Matthew Whelan

I have long been interested in philosophical questions related to consciousness, intelligence, and the mind-body problem. This curiosity led me into the interdisciplinary field of AI and neuroscience, where I became excited by the prospect of understanding those philosophical problems through artificial creation of similar intelligences.

But my decision to move towards the biomedical field was motivated by the deaths of my closest family members due to mental illness. I therefore applied to the CDT in Biomedical AI with the intention of working within the fields of AI, psychiatry and neurology.

The University’s Firbush Outdoor Centre, located by Loch Tay, has been a big highlight. Our CDT has supported the costs for us to visit it once a year with our CDT colleagues, where for 2 days were able to take part in many outdoor activities, such as canoeing, mountain biking, wind surfing, and more. Beyond just being fun activities, they have been wonderful for bonding with others and developing lasting friendships.

The biggest challenge I faced was during my first year of the PhD. It was a personal challenge, in that another person very close to me died tragically due to mental illness. But my supervisor at the time did not provide me with adequate support. I was struggling to attend to my PhD research, and the compounded effect of my supervisor’s pressure to complete PhD work increased my emotional difficulties. Eventually I took a year off the PhD for medical reasons, and on my return found a new supervisor and began a new research project.

The CDT offered significant support during this time. I was provided guidance on how to navigate the situation, as well as advice on finding a new supervisory team. Furthermore, my fellow CDT colleagues supported me through, particularly as some had experienced similar difficulties with a supervisor, so could offer their own advice, which was very helpful. Our CDT funders also offered paid sick leave, which is not something often found in PhD funding, but should be considered crucial given the limited income that PhD funding generally offers.

The ability to connect different disciplines and ideas. Our CDT is an interdisciplinary program, spanning across biomedicine and computer science. Communication between the two disciplines has historically been difficult. Our programme, by allowing us to study across various subjects, as well as work with supervisors and colleagues across the two fields of AI and biomedicine, has allowed me to develop effective interdisciplinary communication skills. I use these skills of communication not just for my academic work but in my general life too.

I struggle to give advice, as I believe everyone’s path is different and unique. I can only speak from my own experience. But I would say that, despite having had some challenges within my PhD in various ways, the PhD has added many wonderful things to my life. It has given me new perspectives. It has offered me new knowledge, not just of AI and biomedicine, but knowledge of myself as well. And I have made lasting friends and connections that I will carry with me for a long time, both in professional settings and personal ones.