Questions tagged [research-topic]
On identifying, evaluating suitability, or sharing a topic or focused direction for research.
266
questions
-3
votes
0answers
74 views
Is my hypothesis sufficient and feasible for a Masters or PhD thesis? [closed]
I'm currently studying Computer Science at a University in the UK and have started to think what I might do for my research later in my program.
Hypothesis
My current idea is to investigate the ...
0
votes
1answer
167 views
New small result vs. Old big result for MSc thesis?
I have recently started supervising MSc students in Statistics and I noticed a trend: students who produce a NEW small result are often more challenged by reviewers/markers of their dissertation than ...
2
votes
2answers
222 views
Difference between mathematical physicist/Theoretical Physicist
What's the actual difference between what a Mathematical Physicist and a Theoretical Physicist do?
When I look at the curriculum from some Applied Mathematicians from the maths department at my ...
3
votes
2answers
124 views
What are the most efficient ways of establishing a track record in a different field of research?
I am interested in expanding my areas of research to a somewhat unrelated field, where less than half of my current competences would be directly applicable. To start collaborating with other ...
0
votes
1answer
164 views
Should I abandon my PhD topic after a year?
After the first year and pretty much at the cusp of submitting my research proposal, I feel that my PhD topic and supervisor is far too technical. I had completed a masters that was closer to ...
1
vote
1answer
244 views
How can I know which academic field is hot now? [closed]
I am trying to write my own Ph.D. proposal and I wish to know what are the hottest topics in computer science and data science. By 'hottest', I mean: on which topics were the most papers published?
My ...
2
votes
2answers
211 views
Is it necessary to have all skills asked in advertisement to get a post doc?
Is it necessary to have all skills asked in advertisement to get a post doc.? I have very ordinary PhD and due to COVID I spent very little time in lab , although I leant some techniques bit I can’t ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
What is expected in a collaboration from a host supervisor?
Say a student X is a visiting research student under Prof Y, where Y is not the full-time supervisor of X. Student X will be working with Y for 3-months under an international research exchange ...
4
votes
2answers
275 views
As a young researcher, what should I follow to keep myself updated in my subject area? [duplicate]
I am a new researcher in immunology and biology. I am unable to keep track of so many papers being published in journals. Do I need to check Conference Proceedings as well? I am not sure what to ...
0
votes
0answers
134 views
How to differentiate between exploratory and explanatory research?
The way I gather, a explorative study is merely trying to identify certain concepts, whereas a explanatory study is trying to explain a A causes B relationship.
Especially with regard to case study ...
1
vote
2answers
166 views
What determines your PhD field? [duplicate]
Hello dear academic community,
I am having a lot of confusion regarding what it is that determines your PhD field. As far as I know, PhD is an academic title awarded mainly in the humanities, and the ...
3
votes
1answer
299 views
Is Stealing Ideas Common in Academia? Should I be Worried About Potential Theft? [duplicate]
I am attending my first conference this week, and yesterday I attended a poster session and stopped by one that belonged to a lab manager of a lab quite similar to mine. I am also a lab manager, and ...
2
votes
0answers
128 views
How can I tell that I have done enough literature research? Is there a specific amount of time one should devote to it? [closed]
Finding and gathering references can be a quite time-consuming task as it demands one to get accustomed with the terminology and concepts of the related topic / area.
How much time should one devote ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
How to study a field on which no professors specialise in your university
I am currently an undergraduate student in math, but this question is already bugging me, because I am about to start an undergraduate research project that will likely become my Masters degree as ...
2
votes
4answers
396 views
Is it alright not to do research for an extended period as a PhD student?
I have done about one year and nine months of my PhD (in the UK) and have got a paper published, one waiting to be submitted, and another reasonably-sized project completed. I have written up three ...
3
votes
1answer
146 views
How to shape quality research questions about conspiracy-drenched topics?
This year, I was working closely with many college-bound gifted students, one assignment, a student wanted to research the "Roswell incident". Though I can generally quickly think up ...
6
votes
2answers
566 views
A recently published paper seriously impairs the novelty of my dissertation. Which should be the purpose of the next meeting with my supervisor?
