Questions tagged [stem]

On standards or conventions specific to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as set of related academic disciplines, and programs that lead to a degree in these fields.

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STEM to non-STEM PhD program

I am an international student, applying to Ph.D. programs for Fall 23 in the US. My background is in STEM and I am changing my career path to Psychology or Public Health. Many of these programs are ...
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7 votes
2 answers
2k views

Are decision making processes for a tenure-track position totally transparent to all members of its search committee?

Assume a North American STEM-based tenure-track position to which a search committee, including a couple of faculty members and the chair of their department, corresponds. Regarding decisions to be ...
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4 votes
3 answers
1k views

How hard is it to find a job in the academia with a Muslim name in the UK?

I found the following article on the Internet: Candidates with Muslim-sounding names are three times more likely to be passed over for jobs What is the situation in the case of acadamia?
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1 vote
1 answer
264 views

Is it appropriate to invite professor/potential PhD advisor for a coffee?

I am an incoming master's (international) student at a UK university. A few days ago I sent an email to a professor who I really want to work with (if I can get into the PhD program there, to which I ...
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-3 votes
1 answer
170 views

Is there any added advantage to getting Presidential Postdoctoral fellowship (STEM) over regular postdoc appointment? [closed]

Is it more prestigious? Does it help to have it on your resume, if you are applying for faculty positions later on? How does a presidential fellowship compare to a regular postdoc appointment at a ...
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

How do I move a research group post-tenure?

I need to work in a safer state or country, and would prefer to remain in academia. I run a healthy ~1mil/year research group, and I want to take the willing part of my team with me (not all will be ...
55 votes
18 answers
17k views

How can I deal with students that are too sensitive when they are wrong? Particularly when they answer simple questions incorrectly during class?

I am an instructor in a STEM field. I am teaching an upper-division course where I try to interact with the students rather than just lecturing. I am teaching in the students' native language; there ...
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21 votes
12 answers
6k views

Why are exercises in US university classes graded?

I have been wondering a while why many universities in the US have graded homework in the STEM field. I completely understand the grading for mid-term exames or final exams. In those exams you have to ...
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5 votes
1 answer
221 views

Pros and cons of teaching in a department with no graduate program

Currently, I work in a small regional university, in USA, and my department has no graduate program (at least no Ph.D. program). On the one hand, I do not have to supervise graduate students, which ...
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-2 votes
1 answer
72 views

What is the difference between a method, an approach, a technique, and a strategy in the case of STEM research?

What is the difference between a method, an approach, a technique, and a strategy in the case of STEM research? For example: These algorithms can be grouped into three broad categories: (i) methods ...
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0 votes
5 answers
584 views

Why does someone work in a non-STEM field after completing a PhD in STEM? [closed]

Several years ago, when I was taking an English language course, one of my teachers said that one of her acquaintances did a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and became a Headmaster in a Bilingual ...
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0 votes
1 answer
152 views

Is it accepted that I submit two novel papers at the same time, but one uses the methods in the other one?

I have written two STEM papers (Paper1 and Paper2) and I have already submitted Paper1. Paper2 implements some of the methods presented in Paper1. The conference I submitted for Paper1 and the journal ...
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3 votes
2 answers
110 views

How hard it is to switch for a new Master's degree from different Undergraduate background?

For Non-STEM backgrounds like Media/Film Studies, is it possible to get a master's degree in Data Analytics/ Data science to go for the desired field? I feel extremely need for a transition into a ...
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2 votes
3 answers
276 views

How broad is your research field after a PhD?

I'm in my last year of my BSc, and I have a couple of things that I am really interested in, and I am hoping to do a MSc and then a PhD. My adviser explained that a PhD is very focused, and it's ...
0 votes
1 answer
116 views

How would a master's degree from a very low ranked insitution be viewed for phd applications in STEM?

I mean schools that do not offer doctoral programs in that field and are ranked bottom quartile in usnews. Could this actively harm an application? Are there any mitigation measures one could take if ...
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0 votes
1 answer
117 views

Do only faculty members mentioned in the Ph.D. application system review that particular application? [closed]

Some departments in US STEM universities require the applicant to mention the names of faculty members with whom they are interested in working with within the online Ph.D. application system. So do ...
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is it practically possible to rise to the highest ranks of academia in STEM in the US system after finishing a PhD at 34? [closed]

I am about to finish my Ph.D. at the ripe old age of 34. I plan to stay on and try to become a part of the faculty at a university. Considering the time it takes, not to mention the competition ...
1 vote
2 answers
211 views

I left a PhD program to take a permanent position that offered full funding for my education. How to explain this when re-applying for PhD programs?

