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University of Pernambuco – UPESchool of Engineering – POLI

Computational Intelligent Research Group – CIRG

How to do a PhD stress free!Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque, BSc MSc DIC PhD Hab. AvH Fellow

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Disclaimer (these are not jokes!)

• PhD can be dangerous without supervision!

• Do not undergo a long research alone!

• Do not practice any of this without reflecting!

• I might be completely wrong at some points!

FOREWORD

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Foreword

1. Disclaimer

2. The Art of taking notes

3. Identified bias

4. Bad news

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Taking Notes (notepad)FOREWORD

Date, Speaker, Title, Venue

Interesting-stuff Ideas

Future

- OK-things* Hot# Super

Always notedown highlights/ideasIN OUT

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Taking Notes (Logbook)FOREWORD

Date, Speaker, Title, Venue

- OK-things* Hot# Super

To-Do To-Get! To-Think…

Do not rely on your m

emory!

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My known biases

• Current views are of hard-Sciences!

• Current views that are of a very critical thinker!

• Current views derived from a very high degree of internationalization!

• Views of somebody who thinks Science is the best we can do for changing the world!

FOREWORD

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Bad newsFOREWORD

How to do a PhD stress free! ?XBetter title:

“How to do a PhD and escape, healthy!”

Münster, Germany on 30/10/2015 – General Talk to Brazilian Research Students at ERCIS“How to do a PhD stress free!”, by Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque (University of Pernambuco / WWU Münster)

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PhD is a Roller-coaster !FOREWORD

Get used to it !Semester, Months, weeks, ...,

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Agenda

1. Science, Research and PhD

2. Your “companions” on the PhD Journey

3. Recommendations & Suggestions

4. Final remarks (including FBLN-wonder-tools! :D)

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At CIRG-UPE Nature insights nurture our creativity

1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

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Science1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

Knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and

observation (Merriam-Webster, On-line)XA better definition:

“Science is the greatest human creation, which empowers its practitioners to discover, in a secure manner, the hidden aspects of

the natural world.” (Fernando Buarque, 30/10/2015)

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Science1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

No consensus !

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Research1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and

society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.

(Wikipedia, On-line)XA better definition:

“Research is the way Science materializes itself.” (Fernando Buarque, 30/10/2015)

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Research1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

No single path !

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PhD1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

is research training leading to a professional research

qualification. (FindaPhD.com, On-line)X

A better definition: “A PhD is an unique individual experience of oneself to learn how

to produce knowledge by doing it, hopefully once, and in a supervised manner.” (Fernando Buarque, 30/10/2015)

Münster, Germany on 30/10/2015 – General Talk to Brazilian Research Students at ERCIS“How to do a PhD stress free!”, by Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque (University of Pernambuco / WWU Münster) 16

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PhD1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

A PhD is about what you get

from your thesis (not about it)

!

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Recapping 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD

Science

Tool

What?

Research

Way

How?

PhD

Thesis+U

Who?Science, Research, PhD and

Thesis are all different beasts!

Münster, Germany on 30/10/2015 – General Talk to Brazilian Research Students at ERCIS“How to do a PhD stress free!”, by Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque (University of Pernambuco / WWU Münster) 18

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At CIRG-UPE Nature insights nurture our creativity

2. YOUR “COMPANIONS” ON THE PHD JOURNEY

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#1 You2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY

Do not be so hash on yourself!

Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

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#2 Your Supervisor2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY

Respect, but do not over estimate!

Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

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#3 Your Topic2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY

Find something you like it (and you want to talk about a lot)!

Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

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#4 Your Pals2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY

Hang around with people that is worthy (both personally and technically)!

Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

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#5 Your controls2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY

Find the best way you control yourself!

Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

• Test your ideas• Publish it

• Write-up• Publish it

• Conceive solution(s)

• Implement them

• Look around• Know your topic

Part1 Part2

Part3Part4

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#6 Et Alli2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY

Do not became anti-social, but remember a PhD in not an easy thing comparable to a normal job!

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At CIRG-UPE Nature insights nurture our creativity

3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS

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Recommendations3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS

#1 To yourself (General):-Are you: .‘here’ for the right reasons? .with the adequate mind-set? .equipped with the methodology/tools? .completely aware of your problem? .with a convincing idea on contributing? .catering for all that is needed? .allowing time for all (incl. unforeseen)? .caring for your mind and body?

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Recommendations3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS

#2 To yourself (Technically-wise):-Are you aware of: .literature highlights and pitfalls? .big names in the area? .best congresses and journals? .links with other sound works around? .motivations that are really relevant? .my idea highlights and pitfalls? .value of core contributions? .impact of what will be left out?

