Strategies for FinishingKathleen Fisher

Computer ScienceTufts University

2011 Graduate Cohort

http://www.eecs.tufts.edu/~kfisher/

A bit about me…1990 Married Steve

1991 Graduated with BS in Math & Comp Sci. from Stanford

1992 Daughter Elaine was born

1996 Received Ph.D. from Stanford in Theoretical PL

1996 Joined AT&T Research as “Senior Member of the Technical Staff”

1997 Started research projects in PL design

2000 Divorced Steve

2002 Married Bob

2003 Promoted to “Principal Member of the Technical Staff”

2003 Started the PADS project on ad hoc data management

2005 Moved to California, work remotely for AT&T

2008 Appointed consulting professor at Stanford

2010 Started Forest project on typing filestores

2011 Joined faculty of Tufts University as full professor

Outline

• What is finishing up about?• Ten Tips for finishing up• Discussion:

– Ask and answer questions– Share anecdotes

• From: proposal preparation and defense (Ming Lin’s talk)

• ………• ……….• ………. • To: successful thesis defense

What is finishing up?

• Chapter 1: Introduction – What is the problem? Why is it important? What

has been done? What is/are central idea(s) of my approach? How is thesis organized?

• Chapter 2: Preliminaries – Define the problem.

Introduce terminology and definitions. Discuss basic properties, related research, etc.

• Chapter 3: Big idea 1 • ... • Chapter K+2: Big idea K • Chapter K+3: Conclusion

– Summarize accomplishments. Discuss future work.

What does a thesis look like?

Ten Tips for Finishing up

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Tip 1. Take Charge• It is really about you and your thesis. • Examine your motivation:

– Good: Value the research and want to move on to next stage

– Bad: John finished in 4 years and so must I• Build up your motivation so it will carry

you through ups and downs:– Envision positive changes after you finish,

things you can do and enjoy doing– Be “active”:

• Good: I will finish my thesis by ...• Bad: My thesis will be finished by …

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Tip 2. Balance Life and Work• Many demands on your time:

– Commitments to family, friends, pets, ...– Sleep and exercise – Working effectively and creatively– Having fun

• Choose how to budget your time!– On balance: On most days, you are happy about

your personal and work life, engaged and productive at work, have good energy levels, ….

– Out of balance: On most days, you wake up tired and low, don’t enjoy your personal relationships, cannot focus at work, ….

• Seek help!– Mentors, family, friends, counseling service,….

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• Incorporate feedback from proposal defense• Is the plan of work viable?• Does the main problem/theme excite and

challenge you?• Identify sub-tasks from proposal:

– How many have you solved? – How many need to be completed? – Consider order to tackle tasks:

• Dependencies, difficulty, likelihood of failure, range of skills

– What if one of them does not work out? Do you have alternatives?

Tip 3. Leverage your Proposal

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• Why?– Members can help you finish– Some will be references in your job search

• Do members have relevant expertise?– If not, talk to your advisor and consider

adding someone (add early, not late)– Is there a serious misfit with a committee

member?• If you advisor were to leave could

someone on your committee co-chair or take over?

Tip 4. Leverage Committee

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• Set a target graduation date: (eg, 6/2012)• Working backwards, create master plan

of milestones and target dates (1 page). – Thesis submission date and defense date

(must meet graduate school deadlines)– Research and chapter completion dates

• 1 key result = 1 major publication = 1 chapter – Allow time for committee review, job search,

delays and setbacks.• Discuss with advisor, mentor, recent

graduates …

Tip 5. Build a work plan

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• Each term, make a plan for the term.– Base term plan on master plan– Factor in conference deadlines, etc.– Build on strengths: eg., reward writing with

coding, etc.• Assess progress bi-weekly & at term end.

– If straying from plan, analyze why– Adapt schedule if necessary– Discuss with advisor

• Re-assess and adjust master plan – Don’t panic: change is inevitable here!

Tip 6. Manage Your Time

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• Good writing is slow – Budget time and don’t procrastinate!!

• Leverage conference papers– Use consistent notation and definitions.– Adapt

• paper intro → thesis intro & chapter preamble• paper conclusion → chapter & thesis conclusion

– Rewrite for thesis audience: different from paper addressing experts in field

• Major revision is common– Incorporate feedback from thesis advisor

and committee members.

Tip 7. Start Writing!

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• Which career path is for you?– Academia: research vs teaching emphasis– Industry: development or research lab

• Prepare your application– Key: Research and teaching statements;

make them succinct and accessible• Prepare for your interviews

– Practice your talk (also good for defense)– Show breadth & focus of key contributions – Discuss future work in “context”

• Keep working on your thesis: Be “interrupt driven;” do not “busy wait.”

Tip 8. Engage in your Job Search

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• Take on research leadership roles– Find a junior student to work with– Mentor her/him in research project– Could lead to co-authorship on new papers

• Travel to conferences– Seek opportunities to present your work– Prepare and give top quality presentations– Network with conference attendees– Prepare and ask smart questions

• Seek out and use resources– Practice talks, mock interviews, etc– Technical writing workshops

Tip 9. Prepare for the “Next”

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• Attend related defenses (area, advisor)– Study question styles

• Practice defense presentation– Ask audience to pose tough questions

• Prepare your committee– Ensure they understand your contributions – Get feedback before the defense– Address serious concerns before defense

with the help of your advisor• Defend but do not go on the offensive• Go to your defense rested and refreshed

Tip 10. Prepare for Defense

Everyone gets a little stressed, it’s OK!

Proposal defense

Starting to write

Another result, another chapter!

Too much to do stress

Job interviewinvitations

Summary:• Develop yourself• Manage time• Manage mechanics• Communicate with advisor & committee• Don’t hesitate to seek help

Expect & Manage Ups & Downs

Thesis is complete &You are on your way!

Summary of Tips

1.Take charge2.Balance life and work3.Leverage your proposal4.Leverage your committee5.Build a work plan6.Manage your time7.Start writing!8.Engage in your job search9.Prepare for the “Next”10.Prepare for defense

Questions and Discussion

• Things not discussed– Interdisciplinary research, pitfalls and

payoffs– Advisor experience or lack thereof– Job search pressures– Unexpected emergencies

• The finishing process has many recovery points!!

Thanks to PhDComics, Carla Ellis, and Padma Raghavan.