I am an international STEM major graduate. Immediately after I obtained my BS degree in the spring semester, I went on a funded Ph.D. program in the following Fall semester. However, 2 months into the ...
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Professor didnt respond for months and master thesis failed

I am writing this message here for my friend who is... having some of the most stressful months of his life as I can see. The story from the beginning, my friend is studying in a university in germany ...
1 vote
2 answers
450 views

Objectively speaking, are STEM jobs more difficult to acquire than STEM graduate degree? [closed]

I've recently been doing some (non-serious) job search. My background is STEM with a focus on computing. What I have noticed is that the requirement to get a job with many tech companies seems to be ...
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1 vote
1 answer
102 views

One-sided vs two-sided hypothesis testing - Should the hypothesis reflect this? [closed]

I had written a hypothesis that we expect x outcome variable to increase when y treatment is applied. A reviewer commented that based off of the hypothesis, we should be doing a one-sided test. ...
2 votes
4 answers
1k views

How can a person switch from Arts to STEM?

A person (30-35 y/o) has an M.A. in History and drives Uber. Now, he wants to study M.Sc. in CS/CSE in Canada for better employment. What/how would be the pathway to accomplish that in the shortest ...
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-2 votes
1 answer
205 views

Would it be possible to rank North American graduate schools from "most competitive" to "least competitive" (in terms of admission)? [closed]

I would like to understand if it is possible to rank graduate schools in the US and/or Canada by the entry/admission standards/requirements (this could be based on GPA/GRE/etc). While it seems that ...
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0 votes
1 answer
67 views

Is it conventional to provide a list of GUI element descriptions in a thesis?

I'm currently writing my dissertation/thesis regarding my Rubik's Cube Solver program (sounds more exciting than it actually is haha). Anyway, I have created a GUI to visualize and animate the cube ...
1 vote
2 answers
237 views

Should I include a letter of recommendation in my dossier for teaching positions?

I'm a full professor in a US STEM field about to go on the job market for teaching professorships because of a terminal financial emergency at my current institution (a liberal arts college). I am ...
43 votes
8 answers
13k views

Is it immoral to advise PhD students in non-industry-relevant topics in middle-lower ranked universities?

Currently, the situation in academia is that graduating from a top PhD program is almost a requirement for landing an R1 tenure-track job. However, many of these graduates will not end up at similarly ...
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2 votes
1 answer
94 views

Query regarding the academic journal submission

Asking on behalf of my friend. He had worked on some problems in the summer of 2018 when he was a student at some X university. After a year, he again started working on the same problem and will be ...
3 votes
0 answers
73 views

Having a Promising Assistant Professor vs Well- Known Full Professor as a PI [duplicate]

If one's ultimate goal is to obtain tenure (as a professor of chemistry or some other STEM field, for example), is it honestly better to have a more well-known professor as a PI versus an assistant ...
18 votes
10 answers
9k views

I am a PhD candidate and I have been offered an internship that I want to take. My advisor objects. Should I take it anyway?

I am a PhD candidate in computer engineering. I've just finished my 2nd year. I finished all courses and passed the comprehensive exam. Currently working in a nice research project in collaboration ...
1 vote
0 answers
103 views

Are US universities generally reluctant to admit PhD students who already hold a PhD? [duplicate]

I am planning to do a Ph.D. in Math Education from one of the prominent universities in western Europe, and then do a Ph.D. in EEE/CSE. The reason being, I have a STEM background but due to clinical ...
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0 votes
2 answers
571 views

Fewer publications hinder postdoc opportunities?

I graduated with PhD in a STEM field from a good university in the US with only one "good" journal paper published currently. I am working on another one but it won't appear in my CV since I ...
23 votes
7 answers
5k views

Is it common/ ethically acceptable for PhD advisors to propose and supervise topics on which they lack basic knowledge?

I've just graduated in STEM in a small but respected university in Europe. I had two supervisors who hold their PhD in my field. The aim of my PhD was to utilize a particular chemical compound in the ...
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17 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can it be disadvantageous to actively publish in completely different fields?

I'm a researcher in a STEM field and work at an institute where research staff salaries (including mine) are dependent entirely on third-party grant money. I've already successfully obtained research ...
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1 vote
1 answer
727 views

Is industrial organizational (I/O) psychology considered a STEM subject according to USCIS/DHS?

