Tara Brabazon’s central message is that a PhD can only be sustained if the chosen topic maintains passion over years of research while also projecting toward an academic or professional future. Initial fascination is not enough: one must filter out fleeting curiosities and hold on to what withstands the question “who cares?”—that is, what value it has for the scholarly community and for possible career path. Her strategy is clear: make a list of interests, subject them to critique, and discard those that lack projection or relevance beyond the personal. She also warns against repeating one’s master’s research, as it limits innovation and keeps candidates in their comfort zone instead of opening new creative ground. Originality, imagination, and adaptability are, in her view, essential traits of a strong doctoral project. The idea of “future” runs through her entire argument: a PhD is not only about the present journey, it is an investment in multiple and open trajectories. Choosing a flexible topic with room for growth and branching out increases the chances of staying relevant in a shifting academic landscape. Moreover, the very act of seriously questioning one’s topic already signals maturity and preparedness—this self-critique is part of doctoral training itself. In short, Brabazon frames topic selection as both a strategic and vital act: balancing passion with relevance, creativity with rigor, openness with sustainability. That initial balance becomes the condition that allows doctoral research to flourish without wearing out over time.
