Choosing and Getting the Best from your Advisor

1. Gentian Jakllari Choosing and Getting the Best from your Advisor

2. Choosing the Right Advisor

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 Young vs Senior Faculty • An everlasting dilemma

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Recharging the Batteries

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. “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

18. 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

19. 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

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