Ph'D' in Informatics

1
Ph.D. in Informatics

• Dept. of Mathematics - Computer Science
• University of Antwerp - Belgium
• October 2008

2
Science vs. Engineering
All science is either physics or stamp collecting
(E. Rutherford)
We study human artefacts
Computer science is no more about computers than
astronomy is about telescopes. (E. Dijkstra)
Computer science
Computer engineering
Informatics
3
What is a Ph.D. ?

• The candidate has to prove that he or she is able
  to autonomously carry out original scientific
  research and to report on this both in writing
  and in speaking.(Regulations and administrative
  procedure for obtaining the academic degree of
  doctor at the UA)
• ORIGINAL
• SCIENTIFIC
• AUTONOMOUSLY
• REPORTING

4
Profile of a PhD student (1/2)

• ORIGINAL
• 2 of inspiration, 98 of transpiration
• convince an international jury
• SCIENTIFIC
• I.e. using the Scientific method
• collection of data through observation and
  experimentation, and the formulation and testing
  of hypotheses. (wikipedia)
• Thinking
• Analytically (focus on detail, whole gt sum of
  parts)
• Critically (no beliefs)
• Constructively (solution oriented)

5
Profile of a PhD student (2/2)

• AUTONOMOUSLY
• You take the initiative
• Plan the work and work the plan
• Very difficult due to high degree of uncertainty
• a Ph.d. is a permanent state of identity crisis
• REPORTING
• Very good writing skills
• Reasonably good presentation skills
• Elevator pitch, 20 minute scientific
  presentations
• 45 minute ph.d. presentation
• Scientific publications
• Papers and presentations at workshops
  conferences
• Papers in journals

6
Why a Ph.D. ?

• A ph.d. is not a goal in itself
• but a means to achieve a goal for your life
• Whats you ambition ?
• Pursuing knowledge
• International community
• Obtaining self-confidence
• Contributing to mankind
• Have fun !

7
Career Paths

• Academic
• Ph.d. student
• Post-doc
• Professor
• Requires mobility !

• Industry
• Ph.d. student
• (post-doc)
• RD department
• Architect
• Not easy to convince HR department
• But feasable

8
Research Spectrum

• IWT EU Basic Research
• Research grants(pre-doc, post-doc)
• SBO, GBOU,

• Industrial R D
• Direct sponsoring

• FWO BELSPO
• Research grants(pre-doc, post-doc)
• Research projects
• UNIVERSITY
• Teaching assistants
• (Back-up) grants

• IWT EU R D
• Industrial ResearchSME program !
• Eureka (European)

FUNDAMENTAL
APPLIED
9
Grants

• FWO-grant
• Aspirant
• For the best
• Highest distinction
• Purely written procedure
• Submit grant-propsal february, 1rst
• Start 1rst of october

• IWT-grant
• Specialisatiebeurs
• For the rest
• Good study-results
• Defend for a jury
• Submit grant-proposal september 15th
• Start 1rst of januaryor 1rst of october
• Back-up funding needed

University of Antwerp provides back-up grants !
10
Official Status

• Scholar
• You are a student
• 2 for the price of 1 !
• Pension, health insurance, is covered
• No taxes
• Holiday as you please

• Employee
• You are an employee
• More expensive
• After 6 months of service you cannot go back to
  Scholar
• Taxes
• Official holiday rules

11
Options within FOTS/LORE

• MoVES
• National research network
• Models !!
• MDE
• Mining software repositories
• Refactoring, restructuring,
• FWO project
• Modelling of user-interfaces
• Modelling of embedded systems (MPoCs)
• Aspect-oriented development

• Industrial Sponsors
• Alcatel
• Tooling (fetch)
• 4dvision.be
• Rearchitect code generation tool