This is the tag for discussions about the Doctor of Philosophy degree and programs that lead to this degree.
3
votes
2answers
94 views
Dealing with consulting agreements where NDA conflicts with research interests
I am a computer science doctoral student working on machine learning (ML) research. Meanwhile, a startup approached me to consult/advise them in areas related to algorithms in ML. Needless to say a ...
18
votes
6answers
810 views
When should a student attempt unsupervised research?
I just finished my masters and am currently working as a research assistant before starting a PhD in applied mathematics. I was doing some preliminary work for a possible project and derived some ...
7
votes
2answers
114 views
How to tackle the bibliographic work as an entering PhD student?
I'll be starting my PhD in the next fall. I already looked over the internet for advice for a beginner, even read two books on the subjects. Still, there is one point I haven't seen discussed as I ...
4
votes
0answers
188 views
How do Asian PhD Programs compare to European [closed]
How do Asian (China, Singapore, other) PhD programs differ from European PhD programs with respect to:
the type of "programmes" (% of coursework included or purely research based)
admission rates to ...
7
votes
1answer
165 views
Making sense of PhD Transcript
At my university, there is no grading on a PhD transcript. There is no exam or predefined coursework (i.e. you can work on any aspect of the dissertation and in any order, which is not assessed but ...
1
vote
0answers
187 views
Why so much pressure? [closed]
I am facing at this momment a difficult decision: should I follow my original plan and use all the subjects I spent time learning or should I grab the "safe option".
The safe option: I have already a ...
1
vote
1answer
116 views
Going for PhD or MS in research right after under graduation?
I have a bachelors degree in computer science and am going for PhD or research MS, but I do not have research experience. Can I expect to successfully obtain a PhD? What are the major problems faced ...
9
votes
3answers
358 views
When can you call yourself doctor?
I just passed my dissertation defense. This means there is nothing left but paperwork to get my doctorate. Among the various congratulations I've received a couple have termed me: Dr. My assumption ...
11
votes
3answers
262 views
I am a 2nd year undergraduate student. What should I do now to prepare for my PhD?
I am a 2nd year undergraduate student in Aerospace Engineering, in India. I am really willing to go into Academia as a researcher. I am specifically interested in Aerospace Controls. Some points to ...
16
votes
5answers
671 views
Reading (& understanding) a lot of papers is hard. How to deal with it?
I am a student doing my Masters (in Computer Science). I am much interested in Ph.D and I know to do Ph.D I really need to read and understand a lot of papers. (I also know that its not all about ...
4
votes
2answers
173 views
Curriculum Vitae in application for PhD
I have contacted a professor (in Europe) informally and asked for a PhD position. She answered in positive manner and asked for a CV.
What should I include?
Do people in academia care about the usual ...
5
votes
2answers
241 views
Admission in research based Master's/Doctoral programme
I had applied in Master's programme in Europe / Asia (mostly Germany) this year and most of them were rejected or is still pending. My GPA in Bachelor's is 7.19 / 10 while my TOELF iBT score is 100 / ...
4
votes
3answers
288 views
What title to put on a professional business card
Is there a correct or preferred format for indicating 'Dr' or 'PhD' (or both) on a professional business card.
Background: I am employed in the industry and I have just earned my PhD (in social ...
21
votes
12answers
2k views
I am currently debating whether to leave my PhD program- any advice
TL;DR: Young male graduate student in his first year of a PhD program who has lost his passion for the academic world. Seriously considering quitting but don't know what to do. Science background. ...
11
votes
2answers
656 views
Where does the title Dr come from for PhD?
I have always wondered why a person is given the title of Dr after completing a PhD in a non-medical field. This is especially because of the confusion over the medical title of Dr. Why hasn't a ...
0
votes
1answer
193 views
International variations in addressing academics? [closed]
You are interacting with a researcher in your field who holds a PhD and is a professor in a university. What is the appropriate title to use?
From what I know, I guess this is highly ...
-1
votes
0answers
46 views
What is the difference between Dr. and PhD? [duplicate]
What is the difference between the calling conventions: "Dr. Xyz" and "Xyz, PhD"?
