‘How to get your PhD (or: How to pimp my PhD)’ Workshop

Organizers: Margit Hofer ([email protected]); Martin Wolpers ([email protected]); Patrick Johnscher ([email protected])

Time: 30th of May 2007, 14:00 – 15:30

Setting: 4 groups of PhD students; each group from 4 to 5 participants

Task and main goal: Reflection on the important issues connected with doing a PhD

During the workshop we identified and reflected on the “10 rules for a PhD student”. The outcomes of the 4 different working groups were outlined and discussed: Participants agreed that the ranking of the importance of the different items (the proposed PhD rules) depends on each individual and his/her own environment and personal preferences. Nevertheless, it became clear that the following items need to be seriously taken into account when doing a PhD, independent of the topic or university:

• Develop your PhD topic and set goals. Choose a topic you really like and are willing to work on for the next couple of years. Keep in mind that you need to be self-motivated in order to follow the PhD through.
• Develop a strategy to achieve your goals. This includes to manage your time (i.e. set some part-time goals and milestones) and try to work efficiently (i.e. note down all your thoughts and ideas to each subject; use appropriate systems to store all the documents you read,…) and aim for concrete results.
• Network and communicate with others working in your and related fields
  • Discuss research questions via e-mail, at conferences and workshops, etc.
  • Publish your research ideas and findings
  • Identify and join respective research communities
• Start your work with a high quality and state-of-the art literature review and focus on publishing your research work.
• Enjoy work and life, also if not connected to your PhD
• Don’t upset your professor (keep as good a relationship with him/her as possible) and discuss your work and findings with her/him, but be aware of the fact that you are expected to do your research independently.

Some more issues and comments:

• Evaluate your work by yourself and try to obtain feedback from the research community
• Always be curious
• Be patient (‘Rome was also not built in 2 days’)
• Work in projects and acquire funding
• Be open to criticism but don’t let anybody discourage you
• Delegate work and be able to say NO - (referring to good time management)
• Present your research suited to the community listening (Don’t be a nerd!)

10 PhD rules from the professor's point of view (Ambjörn Naeve, KTH):

1. Write a diary of your thoughts on the subjects of your interests!
2. Don’t read too much too early – write and try to publish with others (feedback)!
3. Don’t seduce your professor!
4. Resist your professor if (s)he tries to seduce you!
5. Think of your PhD thesis as a driver's license – not as your life's work!
6. When you present, don’t read off your slides!
7. Make your slides readable (use post-its to index your reference papers)!
8. Don’t advocate your own work – inquire into the work of others!
9. Listen to you heart – follow your interests!
10. Find the time to socialize and build relations!
11. Learn how to write proposals!

Suitable literature

Links

Avoiding weasel words

Ho to get a PhD (including links to other resources)

The ABCs of Getting a Ph.D. - Researching, Writing, and Defending the Big One

How to’s on phd, writing, etc.

Writing and Presenting Your Thesis or Dissertation

A Small Guide to Writing Your Thesis

How to Write a Master's Thesis in Computer Science

How to Write a PhD Thesis

HOW TO: write the thesis / dissertation

How to Write Your Thesis

Managing your research

How to write a thesis proposal

Bearbeitung von Diplomarbeiten

ISO Standard for Citing Online Documents

(PDF Download) Gerhard H. Jirka, 1992, Guide to write a paper

A little bit of fun

Books

A Ph.D. Is Not Enough: A Guide to Survival in Science (Paperback)
by Peter J. Feibelman

Writing for Computer Science
by Justin Zobel

Writing the successful Thesis and Dissertation – Entering the Conversation
by Irene L. Clark, 2007. ISBN 0-13-173533-0

Enjoy Writing Your Science Thesis or Dissertation!
von Daniel Holtom (Autor), Elizabeth Fisher (Autor)

Estelle M. Phillips, Derek S. Pugh: How to get a PhD. A Handbook for Students and their Supervisors, Third Edition, Open University Press 2000.

How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Dissertation (Palgrave Study Guides)
von Patrick Dunleavy (Autor)

Surviving Your Dissertation. A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process
von Kjell Erik Rudestam

Writing the Doctoral Dissertation: A Systematic Approach
von Gordon Bitter Davis von Barron's Educational Series

How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation
von David Sternberg (Autor)