The nightmare of being an independent researcher My current situation is that I am stuck teaching in a couple of universities that do not support the research at all in my country of origin. I am 38 years old and I have finished a MSc degree in Europe (one year ago), but I find it pretty hard to get a funded PhD position until now.

Sometimes I really feel discouraged and depressed because I really like to do research, but is pretty hard to do it without economical support; and more difficult to share ideas if my current place of work has that null approach to research.

My question is, how I can get feedback from other professors around the world and expose my ideas? Maybe with the hope that they will like to guide me in their field of specialty or maybe doing a paper together. I know that a lot of good professors in their own field are pretty busy, so I think it would be not polite to approach to them, by email, tell them about my ideas and ask for academical support (not monetary, but about guiding and feedback).

The field that I like to do research is Computer Science. I have only 5 publications in different areas, but I would really like to do more.

Any suggestion?
Firstly, 5 papers on completion of your Masters is pretty good (for comparison, I had 1 rejected paper at that stage).  Even though they are in different areas, they demonstrate your researching skills.

Secondly, in regards to the PhD and in particular, funding - I have a few suggestions:


Research not only what the academics' specialities are, but also the scholarship/funding opportunities that the universities have on offer.
Contact the academics, asking about their research, this way you'll express your interest without giving away all of your ideas.  Once you build a rapport with the academics, then enquire about co-authoring a paper.
Perhaps look into working at a university (library, research assistant etc), so, look at the job opportunities.
most of all, don't give up!


This is, by no means an exhaustive list and I am sure, other members here will provide more in depth answers, but it something to think about.