5
votes
4answers
293 views
Why do PhD students volunteer at conferences?
Other than the possibility of waiving registration fees, What is the objective of graduate students volunteering at conferences?
For instance, I am considering volunteering at IJCAI these days and ...
4
votes
1answer
193 views
How important are the grades compared to the cover letter when applying for a Ph.D?
Some months ago I finished my MSc. I immediately started to send several applications for Ph.D vacancies.
So far I've spent a lot of time in doing this, but there is only one place that did not reject ...
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Scholarships in general and Ontario Trillium Scholarship in particular
I am a new PhD student in Canada. Recently my university nominated me for the Ontario Trillium Scholarship (to my surprise), which I eventually won. I originally come from a country which do not use ...
-2
votes
2answers
176 views
Minimum requirement of Class X & XII result for admission in US university for MS/PhD [closed]
I have completed B.Sc. in Physics from Bangladesh with CGPA 3.95 (75%), HSC (Class XII) with 70% and SSC (Class X) with 50% marks.
Now I'm preparing for GRE and TOEFL.
Will the Class X GPA be ...
1
vote
2answers
241 views
Why is the typical age of PhD in the US and UK so low? [closed]
I mean, in our place typically a student completes high-school at around the age of 17-18 and then almost all the best of students do a 5-year masters after that and then they start their PhD and ...
2
votes
2answers
151 views
Is PhD funding updatable?
As many universities provide funding covering only part of the tuition fee or living expenses, especially in the UK where tuition fees are different for UK/EU and international students while most ...
-1
votes
2answers
124 views
Question on terminology (postgraduate studies)
How does one call postgraduate studies in countries where the appropriate degree is not PHD? It can't be PHD scholarship. Can I use "postgraduate studentship" in this sense in official papers? Maybe ...
8
votes
2answers
241 views
European style PhD in the US
I'm wondering are there any PhD programs (specifically in machine learning) in the US that are structured more like the European ones, i.e. where you immediately start doing research and don't spend ...
6
votes
2answers
148 views
Are there grants available to pay for travel to my PhD program?
I have looked at this thread travel grant but it talks about when the OP already was pursuing his PhD.
I am from India and have a different scenario as I have just received my PhD offer in Computer ...
6
votes
3answers
343 views
Is it Worth the Risk of Going into Debt for a Masters Degree Versus a PhD?
I realize that this sort of question has been asked before and I have read through some of the other threads but I figured I'd see if there are any more perspectives out there. I am currently a ...
20
votes
5answers
791 views
How to tell my advisor I don't want to stay in academia
I don't want to stay in academia after finishing my PhD. My current research field is not exciting to me anymore, but also I am too old to change fields. Although my research and my interest were so ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
What level of knowledge and expertise is usually expected from someone just entering a PhD in computer science?
If someone has bad grades and limited programming experience, can they afford to rely on their first year of coursework to come up to speed with the field? Or is it a better idea to take some time off ...
4
votes
3answers
166 views
How long do PhD students typically take to come up with their research proposal?
Especially if you are someone who is entering a PhD with very broad interests and little depth of knowledge in your field.
5
votes
3answers
125 views
How much flexibility does one have in selecting their PhD coursework in the first year?
For instance, if someone is working as a Phd in computer-science, but on a neuroscience related topic, she might need to take some neuroscience related courses. And some CS courses might not be any ...
5
votes
1answer
173 views
Advisor-student meeting patterns in very high-end theoretical research
This is related to my previous question: “What is the optimal number of times one should meet one's PhD. advisor?”
I want to know of specific details of advisor-student meetings, frequencies, ...
5
votes
5answers
655 views
Changing my handwriting for the PhD qualifying exam [closed]
I am a guy with very distinct handwriting, and let's just say I have noticed some interesting grading trends in one of my classes. I'll add that my advisor and the professor of this class also have ...
15
votes
2answers
412 views
How often do you email a supervisor?
