1. Building a Research Career
Daniela Stan
Associate Professor
Intelligent Multimedia Processing (IMP) Laboratory
School of Computer Science, Telecommunications, and Information Systems
DePaul University
June 16th, 2008

2. Why should I go to graduate school?
“The joy of research must be found in doing because every other harvest is uncertain.” [T. Smith]
New way of thinking
Be on the cutting-edge technology
Be a member in a community of scholars and innovators
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

3. Why should I go to graduate school?
More opportunities (academic and industry)
Higher salary
Travel the world
Be your own boss
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

4. Characteristics of a good graduate student
Curious about the whys and hows of things
Persevering in your approach
An independent thinker and worker
Creative
Disciplined and focused when you need to be
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

5. Graduate School Preparation
Maintain high scholastic achievements
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
Undergraduate research
Recommendation letters
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

6. Graduate School Preparation
Master versus Ph.D.
Tentative graduate research area
Investigate various graduate programs
Apply to graduate school
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

7. Graduate School Plan of work & Course work
Choose a research topic & an advisor/mentor
Proficiency/Qualifying exam
Prospectus
Dissertation
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

8. Choosing a research topic and advisor
“If you want to make important discoveries, work on important problems.” [P.B. Medawar]
Work on important problems
Don’t start from “scratch”
Know the literature
Choose a ‘tough’ advisor
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

9. Related Activities Conferences Journals Seminar talks Internships
Teaching
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

10. What is next? Academic career Industrial career Postdoc MBA 11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

11. Academic Career Lecturer Visiting Professor Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor
Adjunct Faculty/Researcher
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

12. Tips and Recommendations
Be consistent
Participate in on-line group discussions
Collaboration
Be aware of the state of the art
Work on “hot” topics
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

13. Tips and Recommendations
Be a member of professional engineering societies
Be a good colleague
Celebrate your accomplishments
Follow your heart
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu

14. Daniela Stan DePaul University THE END!
11/10/2018
MedIX Program, D. Raicu