Q:

Why do others have these highly specialised research topics and I don't?

I have some time now to think about what I want to write for my dissertation, but I just don’t know how to find an appropriate topic. I like what I do and I could do a lot.
Some people seem to have really interesting and specialized interests and topics for their dissertations. And although I am really into what I study, I just always feel like I haven’t got this amazing topic that hasn't been researched yet or that I could contribute something to. And I feel like I don't want to specialize just yet. I want to know more. But I already have a Masters. What went wrong there?
I basically feel like I have to make something up as it were, or even choose something at random (from within my general interests, of course). This being said, I will probably like it and do well. But is this just me? Does anyone ever feel like this? What would you do if you had all the time in the world (I do at the moment) to find a good research topic?

A:

Professors usually love to find PhD students in search of topics, since they tend to have ideas that they hope someone will work on.  Even students who come with a defined idea often find advisors nudging them in a different direction than what they really wanted to do.
Talk to some professors that you think would be good people to work with as your PhD advisor, and see what thoughts they have on this.

