hi Imge! I don't think you need a PhD to be a UX researcher. I don't have one and I know lots of amazing researchers who don't (and I also know lots of amazing researchers who do!). If people have the time and resources and can afford taking time to not work for a couple of years (and incur student loan debt), I do usually recommend getting a masters degree in HCI or human factors. It's a lot easier to break into the industry when you have one. I wrote a bit more about why right now (in the midst of the pandemic) is a great time to go to grad school - https://medium.com/ux-research-journal/why-right-now-is-a-great-time-to-go-to-grad-school-4beed53ffe54