Struggling to Find a PhD Position (Organic Chem MS + Industry R&D Exp) - Any Advice?

Hey everyone,

I'm feeling incredibly frustrated and discouraged in my search for a PhD position (Organic Chemistry/Chemical Biology/Medicinal Chemistry focus) and could really use some advice or perspective. Despite having what I thought was a competitive profile, I'm hitting wall after wall with applications and inquiries.

My background:

• MSc in Organic Chemistry:** Solid foundation in synthesis, characterization, etc.
• 1 Year Industry R&D Experience: In a cosmetics and detergents lab. This gave me hands-on, practical skills in polymer science and colloidal chemistry – formulation, stability testing, rheology, surfactant interactions, etc. I learned to troubleshoot and design experiments in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-Directed Research Project: Passionate about neurodegeneration. I developed a research proposal around a specific small molecule targeting Amyloid-beta aggregation. I taught myself computational methods:
  • Performed molecular docking studies (against 2MXU-Aβ, compared to Donepezil, Resveratrol, Nobiletin) using free software (Swissdock..etc)
  • Ran in silico ADME/Tox predictions.
  • I fully acknowledge the significant limitations of docking alone, especially with free tools and without extensive validation (MD simulations, experimental data). This was a self-driven learning project to develop skills and explore an idea, not a definitive claim. I'm detailing it to show initiative and computational exposure.

The Struggle:

• Rejections or silence are the norm, even from labs where my polymer/colloid experience seems relevant (e.g., protein aggregation, nanomedicine, drug delivery).
• My industry experience (cosmetics/detergents) sometimes feels dismissed or seen as "non-academic," even though the core skills (polymer behavior, colloids, interfacial science) are directly transferable.
• I worry the self-taught computational work might be viewed negatively ("overstepping" or "unreliable") instead of as a demonstration of proactivity and foundational skill-building.
• Finding PIs actively working on projects that bridge organic synthesis with colloids/polymers and neurodegeneration feels like finding a needle in a haystack.

I'm actively developing myself: Reading literature, refining lab skills, learning more computational chemistry basics where possible.