Choosing and Getting the Best from your Advisor Gentian Jakllari

Choosing the Right Advisor

The First Step Identify the professors working in the area(s) of your interest Go and talk to them Take at least one class with them Is the best way for both to get to know each other You get a feeling of his working and communication style The potential advisor gets an idea of your capabilities  Very important if you are very interested in working with the specific professor and the spots in his lab are competitive

Study his Current Projects  Are they in an area current interest?  Are the projects interesting / appealing to you?  Keep in mind that just looking at their web page can be misleading So, again, go and talk to them

Look at his Recent Publication Record  You want to work with professors that are currently active in research The best indication are the publications in the last 3-4 years  A certain professor might have been very active 10 years ago and established himself but hasn’t done anything in the last 5 years He might have switched to administrative duties

Consider his Recent PhD Graduates  If the last alumni of the specific advisor’s lab have been successful, there are chances you may be too This advisor help you graduate in a reasonable time frame Looks out for you professionally  The same applies for the opposite case  Keep in mind that there are always exception At the end you make the difference I have seen students from the same professor having totally different quality PhDs and first jobs

Talk to his Students  The student working with a professor are probably in the best position to advise They can give you an insider’s perspective But be cautious Different people might have totally different perception I’ve seen cases two different students of the same advisor having totally opposite opinions

Young vs Senior Faculty  Young faculty More active and motivated Less administrative duties Less teaching Closer to our age group and therefore more fun More friendship percentage to the relation advisor- student  Senior faculty More experienced and connected More money More alumni -- has had the chance to give the world some successful PhDs  An everlasting dilemma

Managing your Advisor -1  Have a weekly meeting (very important) Sets a quick pace for your projects For the first time you will be working on long-term projects Can leads to the biggest obstacle in finishing on time-- “I can do it tomorrow” effect  Lear how to communicate, including disagreeing without making it personal

Managing your Advisor -2  Take the initiative -- the PhD is your baby Professor have many PhDs to think about and are much busier than use You need your advisor more than he needs you  Try to meet the deadlines It is important and will build the trust of your advisor in your capabilities  Try to understand his character Will help you in getting things done

Time Efficiency  Being time efficient is probably the single most important thing to succeed in research There is lots of time -- if used efficiently You can do some great research and enjoy yourself at the same time

Time Efficiency = Scheduling  Divide your long project into tasks (Divide and conquer) Literature reading, Problem definition, Solution, Implementation, Writing etc  Assign every task a deadline and fit them into your calendar/agenda Your calendar will keep all the things you have to do Dentist, class, this presentation, meetings, trips, car to fix etc…  Push your self into meeting the goals within some reasonable margin You will get more things done You will feel better -- the feeling of accomplishment

Recharging the Batteries

PhD is a Long Journey not a 100 m Sprint  “Pan metron ariston” (all things in moderation)  Body Physical activities (workout, your favorite sports…) Enough sleep  Mind Hobbies, languages, reading  Soul Friends Relationships

All Things in Moderation  You need to combine work with fun If you are happy you will produce more and better research If you are miserable you will burn-out  Try to do something outside your lab/home at least once a week  Take a break from Riverside and reward yourself after a big project deadline

Everyday Activities  Go for a coffee with a friend  Go to a nice restaurant for dinner  Go to a nice bar  Go to the movies  Go the the gym (great facility and is free)  Go skiing  Go to the beach

“Escape” Activities  Reward yourself after a big deadline  Leave the town for a week -10 days Changing place can be very “recharging” These are probably the best years to travel and see places We are lucky to live in California - make the best of it

You Can Have Great Fun while Living in Riverside  Within 1 hour drive (save money for a car!) Orange County --> for the beach lover Irvine Spectrum, Sunset Boulevard, Santa Monica Promenade --> dinning, clubbing, shopping Big Bare Lake --> winter sports Temecula --> wine testing Universal Studios, Disneyland, Seaworld Cabazon outlets --> shopping therapy within our budget

You can Have great fun while living in Riverside  Within 3-4 hours (refuge after a big deadline) Las Vegas !!! Go Crazy, it stays there Yosemite National Park Santa Barbara -- beaches and wine testing (Sideways) Central Pacific Cost -- some of the most beautiful places in the world

Conclusion  Your PhD could be the best time of your life  Efficient time management Succed at work Have fun