1. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 1 Excelling as a Ph.D. Student Michael Bieber Information Systems Department College of Computing Sciences New Jersey Institute of Technology http://web.njit.edu/~bieber bieber@njit.edu

2. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 2 References Various presentations on IS Ph.D. Web pages, including: –How to have a Bad Career in Research / Academia (Dr. David Patterson, UC Berkley)

3. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 3 Utilize Your Committee Replace “your advisor” in these slides with –Your committee members –The IS faculty Your advisor is on your side. Keep him or her up to date on your progress.

4. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 4 Know the Faculty They are on your side Have other opportunities for research –Also can write recommendations Read their web sites Visit during office hours

5. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 5 Build a Support Structure –Support fellow students (peers) Not just those in your research group or your advisor’s Give thoughtful feedback to their presentations Review peers’ papers before submission Attend all defenses and other talks Help out their research & experiments And they will support you Spend time with them

6. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 6 Build a Support Structure –Be on campus most of the week –Know Ph.D. students at other universities Part of your peer group –Don’t neglect family and friends

7. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 7 Establish Reputation Do good research Publish Pursue grants Review papers well Attend conferences Communicate well Post thoughtfully on e-forums Join relevant online communities

8. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 8 Read Read broadly in your field –Know classic papers –Know models –Know SOTA Ask advisor, peers for readings Diversify to consider new approaches

9. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 9 Learn Research Methods Learn a broad set of research methods –Especially those for your research –Others for future use Find classes –Other departments, Rutgers, UMDNJ –Sometimes can sit in on these or audit –Also for interesting classes besides research methods Volunteer to help peers (and faculty) –in experiments –in data analysis

10. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 10 Get Grant Experience Looks great on CV –Requirement for promotion later Could help fund your Ph.D. research –NSF: Graduate Research Fellowship Program –Look at other agencies –Graduate Studies: other fellowships Volunteer to help advisor write proposals Volunteer to review advisor’s proposals

11. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 11 Publish Early and Often Requirement for employment Helps in getting recognized Find faculty or student co-authors Start with conferences, refine for journals Special issues –Often a bit easier for acceptance –You could (co-)edit a special issue If your own paper is included, use external reviewers Ask advisor and peers to review before submission

12. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 12 Review Volunteer to review –With editors for conferences and journals Ask to help your advisor on his/her reviewing Ask your advisor to look over your reviews Offer to review papers peers submit

13. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 13 Attend Conferences Get introduced at conferences –By advisor, peers, people you know –“so and so introduced us” –(and introduce others) Introduce yourself –Including senior people in the field

14. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 14 Always prepare a question… Always to go conferences /meetings with an interesting question about a research problem you’re facing –Your mission: ask as many well-known people as you can (& take notes) Have a research answer to “how are you?” –Pretty busy, and isn’t the weather lousy… (versus) –I’m doing well. I’m working on a really interesting research project… (your elevator statement)

15. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 15 Elevator Statement ALWAYS have your elevator statement ready (for conferences & NJIT ) –My research is about… –It addresses this interesting issue… –30-45 seconds –Practice this with peers, in front of mirror

16. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 16 Communicate Well Need to express your ideas effectively –Orally and Written! –Use Strunk & White, The Elements of Style –Join toastmasters (at NJIT or externally) –Review papers, presentations, proposals –Present regularly To research group, IS Seminar, outside NJIT Practice with peers and your advisor –Take ESL classes –Advisors get frustrated when advisees don’t write well… Consider paying a professional editor

17. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 17 Excel as a Teacher You’ll feel good about yourself Student evaluations in your CV, hiring Get a mentor for your teaching –Advisor, course coordinator, other good profs Attend teaching seminars Improve your English at ESL classes

18. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 18 Manage your time Guard your time jealously –Don’t over-commit; learn to say “no” Set time to read and research e.g., 3 hours each morning before reading email 8-10 p.m. each day Specific times Set aside specific sanity time –Save time for your family (or yourself) e.g., 2 nights a week and all day Saturday Don’t even check email at those times

19. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 19 Let us know about Problems Research Problems: –Don’t waste too much time if you hit a big problem –Talk to your advisor and peers –Not impossible to change topics Though it may really slow you down

20. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 20 Let us know about Problems Personal / at home / with family With your advisor With your classes At work (especially for part-time students)

21. Bieber et al., NJIT ©2009 - Slide 21 Excelling as a Ph.D. Student Build a support structure & be on campus Establish Reputation Read widely & research well Publish & pursue grants Review well Attend conferences Communicate well Teach well Manage your time & let us know about problems