Post Your Answer
2 years ago in Topic Novelty By Deeksha S
Is it risky to choose a highly novel, interdisciplinary PhD topic?
My idea sits at the intersection of AI and Sociology. It feels novel, but I'm concerned about finding examiners, getting published, or being seen as not fully belonging to either "home" discipline. Are the risks worth it?
All Answers (1 Answers In All)
By Daniel Answered 1 year ago
High-reward novelty carries high risk, but it's manageable with strategy. The risks are real: finding supervisors who span both fields, journals unsure where to place your work, and examiners from siloed disciplines. To mitigate: 1) Secure a co-supervision team with one expert from each field. 2) Build a clear "bridge" narrative—don't just borrow methods; explain why this fusion is necessary to solve a problem neither field could alone. 3) Plan publications strategically: target true interdisciplinary journals and flagship journals in each parent field with carefully angled papers. The reward is becoming a pioneer in an emerging niche. If you thrive on forging new paths and can articulate your contribution to diverse audiences, the risk is worth it.
Reply to Daniel
Related Questions