Saturday, April 24, 2004
The PhD Mindset
It's 4.30am on a Saturday morning. Have just completed a series of experiments and the results hopefully will be useful for my supervisor's conference paper. Although I won't be going to this conference, it is very imperative that I help my supervisor with parts of the paper. The abstract about the control algorithm and results which I have implemented for my Honours project has been accepted for ISER2004.
Even though I have done a good job for my final year project, I am beginning to realise that doing PhD research and experiments are a different story. For example, the graphs of results which I had in my thesis may not be good enough for a PhD thesis or any conference paper. An experienced scientist or research would be able to look at a plot and pinpoint its weaknesses. Why are there noises in the data? What's its RMS value? The source of noise? The filter isn't good enough...Explain why you have this certain feature in the plot... etc...
A Doctorate degree isn't just about producing the thesis. I think most employers see the research skills and scientific thinking of people who have a PhD as their most important asset. This is what makes us different from a normal graduate. It's no good just having to conduct experiments, keep the data that fits the requirements and discard it if it's different. Every tiny bit of discrepancy has to be investigated or analysed.
And I can't be passive anymore. Have to take the initiative to learn new things or come out with independent ideas. Can't keep putting off things because the review process has just gotten earlier. There will be a Thesis Proposal Review incorporating the Annual Report, next year's Annual Plan, the Literature Review and the Thesis Proposal to be submitted between end of September and mid-December.
Well, have been working the whole day, literally, went out at 10 am on Friday and have worked at RSISE until 5 pm. Sammy's Kitchen was always busy, and considering it's pay week, there's just no time to rest until around 10 pm. Straight after work, I came straight to RSISE for a bath and then prepared and conducted the experiments. The results hopefully can be used to provide evidence that my control algorithm works well at different conditions. Had a hard time in the beginning fidgeting a few small wires and components on the test rig.
All is good now, and about time to go home and have a good sleep.
It's 4.30am on a Saturday morning. Have just completed a series of experiments and the results hopefully will be useful for my supervisor's conference paper. Although I won't be going to this conference, it is very imperative that I help my supervisor with parts of the paper. The abstract about the control algorithm and results which I have implemented for my Honours project has been accepted for ISER2004.
Even though I have done a good job for my final year project, I am beginning to realise that doing PhD research and experiments are a different story. For example, the graphs of results which I had in my thesis may not be good enough for a PhD thesis or any conference paper. An experienced scientist or research would be able to look at a plot and pinpoint its weaknesses. Why are there noises in the data? What's its RMS value? The source of noise? The filter isn't good enough...Explain why you have this certain feature in the plot... etc...
A Doctorate degree isn't just about producing the thesis. I think most employers see the research skills and scientific thinking of people who have a PhD as their most important asset. This is what makes us different from a normal graduate. It's no good just having to conduct experiments, keep the data that fits the requirements and discard it if it's different. Every tiny bit of discrepancy has to be investigated or analysed.
And I can't be passive anymore. Have to take the initiative to learn new things or come out with independent ideas. Can't keep putting off things because the review process has just gotten earlier. There will be a Thesis Proposal Review incorporating the Annual Report, next year's Annual Plan, the Literature Review and the Thesis Proposal to be submitted between end of September and mid-December.
Well, have been working the whole day, literally, went out at 10 am on Friday and have worked at RSISE until 5 pm. Sammy's Kitchen was always busy, and considering it's pay week, there's just no time to rest until around 10 pm. Straight after work, I came straight to RSISE for a bath and then prepared and conducted the experiments. The results hopefully can be used to provide evidence that my control algorithm works well at different conditions. Had a hard time in the beginning fidgeting a few small wires and components on the test rig.
All is good now, and about time to go home and have a good sleep.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Thursday, April 15, 2004
A Show of Hands
Everyone who reads my blog, please lift your hand. Yeap yeap... click on the 'comments' and type 'I'.
P/S: You'll be in for a lucky draw with a first prize of....... a slap in the butt!
Everyone who reads my blog, please lift your hand. Yeap yeap... click on the 'comments' and type 'I'.
P/S: You'll be in for a lucky draw with a first prize of....... a slap in the butt!
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Old Memories
As I was checking my e-mail today, there was a sudden surge of past memories on my mind, memories that felt like past lives, memories of old friends almost forgotten, memories of close friends separated by the pursuing of different dreams or lives. I suddenly felt a huge sense of loss and sadness, because although I kept saying and thinking that I am okay and that old friends are lost as we make new friends, there will always be moments like this. It was a sad sad thought.
Now that it has dawned on me that these feelings and memories are still as real and as strong as ever, there is already no turning back. Friends we have lost touch or have not contacted for years, it's so hard to even write to them, because you never know if they'll read and reply to you. I guess i'm guilty of my coldness and lack of passion all these times, so there's no one to blame but myself.
I can only truly wish in my heart that everyone, who has played a part in my life, who has touched and made my life meaningful for however short a period, is happy and well. Perhaps someday we will meet, perhaps we'll walk past each other without knowing , know that we've made a ripple, however small or weak, in each other's life.
