Pursuing Graduate School and Computer Science Research Career

1
Pursuing Graduate School and Computer Science
Research Career

• University of North Carolina Friday November 22,
  2002

2
Introductions

• Nancy Amato
• Associate Professor, Texas AM
• Ph.D. from U. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Robotics, computational geometry, parallel and
  distributed computing

3
Introductions

• Maria Ebling
• IBM Watson Research Lab
• Ph.D. from CMU
• File systems, mobile computing, OS

4
Introductions

• Michele Clark Weigle
• graduate student at UNC, Ph.D. expected in May
  2003
• Graduated from University of Louisiana at Monroe
  (formerly NLU)
• Fellowships Research Assistantship
• Networking

5
Introductions

• Kelly Ward
• 3rd year grad student at UNC
• Graduated from Trinity College
• Research Assistantship (teaching assistantship
  during the first year)
• Physically-based Modeling, computer graphics

6
Introductions

• Angela Dalton
• 1st year Ph.D. student at Duke
• B.S. in Computer Engineering from Virginia Tech
• Worked at IBM RTP before returning to grad school
• OS, Energy management

7
Introductions

• Ming Lin, moderator
• Associate Professor, UNC
• Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley
• 3D graphics for virtual environments, physically
  based modeling, robotics, applied computational
  geometry

8
Some Questions

• Why did you go to grad school?
• How do you get good letters of recommendations?
• What excites you about your research/career
  choice?
• How is the grad school experience different from
  the undergrad experience? What is it really
  about?
• Myths and Surprises about grad school.
• How to prepare? Finding out if you like
  research.
• Advice on applying. Ph.D. or MS.?
• Funding Teaching- vs. Research- assistantship.
• How and where to apply for fellowships?

9
More Questions

• Biggest challenges? How to handle problems? Tips
  for staying in grad school when it gets hard.
• How did you choose your research advisor? What
  kind of support do you expect from your advisor?
  What does your advisor expect from you?
• How did you decide on your research interests and
  specific topic (dissertation research) area(s)?
• What are some career options in computing?
  Academia vs. industry research vs. development.
  Any tips on applying for jobs and interview?

10
Resources

• Graduate School Information brochure
  http//cra.org/Activities/craw/
• Advice for undergraduates considering graduate
  school http//www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds3-4/grad
  school.html
• How to succeed in graduate school
  http//www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.html
  http//www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-3/advice2.htm
  l
• Choosing a ph.d. program in computer science
  http//www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds6-1/choosing.htm
  l

11
Feedback

• Please fill out Exit Survey before you leave.
• More comments on how to improve this panel after
  you leave are also welcome carla_at_cs.duke.edu