Just another day that I have to send a message – a warning – like this to a prospective #PhD student, promising on paper:
Dear …,
Thank you for your interest in working with me. Your record is very impressive, and your interests appear to align well with my research area.
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However, I should be transparent about the practical situation. Admission to the PhD program here at the #EPNEcuador involves significant #bureaucracy, particularly for international students, and, due to bureaucrat-mandated inflexible programs, the next opportunity to start would not be until April 2027. Due to the current administration’s crackdown on #research and #postgraduate programs, the #scholarship situation is also very uncertain. I will probably not stay here past end of the term!
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Unfortunately, my Academy fellowship at the University of Helsinki also finished. I am, therefore, also unable to take new students at that somewhat more respectable institution.
Given your strong academic profile, I believe you would be a competitive candidate for PhD programs at many internationally recognized universities. For that reason, I would encourage you to apply broadly to institutions that can offer a wider range of opportunities and resources.
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If you remain interested after considering these factors, I would be happy to discuss your research interests further and provide more information about the research we do in #MODEMAT.
I wish you the best with your applications and future studies.
Best regards,
Tuomo
Tuomo Valkonen