I am a second-year PhD student in management, and I've recently started working on my dissertation.
The topic I got assigned is a fast-growing one.
Nonetheless, I initially managed to ensure the ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
Can someone change PhD topic within a department after admission?
Suppose that someone applies for a PhD in the US with publications in topic X, and hence the whole SOP and
the target group both revolve around X. They get admitted, and realise soon after entering ...
69
votes
13answers
9k views
My personal views and my research work kind of collide. What can I do?
Climate change and mass extinctions are happening, so in my private life, I try to be as sustainable as possible. For example, I eat almost exclusively organic vegetarian food, I have no car, buy most ...
-3
votes
1answer
106 views
What are some good data driven astronomy research project ideas for a high schooler? [closed]
Does anyone here have sone good astronomy research project ideas for someone with a a background in AI and programming? The projects don't really have to be anything groundbreaking. They could just be ...
1
vote
0answers
109 views
Was my research topic poorly motivated? And how do I now turn it into a paper?
I finished my master’s program last year. The topic of my thesis was suggested to me by one of the PIs at the faculty, who then supervised my project. The question seemed perfectly reasonable at the ...
0
votes
2answers
128 views
Is it better to submit a new research grant proposal or an extension of previous work? [closed]
When submitting a research proposal for a funding agency, I heard two different pieces of advice from principal investigators that have won several awards. The first suggestion is to submit a proposal ...
1
vote
3answers
329 views
Secretly switching research topics and funding oddities
When I joined my current PhD program I talked to my advisor about wanting to work on a different research topic than the one I was to work on initially and he said yes. I made clear I wasn't ...
2
votes
2answers
242 views
How to convince professor that I have read topics on my own?
I am keen to apply for Doctoral program in Europe. But I have some questions.
All my mathematical interests are centred about Hyperbolic Geometry. And I am keen to apply for PhD position (or join a ...
3
votes
3answers
307 views
Is there a potential for bias when a researcher chooses a topic they personally find interesting? [closed]
When choosing a research topic, many researchers (in the field of psychology, in my case) often choose to study a topic they find interesting or have experience in. Does this introduce more potential ...
1
vote
1answer
219 views
How hard is it to change a (sub-)field right after starting a CS PhD?
I am a senior undergrad in computer systems field (specifically, computer networks) and applied for CS PhD this year.
My question is:
If I find a new interest in a different field before starting a ...
1
vote
3answers
278 views
What constitutes as stealing of an idea? [closed]
I have recently been accused by someone of stealing their idea and doing the work required. In fact they had come to me to do, let's say, a literature review because they didn't have the expertise to ...
5
votes
1answer
230 views
How to manage a colleague in your research group taking your idea?
I have been a newly appointed lecturer (18 months). Within my first 6 months I have advertised a PhD subject in order to recruit a good student. The specific project was advertised a year ago. I ...
1
vote
1answer
169 views
PhD interview advice! [closed]
I have received an invitation to interview for a PhD position and have been asked to present past/current research in a 10 minute presentation. I am currently doing a masters but am more comfortable ...
-1
votes
1answer
159 views
Should I Change my Research Focus?
I just finished my first semester in a PhD program in Pure and Applied mathematics. My initial focus was on probability, statistics, modeling, and machine learning. To this end I took a course in (...
3
votes
0answers
159 views
Post-doc for two (two-body problem): How to search, apply, and improve our chances?
My significant other and I are doing our PhDs in physics, and we both want to continue in academia and to stay together.
He did his masters in a first-world country and I did mine in a third-world ...
88
votes
12answers
14k views
Why are many obviously pointless papers published, or worse studied?
In the field I specialize in (I'm currently a moderator of crypto-SE), I see many obviously pointless papers published, often in publications where that costs money. I imagine that's the same in many ...
-1
votes
1answer
90 views
I have publications in one area but I want to focus on another one for my PhD? Could it go wrong?
My previous published research has focused on teachers' psychological characteristics (e.g., motivation). However, for my PhD, I want to change my focus to student learning. Thus, although the broader ...
