Want to find a partner after long time without one

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Story thus far:
>Currently 23 y/o male in PhD program
>Last gf was at age 18 in my senior year of high school
>Tried a few times to date during undergrad (only took 5 semesters there, maybe asked out ~5-6 girls)
>Have tried twice in grad school
>Never made it past a second date, they don't generally seem in any way interested
>Facing increasing familial pressure to find a partner

I want to try to get a partner, but it feels like the one gf I've had was pretty much a fluke, I don't know what the progression into a relationship is supposed to look like. In no particular order, I was hoping to ask

>what are social conventions for dating in my age group (should I use an app?)
>as I'm of fairly normal appearance, would shooting for someone way less desirable than me to up my chances be conspicuous that I want my family off my back
>does anyone else who doesn't like being touched have advice on sex (not a virgin, but I've been out of practice for the above 5.5 years and the last time I did it was fairly tooth-grating

Thanks senpaitachi