I'm doing a PhD related to my supervisor's research area. Sometimes, I think about problems that I do not immediately know the answer to. Naturally, I come to Stack Exchange and other forums and ask ...
4
votes
3answers
159 views
How are graduate students funded over the summer (in US)?
I know that there are often summer courses through TAing, but those are much rarer. Many departments don't even offer summer courses.
In that case, are graduate students over summer always supported ...
4
votes
2answers
130 views
Learning new things after coursework duration of PhD
In STEM (In USA), the coursework duration of the PhD typically lasts about 1-2 years beyond that, students take 0 (or in certain cases, very few) courses in their subsequent PhD years. I work in ...
0
votes
1answer
235 views
What value will PhD give me? [duplicate]
I'm a lecturer (I have an MSc) at university. The university wants me to do my PhD at another country (the UK). However, I didn't think about PhD before and now it is a must or they are going to ...
28
votes
7answers
2k views
Points to consider when deciding whether to get married during a PhD
Marriage is a recurrent topic in the lives of most PhDs. The meagre pay and the burden of responsibility could make marriage in the middle of PhD look like a terrible idea. But on the positive side, ...
10
votes
2answers
209 views
PI coauthorship on previous papers
I independently wrote a number of math articles, and published some of them in refereed journals. I wrote the draft of the thesis, and contacted a Prof., and started a PhD program under his ...
2
votes
2answers
176 views
Can post graduate students be forbidden to work in the institution they are studying?
I have seen some graduate (PhD and Masters) students in Turkey, Nigeria, Malaysia etc that can not work in the university they study. In fact I am one of them as I am about to finish Msc mathematics ...
3
votes
1answer
217 views
Taking Courses As A PhD student
Question:
When I have a choice to take only one of two possible sequences : A theoretical one which aids my research and an applied one that aids my employability, which one should I opt for? (I ...
4
votes
1answer
175 views
Is it possible to obtain a second PhD degree in Europe?
As I have heard it is not possible to get a second PhD in Europe if you have obtained first PhD in Europe. Is it true? My 1st PhD is in Theoretical Physics which I won't find a fair job related to ...
4
votes
1answer
113 views
Asking a PhD interviewer about preparation
I am having a PhD interview at a university in the US. The application procedure didn't involve submitting a research proposal, so I am not very sure what kind of questions I should expect.
A ...
0
votes
1answer
128 views
When does a researcher become a computer scientist?
When do you call a researcher a computer scientist? Are Master degree holders computer scientists? Are Phd degree holders computer scientists? Is there a certain level of experience after which the ...
6
votes
2answers
163 views
Does requesting to speed up on application process affect its outcome
I got an offer for a PhD position which, due to my financial status, I can only accept if I am awarded a scholarship, which is currently in consideration. Recently, I receive a job offer which have to ...
23
votes
5answers
1k views
How to deal with the frustration of doing PhD at a low-ranked university
Though I did my bachelor's at a top-notch college, because of low GPA I had to settle down for PhD at a low ranked university. Now I see that there is lack of intellectual atmosphere and very few ...
0
votes
2answers
226 views
Should I pursue my PhD dream based on my Undergrad experiences?
I'm an Undergrad student from one of the Indian Institutes of Technology and I still have a year left to complete my Dual-degree course in Computer Science(offers me M.Tech & B.Tech by the end of ...
8
votes
2answers
278 views
Non academic career options for PhD in Math
I am currently preparing to get my M.S. in Computer Science. I chose C.S. because I enjoy programming and because its a solid choice, career wise. Low unemployment, good pay, all that jazz.
But my ...
7
votes
2answers
183 views
Graduate school and students with learning disabilities
I'm looking to apply to a Ph.D program in mathematics. I was going to apply last year, but ended up getting cold feet because I wasn't sure how having a learning disability would affect (1) being ...
6
votes
2answers
162 views
Is there a unit test for writing a dissertation?
I am currently in the process of completing my dissertation.
I am a big fan of unit tests, so I would like to implement a procedure that corrects my writing ( or removes bugs so to speak.)
A few ...
