Nitin Madnani shares personal experiences and lessons from his nomadic academic journey, emphasizing the significance of pursuing a PhD and the preparation involved. He discusses the pros and cons of doctoral studies, providing insights into effective application strategies and the value of original research. The talk encourages prospective students to reflect thoughtfully on their decisions regarding graduate school and to seek guidance when necessary.

1. Tales & Lessons from a Nomadic Academic LifeNitinMadnaniResearch Associate & Ph.D. StudentInstitute for Advanced Computer StudiesUniversity of Maryland, College Park (UMCP)http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~nmadnani/

2. Why am I giving this talk?I made many mistakes during my academic journey [as you will see]I want you to learn the same lessons I learned from my mistakes without making them againI like the sound of my own voice

3. What is this talk about?My nomadic academic life Where I amHow I (finally) got thereYour (hopefully non-nomadic) academic lifeYou should think about a PhDYou SHOULD THINK about a PhD!You thought about it. Now what?Things to do BEFORE applying for a PhDThings NOT TO DO when applying for a PhDTALESLESSONS

4. Where I AmPhD [expected May 2010]Top 10 CS program @ UMCP4.0/4.0 GPAGraduate Research Assistant for entire duration [$23000/yr]Publications15 papers in peer-reviewed conferences and workshops5 papers in refereed journalsWorking on a book chapterInterned with IBM Research, New YorkAdjunct lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and College of Information Studies @ UMCP. Taught/teaching courses on Statistical Natural Language Processing and Cloud Computing to first year graduate studentsCollaborating with researchers in Germany, India, Scotland and ChinaPrimary/Core Developer for 4 open source projects including the very popular Natural Language Toolkit (http://www.nltk.org)

5. How I Got HereReturned to India for personal reasons (Oct 2000)Graduated from PEC (2000)Joined UMCP as MSEE student (Aug 2000)Recd. GRA offer from Computer Engg. @ UMCP(May 2001)Wrote MBA exams in India(Nov ‘00 – Feb’01)Cleared NITIE & XLRI(Apr 2001)Re-joined UMCP as MSCE student and GRA(Aug 2001)Took elective “Intro to Computational Linguistics” (Jan 2003)Offered Internship with Computational Linguistics Lab(Jun-Dec 2003)Offered a fully-funded PhD position in Department of Computer Science by Prof. Bonnie Dorr (my current advisor) (Jan 2004)Graduated with MS in Computer Engg.(Dec 2003)Got my first CS journal paper published as a co-author(Dec 2003)

6. How I Got HereReturned to India for personal reasons (Oct 2000)Graduated from PEC (2000)Joined UMCP as MSEE student (Aug 2000)I think the term ‘Nomadic’ describes this picture pretty well!Recd. GRA offer from Computer Engg. @ UMCP(May 2001)Wrote MBA exams in India(Nov ‘00 – Feb’01)Cleared NITIE & XLRI(Apr 2001)Re-joined UMCP as MSCE student and GRA(Aug 2001)Took elective “Intro to Computational Linguistics” (Jan 2003)Offered Internship with Computational Linguistics Lab(Jun-Dec 2003)Offered a fully-funded PhD position in Department of Computer Science by Computational Linguistics Professor (my current advisor) (Jan. 2004)Graduated with MS in Computer Engg.(Dec. 2003)Got my first CS journal paper published as a co-author(Dec. 2003)

7. Now on to the lessons …Questions welcome!

8. Lesson #1Think about doing a PhD

9. Why do a PhD?You contribute something absolutely new to the body of world knowledgeYou get to shape the next generation of engineers and scientistsYou will actually understand the scientific process and can use it to evaluate the scientific merit of any argument in any disciplineYou can affect someone’s life in a positive way as a teacher and mentorYour family and friends will give you the respect you deservePeople will regularly google your name‘Dr. NitinMadnani’ instead of ‘Mr. NitinMadnani’ everywhereYou can be really, really famous if you do good researchYou get to give cool talks like this oneThe politically correct reasonsThe reasons you really care about

10. Lesson #2THINK about doing a PhD!

11. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #1: TimeReason #2: EmploymentReason #3: SalariesReason #4: Research

12. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #1: TIMESource: National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates for 2003http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf06312/

13. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #1: TIMEMedian CS PhD awardee age is 31.4and Engg. PhD awardee age is 30.5Source: National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates for 2008http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10309/

14. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #2: EmploymentSource: PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1056

15. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #2: EmploymentSource: PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=679

16. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #3: SalariesSource: National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates for 2008http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10309/

17. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #3: Salaries+6 years+6 years+9 years (also starting salary cap for most industry jobs)+7 years+8 yearsSources: College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Survey, American Association of University Professors Survey, Chronicle of Higher Education Surveyof Graduate Assistants

18. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #3: SalariesDo an MBA if you just want to earn money!+6 years+9 years+7 years+8 yearsPhD = Comfort [+Contentment + Happiness]Sources: College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Survey, American Association of University Professors Survey, Chronicle of Higher Education Surveyof Graduate Assistants

19. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

20. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

21. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

22. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

23. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

24. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

25. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

26. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

27. Why NOT do a PhD?Reason #4: Researchwhile (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; }}“THE BIG UNKNOWN”Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

28. On a more serious note …The point of the last few slides was to present the pros and cons of choosing to do a PhDThey should inspire thought, not fearConsider all aspects before you decide whether to embark on a PhDAll of the reasons not to do a PhD can be overcome (Exhibit A: ME!)Conclusion: A PhD from the US is one of the best learning and rewarding experiences in the world if you make an informed choice to pursue it!

