Aarohan 2022
+How to Succeed in PhD/MTech
+Aarohan 2021
+How to Succeed in PhD/MTech
+Aarohan 2021
+How to Succeed in PhD/MTech
+Success is subjective.
+Aarohan 2021
+How to Succeed in PhD/MTech
Random gyaan.
+Aarohan 2021
+How to Succeed in PhD/MTech
@neeldhara
+
〞
Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself.
– Marcus Tullius Cicero
+Outline
+Outline
+Outline
+1
+Coursework
+ +1. settling in
+ +2. literature review
+ +3. develop background
+2
+Coursework
+Start identifying
gaps in the literature
+ +& interesting questions.
+3
+Qualifiers
+ +Start developing
+ +a concrete thesis proposal around this time
+5
+Research
+ +Leverage momentum
+ +and capitalize on opportunities
+4
+Project Courses
+ +Expand your toolkits
+ +while your research is typically taking shape...
+6
+Consolidate
+ +Start putting the core of thesis together
+ +Onto Plan B, if relevant.
+1
+Coursework
+ +1. settling in
+ +2. literature review
+ +3. develop background
+2
+Coursework
+Start identifying
gaps in the literature
+ +& interesting questions.
+3
+Qualifiers
+ +Start developing
+ +a concrete thesis proposal around this time
+5
+Research
+ +Leverage momentum
+ +and capitalize on opportunities
+4
+Project Courses
+ +Expand your toolkits
+ +while your research is typically taking shape...
+6
+Consolidate
+ +Start putting the core of thesis together
+ +Onto Plan B, if relevant.
+1
+Coursework
+ +1. settling in
+ +2. literature review
+ +3. develop background
+2
+Coursework
+Start identifying
gaps in the literature
+ +& interesting questions.
+3
+Qualifiers
+ +Start developing
+ +a concrete thesis proposal around this time
+5
+Research
+ +Leverage momentum
+ +and capitalize on opportunities
+4
+Project Courses
+ +Expand your toolkits
+ +while your research is typically taking shape...
+6
+Consolidate
+ +Start putting the core of thesis together
+ +Onto Plan B, if relevant.
+1
+Coursework
+ +1. settling in
+ +2. literature review
+ +3. develop background
+2
+Coursework
+Start identifying
gaps in the literature
+ +& interesting questions.
+3
+Qualifiers
+ +Start developing
+ +a concrete thesis proposal around this time
+5
+Research
+ +Leverage momentum
+ +and capitalize on opportunities
+4
+Project Courses
+ +Expand your toolkits
+ +while your research is typically taking shape...
+6
+Consolidate
+ +Start putting the core of thesis together
+ +Onto Plan B, if relevant.
+Other aspects
+-
+
- Industry experience
+
-
+
- Collaborations +
- Internships +
+ - Independent research experience
+
-
+
- Conferences +
- Visits +
+ - Teaching experiences
+
-
+
- GTF +
- Internships +
+ - Breaks
+
-
+
- For fun +
- Unanticipated interventions +
+
The Balancing Acts
+
Act I
+ ++ +
Breadth
+V/s
+Depth
+Act I
+
+Breadth
V/s
Depth
+Act I
+ ++ +
+inadequately prepared
+V/s
+Depth
+Act I
+ ++ +
+Breadth
+V/s
+Depth
+
+Act I
+ ++ +
+Breadth
+V/s
+no big picture
+
+Act I
+ ++ +
+Breadth
+V/s
+DEPTH
+
+It helps to be organised*.
+ +To avoid overwhelm, work backwards from how much time you have. (c.f. time blocking)
+〞
Philosophers are people who know less and less about more and more, until they know nothing about everything.
+ ++ +
Scientists are people who know more and more about less and less, until they know everything about nothing.
+– Konrad Lorenz
+phdcomics
+
Act II
+Perseverence
V/s
Pivoting
+Act II
+ ++ +
+Perseverence
+V/s
+Pivoting
+Act II
+ ++ +
+stubborness
+V/s
+Pivoting
+Act II
+ ++ +
+Perseverance
+V/s
+Pivoting
+
+Act II
+ ++ +
+Perseverance
+V/s
+impatience
+
+Act II
+ ++ +
+Perseverance
+V/s
+PIVOTING
+
+Knowing when to quit is not easy.
+ +Guidance + Intuition + Luck
+〞
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no use being a damn fool about it.
+– Anonymous
+Act III
+ ++ +
+Saying yes
+V/s
+saying no
+
+Act III
+ ++ +
+Saying yes
+V/s
+saying no
+
+Act III
+ ++ +
+overcommitted
+V/s
+saying no
+
+Act III
+ ++ +
+saying yes
+V/s
+saying no
+
+Act III
+ ++ +
+saying yes
+V/s
+miss opportunities
+
+Act III
+ ++ +
+saying yes
+V/s
+SAY NO
+
+It helps to know your priorities!
+〞
If you’re not saying “HELL YEAH!” about something, say no.
+– Derek Sivers
+Act IV
+ ++ +
+Perfect
+V/s
+good enough
+
+Act IV
+ ++ +
+Perfect
+V/s
+good enough
+
+Act IV
+ ++ +
+it never gets done
+V/s
+good enough
+
+Act IV
+ ++ +
+Perfect
+V/s
+good enough
+
+Act IV
+ ++ +
+Perfect
+V/s
+careless :(
+
+Act IV
+ ++ +
+Perfect
+V/s
+good enough
+Know your temperament, and fine-tune if it is extreme.
