advantage. - Find a PhD that involves the least amount of exams possible. It's fine to attend courses if you find the topic relevant to your research, but being forced through an exam routine may not sit very well if you're already in your mid-30s. - Post-PhD industry job opportunities typically arise through (paid!) industry internships. Make sure to complete 1-2 of them, even if that will add to your PhD time. |