" All to myself I think of you,
Think of the things we used to do,
Think of the things we used to say,
Think of each happy bygone day,
Sometimes I sigh, and sometimes I smile,
But I keep each olden, golden while
All to myself. "
As I was checking my e-mail today, there was a sudden surge of past memories on my mind, memories that felt like past lives, memories of old friends almost forgotten, memories of close friends separated by the pursuing of different dreams or lives. I suddenly felt a huge sense of loss and sadness, because although I kept saying and thinking that I am okay and that old friends are lost as we make new friends, there will always be moments like this. It was a sad sad thought.
Now that it has dawned on me that these feelings and memories are still as real and as strong as ever, there is already no turning back. Friends we have lost touch or have not contacted for years, it's so hard to even write to them, because you never know if they'll read and reply to you. I guess i'm guilty of my coldness and lack of passion all these times, so there's no one to blame but myself.
I can only truly wish in my heart that everyone, who has played a part in my life, who has touched and made my life meaningful for however short a period, is happy and well. Perhaps someday we will meet, perhaps we'll walk past each other without knowing , know that we've made a ripple, however small or weak, in each other's life.
" All to myself I think of you,
Think of the things we used to do,
Think of the things we used to say,
Think of each happy bygone day,
Sometimes I sigh, and sometimes I smile,
But I keep each olden, golden while
All to myself. "
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Easter Break!
Yes, so it's finally Easter, which means double-pay for my restaurant shift on Good Friday. Really good money! We also went clubbing and did a bit of drinking that night.
It was our long-delayed house-warming party today. Had about 30 friends dropping by. I thought it went pretty well. Seems like we received a lot more gifts than expected, most of them liquer or wine.
Will be going up to Sydney for a night. Aya and my brother will be staying for another day or two at Ben Son's place. Gonna have some good food there!
Yes, so it's finally Easter, which means double-pay for my restaurant shift on Good Friday. Really good money! We also went clubbing and did a bit of drinking that night.
It was our long-delayed house-warming party today. Had about 30 friends dropping by. I thought it went pretty well. Seems like we received a lot more gifts than expected, most of them liquer or wine.
Will be going up to Sydney for a night. Aya and my brother will be staying for another day or two at Ben Son's place. Gonna have some good food there!
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Graduate School Orientation
I did not know that the success rate for PhD candidature at ANU is over 80%, which is the highest in Australia. It better be since the ANU always boost about its best graduate and research schools and facilities.
So yes, that was one calming insight into the world of PhD that I got from the orientation.
I will also be attending a number of Graduate Information Literacy Programs this April such as:
Managing the PhD Thesis Production Process
Intellectual Property Management
Practising Occupational Health and Safety in Your Workplace
Selecting and Search Subject Databases
The Literature Review
and yes, Using MSWord for Thesis (don't laugh!)
All of these seminars or courses are free for graduate students.
My first PhD coursework on 'Applying Linear Algebra in Computer Sciences and Engineering' has just started on Tuesday and each week we're given a few questions for the weekly assignment.
Have just borrowed a few books from the library for reading and background studies. A good thing about doing postgraduate is that I can borrow up to 16 books and up to 6 months. My current collection includes books on op-amp design, robotics, control theory, linear and nonlinear control.
Not sure if it's because of April Fool's Day, but I've received an e-mail from the SMART 2004 Conference that my abstract have been accepted and I was addressed as 'Dr. Teh Yee Harn'. How cool is that! Yes, now I can brag about getting my PhD in 2 months' time instead of 3 years! Well, they're probably being careful not to address the authors wrongly in case they are 'doctors'. It's good to know that it's been accepted and now, I will need to write up a paper for that.
I did not know that the success rate for PhD candidature at ANU is over 80%, which is the highest in Australia. It better be since the ANU always boost about its best graduate and research schools and facilities.
So yes, that was one calming insight into the world of PhD that I got from the orientation.
I will also be attending a number of Graduate Information Literacy Programs this April such as:
Managing the PhD Thesis Production Process
Intellectual Property Management
Practising Occupational Health and Safety in Your Workplace
Selecting and Search Subject Databases
The Literature Review
and yes, Using MSWord for Thesis (don't laugh!)
All of these seminars or courses are free for graduate students.
My first PhD coursework on 'Applying Linear Algebra in Computer Sciences and Engineering' has just started on Tuesday and each week we're given a few questions for the weekly assignment.
Have just borrowed a few books from the library for reading and background studies. A good thing about doing postgraduate is that I can borrow up to 16 books and up to 6 months. My current collection includes books on op-amp design, robotics, control theory, linear and nonlinear control.
Not sure if it's because of April Fool's Day, but I've received an e-mail from the SMART 2004 Conference that my abstract have been accepted and I was addressed as 'Dr. Teh Yee Harn'. How cool is that! Yes, now I can brag about getting my PhD in 2 months' time instead of 3 years! Well, they're probably being careful not to address the authors wrongly in case they are 'doctors'. It's good to know that it's been accepted and now, I will need to write up a paper for that.
