Planning a PhD

Prof. Bob Givan

• There are many paths and styles to a successful Phd

• There are many motives for getting a PhD• My comments represent one slice at this• In particular, I will focus on those aiming at

fundamental research jobs.

Caveat

Why get a PhD?

• Is a PhD like grades 19 to 24?

• Which delights you:– Knowing how to kill a problem

or– Not knowing how to kill a problem

Why get a PhD?

Get a PhD if• You like to work on open-ended problems and

break new groundor

• You need the credential for your career path (e.g. teaching at a teaching-oriented college)

or???

Why get a PhD?

Step One

• Are you fluent in English?– If not, spend 10 hours/week on this until you are.

• Choose the topic area first…• For the broad area of your PhD, choose

something for which you have both passion and talent.

– Side note: if you later lose your passion, it is very possible, while not easy, to switch topics. Don’t let yourself feel trapped.

Choosing a school and advisor

Choosing a school and advisor

• The role of research-university rankings– These matter if you want a research job– These are not the only thing to consider!

• The role of the advisor– Seniority– Activity level– Most important: comfortable professional

connection. Someone you get along with.

Choosing a Topic

• Should you ask your advisor?– Of course, but….

Choosing or Refining a Topic Yourself

• Learn to bootstrap from a literature scan– Select a question or a couple pieces of related work– Spend 2-3 fulltime weeks reading/scanning a large body

of cited work (more weeks for bigger leaps)– Goal: develop comfort with the concept space– Goal: identify the (few) well written key papers– Limit consideration to quality venues (ask advisor)

Don’t try to read every word!(focus where you are learning)

• Do multiple such literature scans until you find a concept space you are comfortable with and interested in.

…then…

Choosing or Refining a Topic Yourself

(worded for research on computer software)• Re-attack a “solved” problem from that space.– “solved” does not mean “no need unmet”– Use new ideas if you have them– Don’t worry too much about initial quality– Perhaps re-implement previous solution– Consider starting with a “straw-man solution”

Choosing or Refining a Topic Yourself

Next

• Do great novel research– There is no recipe, here are some fragmentary ideas

• Identify the big picture of the topic area– What are the big big goals and challenges– Are these the right goals? What are the alternative

goals that could be considered?– Are there very different approaches to avoid or

address the major challenges• Think BIG

Self Discipline

• You are talented and passionate about your research

• Your competition: many others who are talented and passionate, working very hard.

• Conclusion: hard work required– This is a major challenge of graduate work.– The lack of deadlines requires tough discipline.

General Mentorship Rule

• At each career stage, deliberately seek mentors in the next stage– Junior grad student seeks senior grad student– Senior grad student seeks young faculty– New faculty seek those near tenure or just

tenured– Etc.

Job Search – Early efforts

Visibility• Make and watch presentations– Start local, then workshops, then conferences– Particularly watch job talks by others

• Of course, publish your work• Cultivate reference writers, inside and outside Did you notice the value of English fluency?