FAKULTA INFORMATIKY
MASARYKOVA UNIVERZITA
Introduction to the PhD Study
First lecture
Ludˇek Matyska
The Goal
The goal is to give basic orientation in the PhD study at Faculty of
Informatics at Masaryk University. After taking this course,
students will have a clear view on the structure of PhD study, its
formal general requirements. He will also get basic knowledge
about basic and general principles of a research work and will have
necessary information about skills needed for successful completion
of PhD study.
Syllabus
Introduction to PhD study, its structure
Basic formal requirements, courses, credits, . . .
Interaction with supervisor and consultants, solving of
problems related to the study
Work with literature, search and recognition of relevant
information, sources of scientific literature and information
Principles of bibliographic search, analysis of scientific text
Principles of research work, experiments
Why study for PhD?
To get a nice new title
To get deeper knowledge in the subject of study
To contribute to the pool of human knowledge
This is usually interpreted as “contribution to the pool of
human scientific knowledge”
To be able to present and defend results of my work
To learn about myself
Work under stress
Work in uncertain environment (exploration)
Ability to ,,push the edge” in some area
Ability to convince people (that I am doing something usefull)
Stages of the study
Introduction, first orientation in the field
Could already happen during Master study
Scientific methods, work with literature
First results, publications, and failures
The order is purely random
Thesis proposal (“Teze” in Czech) and State Exam
You are expected to already know what you will do
Also some previous results/publications are expected
More results, publications, and failures
Thesis writing and submission
Could be the most stressfull part of the study
Thesis defense
What to expect
Formal requirements
See presentation from the Department of R&D
Scientific requirements
It is supervisor (master)–student relationship
PhD study is about research and development
Independent work
Does not preclude work in a team
But your contribution must be always recognizable/identifiable
It is very important to be able to identify and “sell” own work
Expected R&D results
Publications
Other results are under discussion
Publications
An indispensable requirement (also in the Law)
A minimum is two peer-reviewed international publications
before the thesis could be accepted for defense
Conferences and journals
Computer Science traditionally uses conferences to publish the
results
Faster to get into publication
Ofter faster to fade away
Beware of junk conferences
Journals usually get higher esteem and dissemination
Long to get published (years)
Long lasting results, usually higher number of citations
However, also junk journals exists
Actual study
Use the first year(s) of PhD study to learn more about the
subject (previously not taken lectures at FI, lectures at other
faculties or even universities)
Learning skills
Each graduate should know what it does mean to teach
Does not mean you know perfectly how to teach (or like it)
However, each should have a teaching experience
Many lectures just reflect what a PhD student is expected to
do
A way how to collect credits
And for supervisors how to check on your progress
Evaluation background
Traditionally, PhD study primary for future academicians or
researechers
Therefore, publications as the major expected results
Be aware of different quality of publictions!
To learn what is and what is not a good publication part of
PhD study
More and more PhD graduates do not follow this path
A cause of misalignment between PhD study requirements and
students’ expectations
Need for better definition of an acceptable result
Evaluation performed once per year for each student
Progress according to the plan
Tangible results (currently still mostly publications)
Study plan
Two plans
1. The general overal direction of the study
2. Yearly plans
You are evaluated primary in respect to the yearly plan
A result of discussion with the supervisor
Should include controllable results
Both plans are to help you
They are accepted by the Board
They should serve as a guideline for you
What the PhD study is about
Lot of work
Sometimes deep depression
And sometimes a lot of fun and joy
Accepted papers
PhD study is a full time job
However, 40 hours per week may not be sufficient
For some periods expect much higher load
This “stress test” is also a deliberate part of the PhD study
Must have clear identifiable results
Graduation
If you survive all the above
More sources of information
PhD Comics Strips (http://www.phdcomics.com)
Your colleagues in the laboratory
Your supervisor-consultant
This lecture
Departmernt of R&D
Your supervisor
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham www.phdcomics.com
title: "As if" - originally published 9/24/2010
Piled Higher and Deeper http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive_print.php?co...
PhD study innovation at Faculty of Informatics MU (IDSnaFI)
(CZ.1.07/2.2.00/15.0196)