I'm looking to do a PhD in I/O psychology in the US. I learned that only a few psych subjects were considered STEM according to the list released by ICE in 2016 and I/O psychology is not one of them. ...
4 votes
2 answers
391 views

Is there any age criteria in selecting new faculty in STEM universities in the USA?

I plan to start my Ph.D. quite late at age 31. I wanted to know if this would have any implications on my career if I decide to stay in academia and apply to faculty positions after completing my Ph.D....
2 votes
2 answers
388 views

Using a viral CV/ cover letter LaTeX template for undergraduate research internships

I am planning to apply for a few undergraduate research internships and I recently learned LaTeX, so I am thinking of transferring my resume from Word to LaTeX. I came across LaTeX templates for a &...
16 votes
4 answers
2k views

Will there be consequences for not participating in ShutDownSTEM?

I am a tenure-track researcher in STEM fields. On June 9th, I was told that all meetings scheduled next day were cancelled so that we can be a part of #ShutDownSTEM. I was not aware of it, and I ...
2 votes
2 answers
138 views

Any easy STEM research articles/papers that high school students can understand? [closed]

I'm helping to hold a workshop sort of thing to help students learn how to read/write research papers, but as I am a sophomore and haven't read too many papers myself, I can't find anything that is ...
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is it ill-advised to make a cover for your thesis in STEM?

I handed in my undergraduate thesis in mathematics and since I had extra time due to COVID-19 lockdown, I had made a cover drawing for it that I included. I've never seen a thesis with a cover in the ...
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6 votes
3 answers
407 views

How should faculty implement STEM classes that require hands-on lab experience in online learning platforms given COVID-19 pandemic?

I am a STEM teaching assistant. I know some professors were using physical class materials in engineering classes. How do you think they should respond to COVID-19-forced online education and still ...
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Will I be accepted into another PhD program if I leave my current group in Europe in which I don't fit in?

I am now doing my Ph.D. in Europe and I think I am not a good fit for my research group. It is not possible to change to other research groups in Europe and I was planning to drop out of my program ...
0 votes
4 answers
373 views

Is it acceptable to cite an article from a corporate website? Can Wikipedia be used to prove credibility?

I need relatively broad information on the functionality of a certain technology as part of the exposition to my seminar paper. As scholarly papers tend to focus on very specific questions, already ...
3 votes
1 answer
326 views

How to deal with radically different prerequisite preparation?

Let's say there is a core sequence of classes for an undergraduate STEM program, starting with what we'll call STEM 101 and STEM 102. The STEM 101 course is predominantly taught by two instructors: ...
57 votes
7 answers
10k views

Do I have an "anti-research" personality?

I am a second year Ph.D. student in a North American university who is mostly working on applied mathematics with a supervisor/advisor/PI. I have been troubled by a pattern of my own behaviour that ...
3 votes
6 answers
3k views

What should I do if I hate engineering, but my parents want me to become an engineer? [closed]

I really love physics, and I told my parents about my interest. They want me to become an engineer, but I hate engineering (too practical, too far from physics), and I don't enjoy fixing things. What ...
13 votes
2 answers
891 views

What are the impacts of closing STEM departments?

To encourage new answers, I will award the bounty to any new answer. (e.g. answer and you will get the bounty) I understand this question is difficult to tackle and do appreciate all new insights. ...
0 votes
0 answers
174 views

How to get back to STEM phD thesis after a long break?

If one had to interrupt writing the phD-thesis (for various reasons, that don't belong here): What is a good strategy to get back and finish the thesis? The writing would take place while working on ...
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0 votes
1 answer
131 views

apply for a Master's, already holding a PhD in a similar field [duplicate]

If one has a PhD in a similar field and goes apply for a Master's, will that hurt his/her chance of getting accepted? In the Statement of objectives, one can argue for some slight nuances between the ...
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1 vote
0 answers
28 views

How to Make up for Mediocre STEM GPA? Will Postbac Help? [duplicate]

I am a senior in college majoring in cognitive science and considering grad programs in neuroscience/cognitive science. Long story short, I didn't do super well in a lot of the STEM classes I took. ...
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0 votes
1 answer
747 views

Answering "How many months of work experience do you have?" on grad school applications

I am applying to a MS in a STEM degree (Business Analytics or Data Science) at some pretty competitive US universities (domestic applicant). I have done a lot of different types of work during and ...
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