+Use external feedback to help with calibration.
〞
Perfect is the enemy of good.
+– Proverb
+Act V
+ ++ +
+Brooding
+V/s
+asking
+
+Act V
+ ++ +
+Brooding
+V/s
+asking
+
+Act V
+ ++ +
+Stuck & lonely
+V/s
+asking
+
+Act V
+ ++ +
+Brooding
+V/s
+asking
+
+Act V
+ ++ +
+Brooding
+V/s
+Lazy
+
+Act V
+
+Brooding
V/s
asking
+
+Don't be afraid of doing your homework.
+Equally, don't be afraid of asking.
Act V
+
+Brooding
V/s
asking
+
+Also: break things down &
+ +celebrate small wins!
+〞
How would you know well if you don't ask at all?
+ +How would you ask well if you don't know at all?
+– Martin Uzochukwu Ugwu
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+Reading
+V/s
+Writing
+
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+Reading
+V/s
+Writing
+
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+aren't writing enough
+V/s
+Writing
+
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+READING
+V/s
+Writing
+
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+READING
+V/s
+AREN't READING Enough
+
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+READING
+V/s
+Reinventing the wheel
+
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+READING
+V/s
+fundamentals unclear
+
+Act VI
+ ++ +
+Reading
+V/s
+Writing
+
+The notion of a desirable proportion isn't an universal constant - and will be very contextual.
+ +Practice both skills often early on, you'll need them all in varying degrees as you go along.
+〞
I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
+– Robert Louis Stevenson
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+luck
+V/s
+Work
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+Luck
+V/s
+Work
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+you have no motivation
+V/s
+Work
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+to put in the work
+V/s
+Work
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+& rely on eureka moments
+V/s
+Work
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+LUCK
+V/s
+Work
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+LUCK
+V/s
+failures are disappointing
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+LUCK
+V/s
+since you take the blame
+
+Act VII
+ ++ +
+Luck
+V/s
+Work
+
+Your hard work is necessary but not sufficient.
+ +It's good to recognise that luck is a non-zero factor in "success".
+ +Also: there's no replacement for a solid work ethic!
+〞
Not many people have had as much bad luck as I have, but not many people have had as much good luck, either.
+ ++
– Tig Notaro
+Act VIII
+ ++ +
+Organization
+V/s
+Chaos
+
+Act VIII
+ ++ +
+Organization
+V/s
+Chaos
+
+Act VIII
+ ++ +
+distracted by planning
+V/s
+Chaos
+
+Act VIII
+ ++ +
organization
+V/s
+Chaos
+
+Act VIII
+ ++ +
organization
+V/s
+inefficient
+
+Act VIII
+ ++ +
ORGANIZATION
+V/s
+Chaos
+
+Leverage your natural temperament,
+ +but if you are consistently frustrated, explore
+ +developing the habits you need for your situation.
+All you see is clutter... however.
+
Act iX
+ ++ +
journey
+V/s
+destination
+
+Act iX
+ ++ +
+journey
+V/s
+destination
+
+Act iX
+ ++ +
+lose focus
+V/s
+destination
+
+Act iX
+ ++ +
+Journey
+V/s
+miss the fun!
+
+Act iX
+ ++ +
+Journey
+V/s
+destination
+
+Act iX
+journey
V/s
destination
+
+Your big goals are the North Star.
+ +Look up at the sky every so often to be sure you're on track.
+ +But for the most part, don't forget to be present through the journey!
+〞
When we make staying focused on the process our real goal, we experience a sense of success in every moment.
+– Thomas M. Sterner
+ +(The Practicing Mind)
+Act X
+ ++ +
Quality
+V/s
+Quantity
+
+Act X
+Quality
V/s
Quantity
+
+High quality with non-zero quantity is generally OK.
+ +High quantity with moderate quality may or may not be optimal.
+ +Also: fairly contextual. Find out what makes sense in your field.
+
〞
The Summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters.
+– Conrad Anker
+Outline
+
Outline
+
Resources
+https://neeldhara.com
+People
+ +Advisor(s) ⸱ Labmates ⸱ Friends ⸱ Family ⸱ Professional Network
+ ++ +
Institutional
+ +Advisories ⸱ Wellbeing Initiative ⸱ Writing Studio ⸱ Sports ⸱ etc.
+Imagine a circle that contains all of human knowledge:
+ ++
This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
By the time you finish high school, you know a bit more:
+ +
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
With a bachelor's degree, you gain a specialty:
+ +
+
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
A master's degree deepens that specialty:
+ +
+
+
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
A master's degree deepens that specialty:
+ +
+
+
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+Reading research papers takes you to the edge of human knowledge:
+ +
+
+
+
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
Once you're at the boundary, you focus:
+ +
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
You push at the boundary for a few years:
+ +
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
Until one day, the boundary gives way:
+ +
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
And, that dent you've made is called a Ph.D.:
+ +
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
Of course, the world looks different to you now:
+ +
+
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
So, don't forget the bigger picture:
+ +
+
+
+
+
+
+This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+
This is The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D., created by Matt Might,
+a professor in Computer Science at the University of Utah.
[Matt has licensed the guide for sharing with special terms under the Creative Commons license.]
+