PhD development seminar: getting started with research

Today's #PhDdevelopmentF2020 seminar speaker is Dr. @AGSm1th who is discussing first steps in research from a recent grad's perspective. "The most important rule is to ask for help. You may think that you should know how to do everything, but you don't."

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020

Working in industry before starting a #PhD can be helpful for developing a healthy work-life balance as well as a desire to pursue a PhD (if that's your thing).

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020

An early challenge included taking courses that were challenging while also being expected to make research a top priority. This required a reevaluation of time management.

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020

Another challenge is research challenges that are open-ended and not in bite sized chunks. Most research ideas do not work out. This requires a new mindset #PhD

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020

In terms of managing #PhD research: "It's important to make progress every day." One way to manage research is to meet milestones rather than set hard deadlines.

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020

Literature reviews are important. If you miss a paper in your literature review, it's not a fatal error. Journal reviewers will point out any omissions and help improve your papers.

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020

The best way to overcome writer's block is to avoid it in the first place. Writing frequently or writing a little every day is one technique.

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020

Good skills to learn right away: learn #LaTeX, #github and #subversion in your first year. Version control and make backups!

— ✨Laura Albert✨ (@lauraalbertphd) October 12, 2020