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Recommendations3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS

#3 To yourself (Work-wise):-Have you a: .writing style (find one)? .organized references (keep a DB)? .record of all experiments (Log-book)? .plot for my publications (They should click)? .time table for the work-year (Huge diff., if yes)? .record of feedbacks (Nurture on criticism)? .personal records for future reference? .nice-consistent set of images, formulas and pics?

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Recommendations3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS

#4 To yourself (Supervisor-wise):-Are you two on the same page, i.e. .agreeing on the reasons? .agreeing on the mind-set? .agreeing on methodology / tools? .agreeing on the problem? .agreeing on the contribution? .agreeing on all that is needed? .agreeing on the time/task plan? .agreeing on the “take”?

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Suggestions3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS

• Every week do something new;• Take some time off, periodically;• Do regular physical exercises;• Read books “without formulas”;• Sleep long nights;• Eat well and in a balanced way;• Maintain a steady work rhythm;• Conceive and keep a regular routine;• Family et alli are good (for weekends)!

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At CIRG-UPE Nature insights nurture our creativity

4. FINAL REMARKS

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4. FINAL REMARKS

FBLN Wonder Tools

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FBLN Wonder Tools4. FINAL REMARKS

#1 Mild-worries: “Outside Coffee-Break”

-Different (nice) place;-Grab a good coffee/chocolate;-Bring along all your controls;-Wear the boss hat;-Assess & Re-plan; -This is ideal for Fridays and short term plan (re-take, next Monday).

(Think about what was left out!)

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FBLN Wonder Tools4. FINAL REMARKS

#2 Strong-worries: “Bridge for the Future”

-Different (nice) place;-Grab a good coffee/chocolate;-Bring along your controls;-Wear the #1 friend hat;-Assess & Re-plan; -This is ideal for End of Month or mid-term plan (re-take, next 1st).

(Think about what was achieved!)

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FBLN Wonder Tools4. FINAL REMARKS

#3 Severe-worries: “Break-away”

-Different (nice far away) place ;-Grab a good company;-Do not bring all your controls;-Wear the #human hat;-Do not assess & Re-plan; -This is ideal for whenever you feel life is calling (re-take, when ok).

(Think about who you are!)

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Take it easy with what you read/do/plan!4. FINAL REMARKS

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Take it easy with what you read/do/plan!4. FINAL REMARKS

Rome was not made

overnight !

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Main take-away 4. FINAL REMARKS

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Main take aways -PhD is a non-trivial pursuit that mostly involves challenges to oneself (self understanding, tops);-Relation with Supervisor is very important;-Hard, focused, organized and balanced work are very important factors of success;-Planning is crucial (long, mid and short range, planning units should be semesters & months);-Execution units are weeks and days;-Controls should happen at week, months and semester basis.

4. FINAL REMARKS

Workout sequence: your cool,

ONE problem, your idea!, y

our

research!, your experim

entS,

your paperS, your thesis!,

THEN work begins for sure…

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Make no mistake4. FINAL REMARKS

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Make no mistake4. FINAL REMARKS

-Science deals with production of knowledge AND also for spreading it;

-Research is mostly hard work NOT necessarily, brilliance;

-PhD is a rank award, primarily, for persistent people NOT always for geniuses;

-Professor and Researcher are totally different jobs;

-Agendas and wish-lists are very different controls;

-Projects and Students are entirely distinct things.

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The most important factor in a PhD4. FINAL REMARKS

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The most important factor in a PhD4. FINAL REMARKS

Give your best!

Little1 story

Deliver “lunch” midday

(not at night) !

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The best advice I can produce for you4. FINAL REMARKS

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The best advice I can produce for you4. FINAL REMARKS

Find your way!

Little2 story

Challenge yourself,

then excel (but be

your #1 friend)!

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know that you CAN do it!4. FINAL REMARKS

WILLFinally:

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References4. FINAL REMARKS

1. PhD Comics - Website http://phdcomics.com/

2. Max Payne V1 – PC Game https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Payne

3. Geoguessr.com – Web Game https://geoguessr.com/

4. Estelle M Phillips & Derek S Pugh. How to Get a PhD (3rd Edition)http://www.amazon.com/How-Get-PhD-Estelle-Phillips/dp/033520550X

5. Sinclair Goodlad. Speaking Technically: Handbook for Scientists, Engineers and Physicians on How to Improve Technical Presentations http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speaking-Technically-Scientists-Physicians-Presentations/dp/186094034X

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University of Pernambuco – UPESchool of Engineering – POLI

Computational Intelligent Research Group – CIRG

Vielen Dank!Also thanks to WWU-Münster!

Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque, BSc MSc DIC PhD Hab. AvH Fellow

Website: www.fbln.net eMail: fbln@ecomp.poli.br

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4. FINAL REMARKS