Research guidance
I really need some honest advice from people in research, pharmacy, or academia because I'm feeling completely lost.
I'm currently doing an MPhil in Pharmacology at a reputed university in Islamabad. I've completed my first semester but I haven't finalized any topic while everyone else has started their research already and I feel like I'm falling behind.
The biggest problem is that I don't even know how to choose a research topic. Every teacher suggests reading papers first but I struggle to focus on research articles. I can barely get through a page before feeling overwhelmed. I don't know what area interests me, which supervisor I should choose or how people decide what to research in the first place.
To be honest, I didn't choose this MPhil because I was passionate about research or teaching. I'm doing it mainly because of family pressure and because other options are different jobs mostly industry and retail not allowed by my family for me being a female. Research feels mentally exhausting, and the thought of writing a thesis and defending it in front of a committee gives me so much anxiety that it's affecting my daily life.
I just need guidance.
What resources should I start with if I have no idea where my interests lie?
How do you choose a supervisor when you don't know anyone well?
If you have completed an MPhil or PhD, what do you wish someone had told you before starting?
I know this might sound stupid, but that's honestly where I am right now. Any advice, research ideas, resources,courses or suggestions would mean a lot. Thank you.