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How to do a PhD stress free!

Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque shares insights on achieving a stress-free PhD journey, including tips on taking notes, handling bias, and staying motivated.

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How to do a PhD stress free!

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  1. How to do a PhD stress free! Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque,BSc MSc DIC PhD Hab. AvH Fellow

  2. FOREWORD Disclaimer (these are not jokes!) • PhD can be dangerous without supervision! • Do not undergo a long research alone! • Do not practice any of this without reflecting! • I might be completely wrong at some points!

  3. Foreword • Disclaimer • The Art of taking notes • Identified bias • Bad news

  4. FOREWORD Taking Notes (notepad) Date, Speaker, Title, Venue Interesting-stuff Ideas INOUT - OK-things * Hot # Super Always notedownhighlights/ideas Future

  5. FOREWORD Taking Notes (Logbook) Date, Speaker, Title, Venue - OK-things * Hot # Super To-Do  To-Get ! To-Think … Do notrelyonyourmemory!

  6. FOREWORD My known biases • Current views are of hard-Sciences! • Current views that are of a very critical thinker! • Current views derived from a very high degree of internationalization! • Views of somebody who thinks Science is the best we can do for changing the world!

  7. FOREWORD Bad news ? Howto do a PhD stress free! X Better title: “How to do a PhD and escape, healthy!”

  8. FOREWORD PhD is a Roller-coaster ! Semester, Months, weeks, ..., Getusedto it !

  9. Agenda • Science, Research and PhD • Your “companions” onthe PhD Journey • Recommendations & Suggestions • Final remarks (including FBLN-wonder-tools! :D)

  10. 1. Science, Research and PhD

  11. 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD Science Knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation (Merriam-Webster, On-line) X A better definition: “Science is the greatest human creation, which empowers its practitioners to discover, in a secure manner, the hidden aspects of the natural world.” (Fernando Buarque, 30/10/2015)

  12. 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD Science No consensus !

  13. 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD Research X creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications. (Wikipedia, On-line) A better definition: “Research is the way Science materializes itself.” (Fernando Buarque, 30/10/2015)

  14. 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD Research No single path !

  15. 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD PhD X is research training leading to a professional research qualification. (FindaPhD.com, On-line) A better definition: “A PhD is an unique individual experience of oneself to learn how to produce knowledge by doing it, hopefully once, and in a supervised manner.” (Fernando Buarque, 30/10/2015)

  16. 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD PhD A PhD is about what you get from your thesis (not about it)!

  17. 1. SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND PHD Recapping Science, Research, PhD and Thesis are all different beasts!

  18. 2. Your “companions” onthe PhD Journey

  19. 2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY #1 You Do notbesohashonyourself! Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

  20. 2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY #2 Your Supervisor Respect, but do notover estimate! Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

  21. 2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY #3 Your Topic Findsomethingyoulike it (andyouwanttotalkabout a lot)! Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

  22. 2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY #4 Your Pals Hang around with people that is worthy (both personally and technically)! Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

  23. 2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY #5 Your controls Find the best way you control yourself! Source: http://www.phdcomics.com/movie/

  24. 2. YOUR COMPANIONS ON THE PHD JOURNEY #6 Et Alli Do not became anti-social, but remember a PhD in not an easy thing comparable to a normal job!

  25. 3. Recommendations & Suggestions

  26. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS Recommendations #1 To yourself (General): -Are you: .‘here’ for the right reasons? .with the adequate mind-set? .equipped with the methodology/tools? .completely aware of your problem? .with a convincing idea on contributing? .catering for all that is needed? .allowing time for all (incl. unforeseen)? .caring for your mind and body?

  27. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS Recommendations #2 To yourself (Technically-wise): -Are you aware of: .literature highlights and pitfalls? .big names in the area? .best congresses and journals? .links with other sound works around? .motivations that are really relevant? .my idea highlights and pitfalls? .value of core contributions? .impact of what will be left out?

  28. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS Recommendations #3 To yourself (Work-wise): -Have you a: .writing style (find one)? .organized references (keep a DB)? .record of all experiments (Log-book)? .plot for my publications (They should click)? .time table for the work-year (Huge diff., if yes)? .record of feedbacks (Nurture on criticism)? .personal records for future reference? .nice-consistent set of images, formulas and pics?

