Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Graduate School but were afraid to ask!!! The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar2 Format for Seminar  Presentations  Overview of prepared questions  Discussion of presentations  Addressing prepared questions  Open Mic Session Feel free to ask questions at any time

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar3 Overview of Questions  11 excellent questions  As of Tuesday evening  Types of questions:  Professor Expectations & Work = 4 Qs  Research & Paper Reading = 4 Qs  Paper writing = 2 Qs  Classes = 1 Q

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar4 Question #1 (expectations)  How many working hours do you expect of our students being paid?  A) 1/2 time (20hrs/wk)  B) 1/3 time (13.3 hrs/wk)  C) 1/4 time (10 hrs/wk)  D) 1/6 time (6.66 hrs/wk) Answer  Official = 1/n x 40 hrs/wk  Actual = this is a profession not a union  We are the most valuable reference industry has  That’s why they call us & ask very detailed/difficult Qs  Counter examples:  ing, doing homework, talking with lab/classmates, reading Plainsman, talking on cell phone, surfing the net, etc.  1mo = look for paper, 1mo = found paper, 1mo = read paper but 3 months later still does not have any additional info but 3 months later still does not have any additional info

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar5 Questions #4 & #5 (expectations)  Q#4: What does a professor really expect from the grad student working for him/her?  Q#5: What kind of characteristics do you expect for a good graduate student? e.g. self-motivation? thinking outside the box? etc….? Answer ( based on schedules for funded projects )  Give an honest effort & honest answers Mistakes are OK as long as the effort is honest Mistakes are OK as long as the effort is honest  Be a good engineer Take the step from being a student to being an engineer Take the step from being a student to being an engineer  This is some of the best training for industry you can get  When something doesn’t work Experiment to find out what does/doesn’t work Experiment to find out what does/doesn’t work We know the answer when everything makes sense We know the answer when everything makes sense Most important discoveries come from things that don’t work or turn-out as expected Most important discoveries come from things that don’t work or turn-out as expected

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar6 Question #6 (expectations)  As an advisor, what kind of relationship do you expect between you and your students?  A) Employer and employee I pay the students, so they should work hard. I pay the students, so they should work hard.  B) Teacher and student I can understand the problems/circumstances students facing. I can understand the problems/circumstances students facing.  C) Father and child I’m always willing to help (and discipline?) students. I’m always willing to help (and discipline?) students.  D) Others? Answer ( based on schedules for funded projects )  First semester: A=50%, B=40%, C=10%  Last semester: A=10%, B=10%, C=0% D=80% (mentor=25%, fellow engineer=30%, friend 25%) D=80% (mentor=25%, fellow engineer=30%, friend 25%)

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar7 Questions #7 & #11 (research)  Q#7: When an idea comes up and there are few references on the topic, how can we explore deeper to know that the idea is useful?  Q#11: There is very little material available on the internet on some subjects. How and where do I search for more papers or literature on that subject? Answer  If there is not many references, then you may be onto something good!!! Read material that does relate to topic to get better insight into problem and value of idea Read material that does relate to topic to get better insight into problem and value of idea Talk to your advisor and committee about the idea Talk to your advisor and committee about the idea Give D&T seminar about idea to get constructive feedback Give D&T seminar about idea to get constructive feedback Keep looking under related topic areas Keep looking under related topic areas

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar8 Question #10 (research)  How can I find a problem to solve for research? Answer (assuming PhD research)  Talk to you advisor/committee You want a topic that interests you so that you enjoy the effort that you will be putting into it You want a topic that interests you so that you enjoy the effort that you will be putting into it  Read lots of papers on topics that interest you They can point you to open problems and give you ideas for new problems They can point you to open problems and give you ideas for new problems You want a topic that interests you so that you enjoy the effort that you will be putting into it You want a topic that interests you so that you enjoy the effort that you will be putting into it

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar9 Question #8 (paper reading)  When reading a paper, if there are many papers on the same topic, how can we get a quick idea of whether this paper deserves the spent time to read the whole paper or not?  Should we only read IEEE Trans or Journal papers in this area because journal papers always represent the best papers?  Is there a better, quicker way to qualify whether a paper deserves to read? Answer  There are a lot of papers that are poorly written If a paper is difficult to read (intro, background, & results), try a different paper If a paper is difficult to read (intro, background, & results), try a different paper  When you find one that make sense, use that paper And emulate that writing style And emulate that writing style

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar10 Question #2 (paper writing)  When we are trying to publish a paper, what should we be aware of to avoid plagiarism?  For example, sometimes two similar papers (same authors) are published at different conferences.  I heard a student is judged for plagiarism because of improper citations. Are there any rules I can follow so that I don't get into trouble? Are there any rules I can follow so that I don't get into trouble?Answer  Similar papers published by same authors: This is common for progression from workshop to major conference to journal This is common for progression from workshop to major conference to journal Authors are free to “cut & paste” their own material Authors are free to “cut & paste” their own material  Improper citations Never cut & paste anything Never cut & paste anything  Rewrite ideas of text in your own words AND reference!!  Redraw figures for your own context AND reference!!

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar11 Question #9 (paper writing)  It takes me a long time to write a paper. Are there any tips I can use to help my writing besides taking an English writing class? Answer  Writing is difficult until you get comfortable The best thing is “just do it” The best thing is “just do it”  Use some guidelines Example: thesis writing guidelines on AUBIST lab web page Example: thesis writing guidelines on AUBIST lab web page  Give it your very best, then give it to your Friends or lab/classmates to read and critique Friends or lab/classmates to read and critique Advisor/committee to read and critique Advisor/committee to read and critique  Read & emulate writing style of other good papers

2/14/07VLSI D&T Seminar12 Question #3 (classes)  A course requires a pre-requisite that I have not studied, what should I do?  Whom do I approach for help? TA? E.g. CAD tools are used in most of VLSI courses & I don’t know CAD tools! E.g. CAD tools are used in most of VLSI courses & I don’t know CAD tools!Answer  Tutorials & user’s manuals on web pages Try them out yourself Try them out yourself  Professor’s office hours  Classmates