PhD Survival Guide

Technical knowledge in machine learning systems or be it in any other field, while essential, is only one dimension of successful research and scholarship. The journey through (graduate) school and beyond demands a broader set of skills: the ability to read and synthesize complex literature, communicate ideas effectively, manage time, and navigate academic careers thoughtfully.

This appendix is a small set of resources that address these important but often underdiscussed aspects of academic life. The curated materials span from seminal works that have guided multiple generations of researchers to contemporary discussions of productivity and scientific communication.

Many of these resources originated in computer science and engineering contexts, with each section focusing on a distinct aspect of academic life and presenting authoritative sources that have proven particularly valuable for graduate students and early-career researchers.

If you have suggestions or recommendations, please feel free to contact me vj[@]eecs harvard edu or issue a GitHub PR with your suggestion!

Career Advice

On Research Careers and Productivity

  1. How to Have a Bad Career in Research/Academia A humorous and insightful guide by Turing Award winner David Patterson on common pitfalls to avoid in academic research.

  2. You and Your Research A famous lecture by Richard Hamming on how to do impactful research and why some researchers excel.

  3. Ten Simple Rules for Doing Your Best Research, According to Hamming A summary and expansion on Richard Hammingโ€™s principles, providing practical and motivational guidance for researchers at all stages.

  4. The Importance of Stupidity in Scientific Research A short essay by Martin A. Schwartz on embracing the challenges of research and learning to thrive in the unknown.

  5. Advice to a Young Scientist A classic book by Peter Medawar offering practical and philosophical advice on scientific research careers.

On Reading and Learning

  1. How to Read a Paper A guide by S. Keshav on how to efficiently read and understand research papers.

  2. Efficient Reading of Papers in Science and Technology Practical advice by Michael J. Hanson for handling the large volume of research papers in technical fields.

On Time Management and Productivity

  1. Deep Work By Cal Newport, this book provides strategies for focusing deeply and maximizing productivity in cognitively demanding tasks.

  2. Applying to Ph.D. Programs in Computer Science) A guide by Mor Harchol-Balter on time management, research strategies, and thriving during a Ph.D.

  3. The Unwritten Laws of Engineering Though focused on engineering, W. J. King offers timeless advice on professionalism and effectiveness in technical work.

On Oral Presentation Advice

  1. Oral Presentation Advice A concise guide by Mark Hill on delivering clear and engaging oral presentations in academic and technical contexts.

  2. How to Give a Good Research Talk A guide by Simon Peyton Jones, John Hughes, and John Launchbury on crafting and delivering effective research presentations.

  3. Ten Simple Rules for Making Good Oral Presentations A practical set of tips published by PLOS Computational Biology for delivering impactful oral presentations.

On Writing and Communicating Science

Any suggestions?

Video Resources

  1. You and Your Research by Richard Hamming A video lecture of Richard Hammingโ€™s talk on achieving significant research contributions.

  2. How to Write a Great Research Paper Simon Peyton Jones shares tips on writing research papers and presenting ideas effectively.