How To How To ENJOYENJOY Your Your Ph.D. ProgramPh.D. Program

CaveatCaveatNo one recipe for successNo one recipe for successA lot of things depend on youA lot of things depend on youSome things end up being Some things end up being beyond your controlbeyond your controlEach program will have Each program will have unique aspects you need to unique aspects you need to figure outfigure out

Know ThyselfKnow ThyselfWhat are your goals?What are your goals?What makes you happy?What makes you happy?What types of personalities What types of personalities do you get along with?do you get along with?What sort of life do you want to What sort of life do you want to lead for the next lead for the next ““nn”” years?years?What constraints are important to What constraints are important to you?you?What is your plan for the future?What is your plan for the future?

The GameThe Game

It’s not a sprintIt’s a marathon!

Learn The RulesLearn The RulesHave a plan Have a plan –– keep revising it!keep revising it!(see next slide)(see next slide)DonDon’’t depend on your advisor to t depend on your advisor to keep you on trackkeep you on trackGet qualifiers done in timeGet qualifiers done in timeAsk questionsAsk questionsBuild realistic expectationsBuild realistic expectationsFind out who is in charge of your Find out who is in charge of your programprogramThere are often many wise/friendly There are often many wise/friendly folk around folk around –– find them!find them!

WhatWhat’’s In The Plan?s In The Plan?Courses Courses QualifiersQualifiersInternshipsInternshipsVacation/TravelVacation/TravelPublicationsPublicationsThesis ProposalThesis ProposalDefenseDefenseJobJobVisas Visas –– for foreign nationalsfor foreign nationalsOther considerations important to YOUOther considerations important to YOU

Picking AdvisorsPicking AdvisorsWhat level of guidance are you What level of guidance are you looking for?looking for?Consider research topicsConsider research topicsConsider working style and personalityConsider working style and personalityConsider funding situationConsider funding situationConsider the entire research groupConsider the entire research groupConsider your future aspirationsConsider your future aspirationsConsider funding sources Consider funding sources –– do you do you want to be funded by NASA? DARPA?want to be funded by NASA? DARPA?

Picking AdvisorsPicking AdvisorsConsider working hours, weekend Consider working hours, weekend and holiday availability, family and holiday availability, family commitments, etc.commitments, etc.Talk to senior students in the group Talk to senior students in the group –– ask them difficult questions (see ask them difficult questions (see next slide)next slide)Attend the advisorAttend the advisor--advice meetingadvice meetingPick the minimum number of Pick the minimum number of advisorsadvisorsRemember you can change your Remember you can change your mind in most programsmind in most programs

Asking The Right QuestionsAsking The Right QuestionsResearch, demos, publications, and Research, demos, publications, and travel to conferencestravel to conferencesAverage time to graduate students in Average time to graduate students in the groupthe groupOther mentors in the groupOther mentors in the groupExpectations Expectations –– time you spend on time you spend on research vs. classesresearch vs. classesFunding sources and securityFunding sources and securityPast students Past students –– where they are nowwhere they are nowThings that are important to you!Things that are important to you!

Interacting With AdvisorsInteracting With AdvisorsTalk to your advisor!Talk to your advisor!Prepare for meetings with your Prepare for meetings with your advisoradvisorKeep track of your qualifiers and Keep track of your qualifiers and other requirementsother requirementsYour advisor is very busy, doesnYour advisor is very busy, doesn’’t t know everything, and is humanknow everything, and is humanDonDon’’t promise what you cant promise what you can’’t delivert deliverBe responsible about taking Be responsible about taking vacation, but take itvacation, but take itDonDon’’t count on your advisor for t count on your advisor for everything everything –– find other mentorsfind other mentors

FundingFundingYou may have to write grant You may have to write grant proposalsproposalsYou may have to work on demosYou may have to work on demosYour project can run out of Your project can run out of fundingfundingYour advisor can run out of Your advisor can run out of fundingfundingYou should win external You should win external scholarships if you canscholarships if you canFunding can be restricted for Funding can be restricted for foreign nationalsforeign nationals

CommunityCommunityBe an active member of Be an active member of the communitythe communityOrganize and participate Organize and participate in community eventsin community eventsUse your talents, ideas, Use your talents, ideas, and energy to make your and energy to make your community a better placecommunity a better place

Your Life Outside SchoolYour Life Outside SchoolMany cool things probably happen in Many cool things probably happen in the surrounding areathe surrounding areaGet away from time to timeGet away from time to timeYou are allowed some vacation You are allowed some vacation ––nobody will make you take itnobody will make you take itFind friends, hobbies, activities, and Find friends, hobbies, activities, and places outside of school that you enjoyplaces outside of school that you enjoyDonDon’’t forget these are some of the best t forget these are some of the best years of your life years of your life –– enjoy themenjoy themYou are going to be in your graduate You are going to be in your graduate program for a while program for a while –– enjoy it enjoy it ☺☺

““Helpful HintsHelpful Hints””Work with your classmatesWork with your classmatesFind faculty mentors Find faculty mentors (other than your advisor)(other than your advisor)Take time off regularlyTake time off regularlyDonDon’’t try to get involved with too many t try to get involved with too many different projectsdifferent projectsHave a plan for what you want to do in the Have a plan for what you want to do in the futurefutureTake time picking your advisorTake time picking your advisorWork with people you likeWork with people you like

““Helpful HintsHelpful Hints””Find activities and friends outside Find activities and friends outside of school and make time for themof school and make time for themYou donYou don’’t NEED to publish in your t NEED to publish in your first yearfirst yearTake your first year to explore Take your first year to explore different topics and figure out different topics and figure out what you are interested inwhat you are interested inYou will need to work hard but it You will need to work hard but it is ok to take some time offis ok to take some time offGet to know as many faculty, Get to know as many faculty, staff, and students as you can staff, and students as you can outside your groupoutside your group

““Helpful HintsHelpful Hints””Find a research area you love Find a research area you love READ! Pick a few really important READ! Pick a few really important papers and learn them inside outpapers and learn them inside outLearn the basics: Don't reinvent the Learn the basics: Don't reinvent the wheel.wheel.Don't worry about mistakesDon't worry about mistakesBe lavish in your acknowledgments and Be lavish in your acknowledgments and praise. praise. Keep your eye on the prizeKeep your eye on the prize

Common FearsCommon FearsImposter syndromeImposter syndromeOops! I made a mistakeOops! I made a mistakeThat meeting with my That meeting with my advisor didnadvisor didn’’t go wellt go well……I am not publishing I am not publishing enoughenough……Everyone else is doing so Everyone else is doing so much better than I ammuch better than I amII’’ll never graduatell never graduate……

Things To RememberThings To RememberYou were admitted for a good reasonYou were admitted for a good reasonNobody will do your Ph.D. for youNobody will do your Ph.D. for youHave a plan and run your own raceHave a plan and run your own raceGet to know as many people as you canGet to know as many people as you canDonDon’’t forget you have a life outside schoolt forget you have a life outside schoolUse all the resources on offerUse all the resources on offerHave fun and do great research Have fun and do great research ☺☺