  29. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS Recommendations #4 To yourself (Supervisor-wise): -Are you two on the same page, i.e. .agreeing on the reasons? .agreeing on the mind-set? .agreeing on methodology / tools? .agreeing on the problem? .agreeing on the contribution? .agreeing on all that is needed? .agreeing on the time/task plan? .agreeing on the “take”?

  30. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS Suggestions Every week do something new; Take some time off, periodically; Do regular physical exercises; Read books “without formulas”; Sleep long nights; Eat well and in a balanced way; Maintain a steady work rhythm; Conceive and keep a regular routine; Family et alli are good (for weekends)!

  31. 4. FINAL REMARKS

  32. 4. FINAL REMARKS FBLN Wonder Tools

  33. 4. FINAL REMARKS FBLN Wonder Tools #1 Mild-worries: “Outside Coffee-Break” -Different (nice) place; -Grab a good coffee/chocolate; -Bring along all your controls; -Wear the boss hat; -Assess & Re-plan; -This is ideal for Fridays and short term plan (re-take, next Monday). (Think about what was left out!)

  34. 4. FINAL REMARKS FBLN Wonder Tools #2 Strong-worries: “Bridge for the Future” -Different (nice) place; -Grab a good coffee/chocolate; -Bring along your controls; -Wear the #1 friend hat; -Assess & Re-plan; -This is ideal for End of Month or mid-term plan (re-take, next 1st). (Think about what was achieved!)

  35. 4. FINAL REMARKS FBLN Wonder Tools #3 Severe-worries: “Break-away” -Different (nice far away) place ; -Grab a good company; -Do not bring all your controls; -Wear the #human hat; -Do not assess & Re-plan; -This is ideal for whenever you feel life is calling (re-take, when ok). (Think about who you are!)

  36. 4. FINAL REMARKS Take it easy with what you read/do/plan!

  37. 4. FINAL REMARKS Take it easy with what you read/do/plan! Rome was not made overnight !

  38. 4. FINAL REMARKS Main take-away

  39. 4. FINAL REMARKS Main take aways -PhD is a non-trivial pursuit that mostly involves challenges to oneself (self understanding, tops); -Relation with Supervisor is very important; -Hard, focused, organized and balanced work are very important factors of success; -Planning is crucial (long, mid and short range, planning units should be semesters & months); -Execution units are weeks and days; -Controls should happen at week, months and semester basis. Workout sequence: your cool, ONE problem, your idea!, your research!, your experimentS, your paperS, your thesis!, THEN work begins for sure…

  40. 4. FINAL REMARKS Make no mistake

  41. 4. FINAL REMARKS Make no mistake -Science deals with production of knowledge AND also for spreading it; -Research is mostly hard work NOT necessarily, brilliance; -PhD is a rank award, primarily, for persistent people NOT always for geniuses; -Professor and Researcher are totally different jobs; -Agendas and wish-lists are very different controls; -Projects and Students are entirely distinct things.

  42. 4. FINAL REMARKS The most important factor in a PhD

  43. 4. FINAL REMARKS The most important factor in a PhD Deliver “lunch” midday (not at night) ! Give your best! Little1 story

  44. 4. FINAL REMARKS The best advice I can produce for you

  45. 4. FINAL REMARKS The best advice I can produce for you Challenge yourself, then excel (but be your #1 friend)! Find your way! Little2 story

  46. 4. FINAL REMARKS Finally: know that you CAN do it! WILL

  47. 4. FINAL REMARKS References PhD Comics - Website http://phdcomics.com/ 2. Max Payne V1 – PC Game https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Payne 3. Geoguessr.com – Web Game https://geoguessr.com/ 4. Estelle M Phillips & Derek S Pugh. How to Get a PhD(3rd Edition) http://www.amazon.com/How-Get-PhD-Estelle-Phillips/dp/033520550X 5. Sinclair Goodlad. Speaking Technically: Handbook for Scientists, Engineers and Physicians on How to Improve Technical Presentations http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speaking-Technically-Scientists-Physicians-Presentations/dp/186094034X

  48. Vielen Dank!Also thanks to WWU-Münster! Prof. Dr. Fernando Buarque,BSc MSc DIC PhD Hab. AvH Fellow Website: www.fbln.neteMail: fbln@ecomp.poli.br

  49. 4. FINAL REMARKS

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