29. Lesson #3Preparing for a PhDPart 1: Prepare yourselfPart 2: Prepare your application

30. Prepare YourselfDevelop a research-driven mindsetUnderstand the problem/topicExplore existing solutions/trendsUse all available resources (esp. the library)Knowledge also lives beyond the textbook and the class notes“A well-understood wrong answer is probably more useful than a misunderstood right answer”

31. Prepare YourselfDevelop technical paper comprehension/writing skillsA well presented argument is inherently more convincingDevelop a habit of reading published journal/conference/workshop papers esp. in the 3rd and 4th years [Use: Google Scholar/Arxiv/CiteSeer]Example: when learning about “superscalar processors” in CS 308, it will be instructive to read (a) the 1967 paper† on Tomasulo’s algorithm (a strong precursor of superscalar) and (b) Smith and Sohi’s 1995 paper‡ on superscalar microarchitecture [both freely available]Start with papers on well-established research ideasOK if you don’t understand everything. Important to understand how scientific arguments are constructed and presented.†“The Microarchitecture of Superscalar Processors”. James E Smith and GurinderSohi. Proceedings of the IEEE. (1995)‡“An Efficient Algorithm for Exploiting Multiple Arithmetic Units”. R. M. Tomasulo. IBM Journal of Research and Development. (1967).

32. Prepare YourselfDevelop technical paper comprehension/writing skillsLearn LaTeX†. DO NOT use Microsoft Word for technical writing unless absolutely necessary!Try to submit any original research to good peer-reviewed workshops and conferences It’s okay to get rejected. Learn from the reviews and improve both your writing and the research ideaTreat class assignment write-ups as example workshop papers, given the professor’s permission†http://www.latex-project.org/

33. Prepare YourselfLearn to value originality and intellectual propertyOriginal ideas are the cornerstones of scientific progress and must be respected!Make a conscious effort to look for prior work similar to yoursYou MUST learn to cite and attribute everything that you borrow from other sources [See my slides]Wheels should not be reinvented just for an assignment or a project

34. Prepare YourselfMy strong suggestion: a less glamorous but much better long-term option!Consider doing a Masters degree from India before the PhD [What I should have done]Should go a long way towards inculcating the three points I describedWill drastically increase the odds of getting admitted and---more importantly---getting fundedOnly institutions with well-known, research-oriented Masters. Examples: IITD, IITK, IITB, IIIT-Hyd, IIIT-Blore & IISc

35. Prepare Your ApplicationGRE/AcademicsYou guys are already smart enough to handleboth of these aspects!For some of my thoughts and suggestions ontaking/preparing for the GRE, please see:http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~nmadnani/grefaq.pdf

36. Prepare Your ApplicationChoose your PhD area wiselyI thought I liked Control Systems enough to do research in it. I was wrong.Make sure you really like the field you think you likeI have already told you two ways to do this:Read papers from your chosen area to get a taste of what research in that area entailsA pre-PhD Masters from India is a good (and cheap) way to validate your choice

37. Prepare Your ApplicationPut lots of thought into the Statement of Research/Statement of Purpose (SoP)I polled 10 CS professors in 3 universities on SoPs they receive from India (for both MS and PhD)Reactions almost universally negativeReads like bad fiction (“I knew I was destined to become an Electrical Engineer ever since I touched a live wire and lived …”)It’s not supposed to be your life story!Why research? Why this area? Why this university?See my point about a pre-PhD Masters

38. Prepare Your ApplicationBuild a web presenceCreate and maintain an academic web pageNo flash! No weird music! No animation!Feel free to steal the design of my webpageAlways have the latest PDF version of your resume linked to from that pageUse official web space; otherwise Google SitesPut up all published papers

39. Prepare Your ApplicationLeverage community resourcesParticipate in community forums dedicated to higher education in the USBest example: Edulix.com. Well organized and very popular forums with lots of good adviceFind other avenues on the webShare the knowledge!

40. Prepare Your ApplicationAsk for helpDo not hesitate to ask PEC alumni [incl. me] for advice and suggestionsYou can also write to existing students at a particular universityIt’s okay to write to professors to express interest in doing research with them but look at their webpage first. They may ask for specific format or to be left alone!Phrase the email properly. Include all relevant details depending on the recipient.Do not expect replies from everyone … esp. professors!Do not spam anyone ... esp. professors!

41. SummaryThis talk is meant to be both informative and transformativeGOAL: Think hard before you apply for graduate school!Feel free to contact me†. I try to help as many people as I can esp. Pecobians.Consider getting a Masters degree from India if there are some good options availableA PhD is not for everyone but it is for anyone!†nmadnani@gmail.com

42. Thank you!Questions?Happy to chat individually with students as well!Slides from this talk are available at:http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~nmadnani/pectalk.pdf