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.
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