April 12, 2006

Finding a Research Topic

Anirban Banerjee and Michalis Faloutsos,

Department of Computer Science and Engineering,

University of California at Riverside

April 12, 2006

Problem Addressed How to identify a research area that is both

interesting and exciting for you.

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Outline Problem addressed The “Right” Research Topic Identifying your Preferences Interacting with people Recap

April 12, 2006

The “Right” Research Topic A field that compliments

Your personal preferences. Your technical strengths. The professional profile which you foresee for

yourself after your PhD. Makes you feel like waking up each morning

and getting to work as soon as possible.

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Characteristics of the “Right” Research Topic

Interesting for you Well specified

Can you explain it in 3 lines, 1 paragraph, 1 page? Scope for your contribution Ask What needs to be done, not what can I do Will people care?

Do your best, and people usually start to notice.

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Outline Problem addressed The “Right” Research Topic Identifying your Preferences Interacting with people Recap

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Identifying your Preferences Are you interested in Theory or

Implementation, perhaps visionary work? Expand your horizons

Take courses to get an idea of different areas Take up projects Read Tech. Journals and articles

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Identifying your Preferences Out of all the choices

Which one gets you most interested Which one seems to be “cool” to you Read more on that area

You will finally identify your area of choice.

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Doing research is a Continuous Process Cycles of expanding and focus

Try to narrow things down in each cycle From a boring/done topic -> new dimensions A balance between in trying an idea/direction

Giving up too easily Persisting on a dead-end

Tip: often you can apply your current skills to a new problem formulation

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Optimistic view Good things happen to people that try However, keep your ears open Take advantage of opportunities

Establish collaborations with people See what industry wants (internships)

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Outline Problem addressed The “Right” Research Topic Identifying your Preferences Interacting with people Recap

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Interacting with people There is no substitute to interacting with

people. Talk to your advisor. Talk to fellow students Talk with people who are actively working in

your area of interest Talk to few professors in other research areas

Sometimes a completely different viewpoint is helpful

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Caution Listen to and consider what people say Don’t change topics every time you talk to

someone

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Outline Problem addressed The “Right” Research Topic Identifying your Preferences Interacting with people Conclusion

April 12, 2006

Outline Problem addressed The “Right” Research Topic Identifying your Preferences Interacting with people Conclusion

April 12, 2006

Conclusion Be positive and proactive. Repeat cycle to select your topic your interest. Talk to advisor, students and people working

in your area of interest. You must be persistent and finally commit at

some point. Just keep in mind: There is no magic recipe.

April 12, 2006

Good Luck!