1
vote
0answers
90 views
Types of research papers
There are research papers that focus on the presentation and analysis of application of a specific idea on a specific subject; e.g. how a closed-loop (in contradiction to an open-loop) can help ...
21
votes
5answers
3k views
How do I orient myself to the literature concerning a research topic and not be overwhelmed?
I'm in my first semester at a Master's level program in mental health counseling, and I have aspirations of perhaps eventually getting my PhD. I'm presently working on a project for a class about PTSD ...
2
votes
2answers
536 views
Confused about masters project
I am an integrated master student doing a rather short project of only 4months in the lab (due to covid). The project is quite a weird one as it either works or it doesn't and if it doesn't I have no ...
2
votes
1answer
325 views
How to know one's way around for PhD in Covid times [closed]
I'm a physics graduate student in Italy, and I'd like to continue my formation with a PhD after my thesis.
I would like to consider the idea of going someplace, but the problem I encountered is I ...
1
vote
1answer
125 views
Asking the faculty for PhD research proposal tips
I am going to apply to Italian universities for PhD vacancies in Statistics, which is not exactly the field that I studied during my BSc and MSc. I count to acquire the instruments for doing actual ...
2
votes
0answers
65 views
Subject selection for PhD in Mathematics [closed]
I had taken up courses related to PDE like Advanced Functional Analysis and I am facing difficulty with it and hence I am confused and I am not able to understand which subject to take up for PhD.
Can ...
1
vote
0answers
85 views
Regret of leaving the opportunity to work on highly funded topics for something not so rewarding. How to stop remorse?
My materials science PhD group works on two different fields. Most of them work in battery technology while I am few others work in mechanical behavior of materials in aerospace materials.
I was ...
2
votes
2answers
529 views
Professor has no interest in the topic of my research proposal
For a research paper in my course we had to come up with a topic proposal.
When I talked with my professor about my topic he did not seem interested in my proposal and only talked about a topic of his ...
22
votes
4answers
4k views
Tension between "publishable" and "motivating" research topics
I am half way thorough my second year as a posdoc and I have a reasonable production (4 published papers in good journals and two other under review). I also have several ongoing/potential research ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
Changing PhD/ collab PhD with a different department
I've started a phd in fluid dynamics. I always wanted one in general relativity or quantum field theory really, I got interviews for that (many really) but none where successful, I got into fluid ...
3
votes
0answers
225 views
Choosing a project for a fresh graduate student
I am starting to advise a new graduate student for M.Sc. degree (in theoretical computer science), and I am considering what should be the first problem they should work on.
One option is a small and ...
19
votes
3answers
4k views
Is it possible (practically, in real life) to pursue two very distinct research interests (e.g. in AI and theoretical physics)? [closed]
TL;DR: Is it possible to pursue applied research in AI and theoretical physics after a PhD degree in CS focusing on applied AI (as a professor at some universities)?
Long version:
Hello, I'm a 3rd ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
How can a comparative study be novel?
I can see several published research papers in SCI journals, even written by undergraduates, that perform a comparative study.
Many of the research papers published under this category evaluate ...
2
votes
0answers
144 views
Change of research area for Postdoc [duplicate]
I did a Ph.D. in the area of engineering mathematics. The thesis used some of the concepts from Mathematics, such as basic probability and statistics (Bachelor/Master level), calculus (Bachelor/Master ...
3
votes
1answer
327 views
What are the advantages and downsides of a broad PhD thesis? [closed]
A previous version of this question focused too much on my personal situation. The current one aims at being more generic.
The main question boils down to what are the advantages and disadvantages of ...
1
vote
3answers
295 views
Talking to supervisor about PhD projects
I am an international PhD student, in the last lap of my PhD, and have a little more than a year to defend my thesis. My work is in theory, and our simulations take a lot of computing time. As we are ...
6
votes
1answer
410 views
How may a young scholar without tenure change their field of research? [duplicate]
So let me elaborate on this question a bit with an imaginary scenario: John is a young, recent Ph.D. graduate in computer science. During his Ph.D. he was mainly concentrating on network science and ...
