Transcript The Graduate School Experience - CRA-W

The Graduate School Experience
A.J. Brush, Microsoft
Lori Pollock, University of Delaware
2012
A Short Quiz
With a partner, answer the following:
1. What is the expected time to finish
an MS in CS?
2. What is the expected time to finish a
PhD in CS?
3. List the main activities in pursuing an
MS.
4. List the main activities in pursuing a
PhD.
A Typical Grad School Timeline
Year 1
Year 2
Take Grad-level
Courses
Identify a Research
Advisor
Take More
Grad-level
Courses
Take PhD
Exams
Join research
group
Complete First
Mentored
Research & Paper
Complete
MS Degree
Year 3
Year 4
Complete
PhD Degree
Years 5/6
Identify
Specific
PhD Topic
Complete
Preliminary
PhD Research
& Paper
Defend
Proposal
Complete
More Research
Complete
More Research
Write
Research Papers
Draft
PhD Proposal
Write
Research Papers
Write & Defend
Dissertation
How is this different from college?
With a partner, list some differences
you can foresee.
• Activities?
• Deliverables?
• Daily Schedule?
• Modes of working?
• Evaluation of success?
How is this different from college?
• Activities?
– Variety of classes vs. all CS classes
– + Individual/collaborative research training
• Deliverables?
– Exams/class projects vs. Research contributions, papers,
posters, presentations, proposal, dissertation
• Daily Schedule?
– Course schedules vs. Flexible hours & open-ended
deadlines
• Modes of working?
– Studying, absorbing, solving known problems vs.
Innovating, experimenting, presenting, writing
• Evaluation of success?
– Exam scores, project grades vs. research contributions,
PhD exams, publications
Getting Started in Research
This can
change.
Identify a Research Area:
A subfield of computing
• Exciting and interesting
• Important problems area
• Activities in area suitable for you
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•
Take courses, attend seminars
Talk to profs, visitors, students
Learn about yourself, what you like
Don’t be afraid to change
Become an Expert
• Read papers
– Annotated bibliography
– Follow reference trail to original papers
• Talk to experts
– When they visit
– At conferences and workshops
• Attend talks, etc.
– Carry a notebook to record thoughts
• Question previous works’ assumptions
Select a Research Advisor
• Advisor who will advise, mentor YOU
– Complete dissertation
– Gain required skills for career
• Advisor who will promote your career
– Write strong letters
– Advocate on
your behalf
Ways to find a Research Advisor
List a set of questions to ask a potential research advisor.
• Talk to potential advisors:
– Projects?
– How much time do you spend with new
students?
– How much time do you spend with current
students?
– Do you feel comfortable with advisor?
– Do you have group meetings?
– What are your expectations for a PhD
student?
– Do you have research assistantships?
Ways to find a Research Advisor
List a set of questions to ask advisees of potential advisors.
• Talk to potential advisees:
– Advising style? Does it work for you?
– Does advisor mentor students in all areas
for career?
– Will advisor advocate on behalf of
students?
• Try out a few advisors:
– Take one of their courses
– Work with them on an independent study
Choose Among Research Topics
• Potential Impact
– Hot topics considered with care
– Topic/problems are important
• Scale
– More than one problem; results/finding
• Scope
– Not too narrow
– Not too broad, open-ended
Big problem and will have impact
How to Find a Good Topic
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•
•
•
•
Flash of brilliance
Term project
Redo, revinvent, refine
Apprentice
Five (or n) papers = dissertation
PhD Exams
•
•
•
•
•
Written
Oral
Courses with minimum grades
Research projects
Combinations
Format, timing, retakes,…
Publishing
Critical Phase of Research
• Sharing your results
• Vetting your ideas
• For others to corroborate,
Refine, extend, build on
Your findings
Writing, Revising, Telling your Story…
Presenting at Conferences
``Ideas do not sell themselves. They will
lie and gather dust unless you sell them.’’
Internships
• Internships at companies allow you to:
– Experience life in industry
– Find other mentors/reference letter
writers
– Think about where/what type of research
you will do during internship
– Have fun!
You can start now! Last session was on
Undergraduate Research Opportunities.
The Research Proposal
• a succinct write-up of your proposed
research goals, strategies,
justification, contributions
• a brainstorming and planning process
• a good time to get feedback and
direction from experts
Networking and Advertising
• Making professional connections and using
them wisely.
WHY?
• Makes your work known!
• Makes you known!
• Source of new research ideas
• Feedback on your research !
• New collaborations!
• Professional opportunities!
• Letters of recommendation
Networking and Advertising
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Conferences and Workshops
Visiting speakers
Faculty
Students
Industry researchers
The Final Dissertation
• Chapter 1: Introduction
– What is the problem? Why is it important? What has
been done? What is/are central idea(s) of my
approach? How is thesis organized?
• Chapter 2: Preliminaries
– Define the problem.
Introduce terminology and definitions.
Discuss basic properties, related research, etc.
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Chapter 3: Big idea 1
...
Chapter K+2: Big idea K
Chapter K+3: Conclusion
– Summarize accomplishments. Discuss future work.
Expect & Manage Ups & Downs
Another result, another chapter!
Proposal defense
Starting to write
Job interview
invitations
Thesis is complete &
You are on your way!
Too much to do stress
Summary:
• Develop yourself
• Manage time
• Manage mechanics
• Communicate with advisor & committee
• Don’t hesitate to seek help
Questions?
Concerns?