1. Grad Student Perspective
Michael Gollner
mgollner@umd.edu
All images respectfully borrowed from
phdcomics.com, much thanks to Jorge Cham for creating
them all.

3. • Coffee
– Best coffee* is right next door – near “The Bear” (CUPS)
– Late night coffee can be found at Earl’s place in Warren College or
Sunshine Market
• Parking at UCSD
– Don’t do it! (if you can avoid it)
– Bike (UCSD Pedal Club) or Bus (routes are online)
• Parking/Driving/Biking Rules
– Obey them – they love to give tickets
– Stop at stop signs, don’t wear headphones, etc…
– Be careful! Cars don’t look for pedestrians or cyclists**
* In my personal opinion
** In my personal EXPERIENCE

4.  Where to Study?
 Office – good if you’re given one (Mostly PhD Students)
 Lab – Good luck
 Coffee Shop – My favorite
 Home – Try to separate work and home life… But I haven’t succeeded
yet.
 Library – It used to be open late, but great place to work with a group.
 Computer Help?
 For Research/Lab needs: maehelp.ucsd.edu – submit a request
 For everything else, ACS (acs.ucsd.edu) has a help desk
 Protected wireless is a pain for everyone…
 Ask lab/department for printing access if available…

5. • Relaxing, Having Fun, Having a life?
• Sport Clubs, outback adventures, etc.
• Most clubs/opportunities open to grads too
• Also many great resources – Career center, Center for
Teaching Development, etc.

6. • YES
– Department Qualifying Exam – PhD
– Masters Exit Exam
– Or Defend Masters Thesis
• Masters Comp. & PhD DQE Exam Advice
– Choose professors who taught your courses on the subjects you know
well – not who you think might be easiest! (you can be surprised)
– Ask what they want you to know for the exam
Don’t forget to take care of yourself while studying!
(eat/sleep/exercise)… you will pay for it later if you don’t

7. • 1 year Coursework/Comp. Exam Masters
– Best option if your goal is to leave with a masters
• 1-2 year Thesis Masters
– Best if you are undecided about doing a PhD
– It is better to spend 1 year sampling a life of
scientific research and leave for a job then spend
4-7 years miserable in a PhD program.
• Switching from Masters to PhD
– Sometimes happens, usually doesn’t

9. • Picking an adviser
– What is the research field YOU are interested, what are
your potential advisers – do they match?
– Ask Around
– READ some of your adviser’s previous work BEFORE talking
to them. Professors are busy, prove to them that you have
worked hard first and will work hard with them.

10. • Librarians – by email (scilib@ucsd.edu) or in person – very
helpful and can find things that you can’t.
• Avanti – Free article delivery from the library
(libraries.ucsd.edu)

11.  Research is an iterative process.
 Expect ups and downs, but if you keep at it you will get there!
 One of the most important skills you will learn is WRITING!
 Use LaTeX and…
 PRACTICE
 PRACTICE
 PRACTICE
 LaTeX is most important if you want to write a THESIS!

12. • Very rewarding and very time consuming
• It is VERY HARD to get a TA position now.
• If you’re looking for a position, the best way is to do well in
professor’s courses or work with them
• Talking to professors you do not know in advance of
applications won’t help much.(Still apply too!)
• Ask past TA’s for help on how to be more productive!

13. • YES!
• NSF GRFP, NDSEG, DOE, SMART, etc.
• http://graduatefunding.ucsd.edu/

14. • Maintain a decent GPA but realize research is
what really matters.

15. • I’ve lost days/weeks of time looking for things
• Organize papers, data, and everything else!
• Dropbox, Mendeley, Again

16. • Yes/no/kind of?
• Always talk to your adviser, everyone’s rules
are different
– Just don’t assume you do or don’t.
– Most value the work you produce, not the
number of hours you’re in the lab/office.

17. • David Allen’s “Getting Things Done”
• Google Tasks, Remember the Milk, etc.

19. • Keep your motivation high
– Don’t overwork, pursue things that interest you
• Don’t be afraid to find your own path
– Again, pursue things that interest you (within reason and with the
advisor’s approval)
• Protect your time
– Outreach, teaching and other projects are a necessity for
academia, but should never be the majority of your time, that’s for
research.
We all go through
this at some
point!

20. I will post this on my website:
http://www.gollnerfire.com

21. • Know when to “pull the plug” and publish and/or
graduate
• Keep communicating with your adviser. Don’t hide if
you’re stuck. They might be able to help!