The document discusses several aspects of research including: 1) Research requires an environment that allows people to brainstorm ideas that may fail without punishment in order to discover breakthroughs, as exemplified by Thomas Edison's many experiments. 2) True research involves interpretation and forming an opinion to establish the nature of an experiment, with basic research driven by curiosity to expand knowledge and applied research aimed at solving practical problems. 3) Characteristics of great researchers include curiosity, integrity, organization, and strong communication skills.

1. +
Research Challenges – Am I
Doing The “Real” Research?
Dr. Mazlan Abbas

2. +
The notion that geniuses go away
and think up one great idea is
absurd.
n
Remember that Thomas Edison was famous for running
thousands of experiments of his ideas before he and his
team came up with a working light bulb.
n
Therefore, you need to create an environment where
people are given the opportunity to:
n
Brainstorm, vet, champion ideas and projects that may fail
and yet not punish them for failing.

3. Research
Challenges

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Research “Misunderstanding”
n
How Long Does It Take?
n
What’s the Difference Between Masters and PhD?
n
Why Problem Definition Takes A Long Time?
n
How Do We Manage Researchers?
n
Why “Research” Approach is Different From
“Development”?
n
What are the characteristics of a Good Researcher?

5. +
Scientific Definition of
“Research”
n
The strict definition of scientific research is performing a methodical
study in order to prove a hypothesis or answer a specific question.
n
Finding a definitive answer is the central goal of any experimental
process.
n
Research must be systematic and follow a series of steps and a rigid
standard protocol. These rules are broadly similar but may vary
slightly between the different fields of science.
n
Scientific research must be organized and undergo planning,
including performing literature reviews of past research and
evaluating what questions need to be answered.
n
Any type of ‘real’ research, whether scientific, economic or
historical, requires some kind of interpretation and an opinion from
the researcher. This opinion is the underlying principle, or question,
that establishes the nature and type of experiment.

6. +
What is BASIC Research?
•
Basic research also known as fundamental or
pure research is driven by a scientist’s curiosity
or interest in a question. The main motivation of
this type of research is:• To expand man’s knowledge of the world
and not to invent or create something new.
• There is no obvious commercial value in
research of this type.

7. +
What is BASIC Research?
n
Basic science research includes answers to such questions
as:
•
•
How did the universe begin?
How has man evolved over time?
•
How does genetic code determine who we are?
What is the specific genetic code of an earth worm?
•
What are protons, neutrons and electrons made of?
•

8. +
What is APPLIED Research?
Applied research is designed to the practical
problems that exist in the modern world, rather
than to just acquire knowledge for knowledge’s
sake. One main goal of applied science is to
improve human conditions and make the world a
better place.

9. +
What is APPLIED Research?
Applied science may investigate ways to:
•
improve agricultural crop production
•
get better network throughput
•
find alternative routing solutions
•
treat or cure a specific disease
•
improve the energy efficiency of homes

10. What’s the Difference
Between Degree,
Masters and PhD’s
Work?
[Source: “The Illustrated Guide to a PhD” by Matt Might]

11. Imagine a circle that contains all of human knowledge:

12. By the time you finish elementary school, you know a little:

13. By the time you finish high school, you know a bit more:

14. With a bachelor's degree, you gain a specialty:

15. A master's degree deepens that specialty:

16. Reading research papers takes you to the edge of human knowledge:

17. Once you're at the boundary, you focus:

18. You push at the boundary for a few years:

19. Until one day, the boundary gives way:

20. And, that dent you've made is called a Ph.D.:

21. Of course, the world looks different to you now:

22. So, don't forget the bigger picture:

23. Activity
Detail Tasks
Timeframe
Establish
Context
Literature Review
Problem Definition
Scope of Research
3-6 months
(MSc-PhD)
Select &
Design
Methods
Mathematical Modeling
Simulation
Experimental
3-6 months
Undertake
Research
New mathematical theory
New programming language
New simulation tool
Acquisition and trials test-bed
3-6 months
Analysis &
Validation
Testing of Model
6-12 months
Create Output
Thesis
Technical report
3-6 months
Review &
Evaluate
Publication
Conference
VIVA
< 3 months
Note: On average = Masters (2 years to complete) and PhD (3-6 years to complete)

24. How To Choose a
Good Scientific
Problem?
[Excerpts from the Article “How To Choose a Good Scientific Problem” by Uri Alon]

25. Choosing good problem is essential for
being a good researcher.
But what is a good problem, and how
do you choose one?

26. +
The Feasibility-Interest Diagram
for Choosing a Project

27. +
The Feasibility-Interest Diagram
for Choosing a Project

28. +
Take Your Time
•
A common mistake made in choosing problems is taking
the first problem that comes to mind.
•
Since a typical project takes years even it if seems
doable in months, rapid choice leads to much frustration
and bitterness in our profession.
•
It takes time to find a good problem, and every week
spent in choosing one can save months or years later on.

