How to do PhD at TU/e

How todoPhD at TU/e

Jun Hu

What is PhD

• Philosophiae Doctor (Doctor of Philosophy)

• In Dutch, AIO (Assistent in Opleiding)

Department of Industrial Design PAGE 208-04-23

What is PhD


http://www.slideshare.net/jucaitis/the-illustrated-guide-to-a-phd

What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



What is PhD



Purpose of PhD Training

• To prepare graduates for• being an independent researcher

• a life dedicated to science and research

− preferably within a university or

− in a research-intensive industrial lab

• … and beyond.


Gibbons, Michael et al. (1994) The New Production of Knowledge. Sage Publications.Hill, Stephen C. (1995) The Formation of Identity as a Scientist, Science Studies, 8, 53-72. Nowotny, Helga, Peter Scott and Michael Gibbons (2001) Re-Thinking Science. Knowledge in an Age of Uncertainty. Oxford: Polity.Soensen, Knut H. (1992) Towards a Feminized Technology? Gendered Values in the Construction of Technology, Social Studies of Science, 22, 5-31.

Purpose of Research

• To generate knowledge.


Gibbons, Michael et al. (1994) The New Production of Knowledge. Sage Publications.Hill, Stephen C. (1995) The Formation of Identity as a Scientist, Science Studies, 8, 53-72. Nowotny, Helga, Peter Scott and Michael Gibbons (2001) Re-Thinking Science. Knowledge in an Age of Uncertainty. Oxford: Polity.Soensen, Knut H. (1992) Towards a Feminized Technology? Gendered Values in the Construction of Technology, Social Studies of Science, 22, 5-31.

Requirement for a PhD degree at TU/e

• A dissertation


TU/e, Regulations governing the conferral of doctor’s degrees, version September 2013.


• A dissertation that demonstrates the capability of• Independently conducting a solid research

− that applies existing body of knowledge

− that generates knowledge

− that contributes to the field




• A dissertation that demonstrates the capability of• Independently conducting a solid research

− that applies existing body of knowledge

− that generates knowledge

− that contributes to the field

• Approved by the PhD committee.



Requirements for publications?

• None.




• None. But, • It would be easier for a dissertation to be approved if

the content is well supported by publications.





the content is well supported by publications.• How many?






• There are no rules.






• There are no rules, but each main chapter is expected to be supported by 1 or more publications.







• A good research guarantees a good amount of publications. Don’t worry about publications, worry about research.








• Start writing now (notes, summaries, thoughts… )








• Start writing now. Keep writing.



Conduct a research

• Research plan • Research question;• Methodology;• Expected results;• Time and risk management;

• Carry out the plan• Implementations, prototypes, simulations …• Experiments• Analysis• Iterations if necessary

• Report the findings (thesis)


Conduct a research

• Research plan (1 year)• Research question;• Methodology;• Expected results;• Time and risk management;

• Carry out the plan (2 years)• Implementations, prototypes, simulations …• Experiments• Analysis• Iterations if necessary

• Report the findings (thesis) (1 year)


What is good about doing a PhD in NL?

• Freedom• Independence• Support


What is bad about doing a PhD in NL?


What is bad about doing a PhD in NL?

• Freedom• Independence• Support


Supervision

• 1 Supervisor, or• 1 Supervisor + 1 co-supervisor, or• 1 Supervisor + 2 co-supervisor, or• 2 Supervisors + 1 co-supervisor



Supervision

• Supervisors are not bosses.


Supervision

• Supervisors are colleagues.


Supervision

• Supervisors are colleagues, to• guide

• support


Supervision


• support

• Supervisors have their own research too.


Supervision


• support

• Supervisors have their own research too.• Supervisors expect the PhDs to conduct their own

research themselves.


