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What are we going to talk about?

Who are Beth, Erika and Jane?

What you might want to think about

What questions do you have for us?

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Beth

Director, GVU Center at Georgia Tech – 5 years

Professor in Interactive Computing – 12 years

Previous research staff member at Xerox PARC

Mom – 2 kids [8,5 ]

Wife – 10+ years

Daughter – Mom is … (well she won’t let me say)

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Erika

Assistant Professor, Penn State College of Information Sciences & Technology - 1 month

Recent graduate from Georgia Tech (go Jackets!)

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Jane Senior Research Program Manager Microsoft Research – 6

years

UVA – teaching faculty in computer science for 12 years

NSF Division of Undergraduate Education Computer Science Program Director

Mom – 3 kids [32, 29, 25 ]

Wife – 35+ years

Daughter – Mom is 90

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PhD Student Timeline

Different each year Y1: getting comfortable, class/tests, TAing

Topic search, advisor search

Y2-4: In the thick of it

Y5+: last mile Paper deadlines Identifying letter writers Writing the thesis Applying for jobs

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Going to conferencesInternshipsFinding a thesis topicFiguring out what comes next

Finding an advisorComprehensive examsPaper deadlinesEncountering rejection

Observations Demands come in waves

Many of us are very goal-oriented

We all have insecurities

We humans cannot maintain an insane pace continuously (time management) Not sustainable Leads to burnout / poor productivity Will wear you out Erase “I should” from your vocabulary

There is always more to do

There’s more to life than your work7

Goals and Expectations Set by yourself or others?

Note when they are self-inflicted!

Understand completely what is required given a goal Know why you want to achieve it Evaluate your progress Talk about it with your mentor(s) and others Enough is enough: Recognize when things get different

instead of better

Learn how to enjoy the process Focus on the present Appreciate your achievements before moving on

Work to ensure that goals are achievable

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Managing Goals and Expectations

Learn how to enjoy the process Focus on the present Appreciate your achievements before moving on

Work to ensure that goals are achievable and match your personal values

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Managing Insecurities

Yes, you will feel insecure (This is normal)

Seek out a good mentor (may/may not be your advisor)

Be proud of and celebrate your accomplishments Keep a “good file” of positive feedback

Your campus and community have resources to help you

Fellow grad students! People in your life who are not academics! Thesis support groups (check your counseling center) Toastmasters Writing centers/workshops Individual/group counseling (if your problems are small but are

bothering you, you are NOT taking away resources from “people with bigger problems”)

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Our Common Insecurities

I am an imposter! How did I get here? I know nothing. I’ll never

have another research idea.

I care deeply about what others think of me I have panic attacks before entering areas

where lots of people are (for fear I’m going to mess up in some way)

I take things very personally Rejection, not being included, the success of

others

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Be Organized Keep a calendar that you always have with you

Electronic (back it up) or paper Keep it up to date

Meetings as well as work things (email, paper reading, writing, coding, seminars, etc)

Schedule in both work and play Know when you work efficiently and honor that time Block out time for research, even if you feel stuck

Learn the art of writing to think Keep a research/idea book or wiki

Recommended reading: “Getting Things Done” by David Allen; “Finish Your Dissertation Once and For All” by Allison Miller

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Time Management There's always more to do

Learn how to estimate accurately the time required Don't take on too much or feel pressured to say yes

Worse to take on something and only contribute minimally or do an average/poor/late job at it than to say no

Find a “no buddy”

Renegotiate unmanageable commitments Be honest with those you are working with Identify a solution that works for all

Taking on a new task can be an opportunity to let go of an old one.

Work with people who are good at getting things done.

Identify your guiding principles13

Audience Participation Time

Take a minute and write down the three most important things in your life

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Guiding Principles Doing great research and share it with others?

Working on interesting and high impact research problems?

Making a difference in students’ lives?

Making time for family?

Staying healthy?

Staying connected to personal faith/spirituality?15

Finding Balance Most importantly -- take care of you!

Figure out what makes you happy/unhappy Look up every once in a while to take stock Let go of things that don’t align with your guiding

principles

Exercise! Eat your vegetables! Sleep enough!

Apply money to the problem if possible

Reach out to fellow students, your family, your friends

Find something that keeps you smiling and isn’t your work

Remember that whatever happens, the sun will rise tomorrow. You’ll be ok.

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Finish each day and be done with it.  You have

done what you could; some blunders and

absurdities have crept in; forget them as

soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day; you

shall begin it serenely and with too high a

spirit to be encumbered with your old

nonsense. 

-Ralph Waldo

Emerson

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