29. +
Take Your Time
In my lab, we have a rule for new students and postdocs:
Do not commit to a problem before 3 months have elapsed.
In these 3 months the new student or postdoc reads,
discusses, and plans.
The state of mind is focused on being rather than doing.
The temptation to start working arises, but a rule is a rule.
After 3 months (or more), a celebration marks the beginning
of the research phase—with a well-planned project.
Taking time is not always easy. One must be supported to
resist the urge: ‘‘Oh, we must produce—let’s not waste time,
and start working.’’

30. +
The Subjectivity of the Interest
Axis
•
Who decides how to rank the interest of problems?
•
One of the fundamental aspects of science is that the
interest of a problem is subjective and personal.
•
The inner voice can be strengthened and guided if one
is lucky enough to have caring mentors.
•
A scientist often needs a supportive environment to
begin to listen to this voice.

31. +
The Subjectivity of the Interest
Axis
n
Good test:
n
One way to help listening to the inner voice is to ask: ‘‘If I was
the only person on earth, which of these problems would I
work on?’’ An honest answer can help minimize compromises.
n
Another good sign of the inner voice are ideas and
questions that come back again and again to your mind
for months or years.
n
Another good test:
n
n
When asked to describe our research to an acquaintance,
how does it feel to describe each project?
In science, the more you interest yourself, the larger the
probability that you will interest your audience.

32. +
The Objective and Nurturing
Schemas of Research
The mentors’ task is to support students through the cloud that seems to
guard the entry into the unknown. And, with this schema, we have more
space to see that problem C exists and may be more worthwhile than
continuing to plod toward B.
“Sailing into the unknown again and again takes courage”

33. +
IP Landscape Using Thomson
Innovation Tool

34. Research
Approaches
(1) Mathematical
Modeling
(2) Simulation
(3) Experimental

35. Mathematical Modeling
Fast, easily define upper and lower bound
Complex mathematics, need programming

36. Network Model
Simulation
Scalable, Flexible
Assumptions must be
accurate
Time consuming
Either self-programming
or using simulation tool
Expensive (?)
Traffic Model
Performance Results
Algorithm
Packet Scheduling Model

37. Experimental
Accurate, real results
Time consuming, expensive, not scalable

38. Intellectual Properties
(IPs)
Architecture / Systems / Methods
Is it Worth A
Masters or PhD

39. +
Why Do We Need Degree,
Masters and PhD Interns?
Support testbed setup
Simple experiment and Data Collection
Some simple application programming
Degree
Support experimental work (advanced)
Simulation to proof the concept/ideas
Masters
Mathematical modeling
Develop Simulation model
Co-generate and test new ideas
PhD

40. How Do We Manage
Researchers?

41. +
Researchers Expectations
Breathing space
•
•
Need time to think to be creative.
Always “Fresh” in new research area
•
•
Knowledge always starts anew in every project.
Killing Knowledge
•
•
We can kill a Product or Project but be careful in
killing a “Research” since it will “wipe out”
knowledge.
Quest for Knowledge
•
•
Never ending journey to the Frontiers of Knowledge
Finding new challenges
•
Recognition in their area of expertise
•

42. Failure doesn't mean you are a failure... it
just means you haven't succeeded yet

43. Light At the End of The Tunnel
PhD is not all about the novelty achieved but it’s the
Systematic Process of Doing Research that’s the utmost
important.
“Research” Working with the “Unknown”
“Development” Working with “Known”

44. Researchers’ Challenges
(But who appreciates people working with the Unknown?)

45. +
Valley of Appreciation
Viewing Angle
Application Layer
Presentation Layer
Session Layer
Transport Layer
Network Layer
Data Link Layer
Physical Layer

46. How Deep to Explore?
“Breadth” or “Depth” of Research

47. To Go Deeper … You Need a Platform

48. Cave Explorer
Explorer’s Risk

49. Do We Reward the “Cave Explorer”?
Unstoppable Effort
Taking High Risks
Venture in to
Unknown

50. One More Thing

51. +
Research to Development Value
Chain
Stage
Activities ~ %
S
R
100
0
Applied
Research
AR
80
20
Advanced
Technolog
y
Product
Development
AT
50
50
PD
10
90
Maintenance
M
0
100
Development
(D)
Risk increases
Research
E

52. +
Summary - Characteristics of
Great Researchers
Curiosity
Integrity
Characteristics
of Great
Researchers
Organization
Communication

53. +
THANK YOU
EMAIL: mazlan@gmail.com
TWITTER: mazlan_abbas
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/drmazlanabbas
LINKEDIN: my.linkedin.com/in/mazlan/
SLIDESHARE: www.slideshare.net/mazlan1