Expectations

Supervisors expect you You can expect supervisors

To be independent• Not to ask “what to do next”• To have ideas and proposals• To show original thought and

incentive

To supervise• To supervise regularly on your

progress• To make (written) comments

on your work and your progress


Academic Association of Scientific Staff at ETH Zurich, Survival Guide (Handbook for Ph.D. Students at ETH Zurich. 2013

Expectations

Supervisors expect you You can expect supervisors

To produce written work To read your work (in advance of a meeting)

To schedule regular meetings To be available when needed

To be honest when reporting your progress

Not only to praise or condemn you for your progress made, but also to ask right questions and make useful suggestions.

To follow her/his advice when you ask for it

To be constructively critical

To surprise her/him and to become an expert in your field.

To have a good knowledge of the research area


Academic Association of Scientific Staff at ETH Zurich, Survival Guide (Handbook for Ph.D. Students at ETH Zurich. 2013

How to do it successfully

• Passion!

• Open minded, curious, and critical

• Cooperation

• Networking in academic life

• Research planning

• Time management

• Activity logging (book keeping)

• Doing, instead of just studying

• Literature research (Reading)

• Reporting (Writing)

• Meetings and conferences


Supervision Meetings

• The supervisors would expect you to prepare the meetings:• Schedule the meetings.

− Schedule the meetings one year or half-year ahead;

− Once one or two weeks with the supervisors;

− One per month or per six weeks with the promotors;



• The supervisors would expect you to prepare the meetings:• Schedule the meetings.• Prepare the agenda and distribute it before the meeting.

− Date, place, participants;− Action points from last meeting;− Topics for discussion for this meeting; − How much time is needed in total and for each point;− Allow time for the topics that the others might bring onto

the table.− Attach the minutes from the previous meeting.



• The supervisors would expect you to prepare the meetings:• Schedule the meetings.• Prepare the agenda and distribute it before the meeting.• Take notes during the meeting, and keep meeting minutes

after the meeting. Distribute the minutes to the participants of the meeting.− Date, place, participants;− Topics discussed;− Decisions made;− Actions to be taken (by who, and the deadline)



• The supervisors would expect you to prepare the meetings:• Schedule the meetings.

• Prepare the agenda and distribute it before the meeting.

• Take notes during the meeting, and keep meeting minutes after the meeting. Distribute the minutes to the participants of the meeting.

• Do not expect the supervisors to “remember” what has been discussed last time. It is your responsibility to “remind” them by means of agenda and minutes.


Book keeping

• A shared storage (blog, wiki, dropbox etc.) for• Meeting minutes• Agenda for the meetings• Project log (at least once a week)

− What has been done;− Actions to be done;− Questions and doubts;− Progress …

• Fragments of thoughts, mind maps, sketches, photos …• Summaries of literature study• Literature, papers, e-books etc (categorized)• Published papers• Papers in progress • …


Other advices

• To be successful, you must be at least four of the following:• Smart

• Motivated

• Creative

• Hardworking

• Lucky


Other advices

• To be successful, you must be at least four of the following:• Smart

• Motivated

• Creative

• Hardworking

• Lucky

• You can’t depend on luck, so you’d better focus on the others.


Other advices

• You have the freedom; you are expect to be independent. Take responsibility for your project;

• Work hard, but do take some weekends off, and decent holidays.

• Try speak less about “I think”, try to ground your arguments with literature and experiments.


Other advices

• Your English is good enough. • Read, read, read.• Speak it

− Forget about grammar; − Do not think in Chinese then translate;− You have a good vocabulary. If got stuck, work around it.

• Write it− Pay attention to grammar;− Do not think in Chinese then translate;− Follow English conventions;− Notes in English;


Other advices

• The best way of improving your English is to USE it.

• You may start learning Dutch, if you feel comfortable and confident with your English.


Other advices

• Scientific integrity• Follow the rules of citations and references!


Other advices

• Scientific integrity• Follow the rules of citations and references!

• Really, I mean it.


Other advices

• You are NOT a student.


Other advices

• You are a researcher.


Other advices

• You are a researcher (in training).


Other advices

• You are an employee with a special working contract.• You are expected to follow the regulations and to act

professionally.


Other advices

• ENJOY YOUR PHD.


Education

How to do PhD at TU/e