Finding a Research Topic
Anirban Banerjee and Michalis Faloutsos,
Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
University of California at Riverside
April 12, 2006
Problem Addressed
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How to identify a research area that is both
interesting and exciting for you.
April 12, 2006
Outline
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Problem addressed
The “Right” Research Topic
Identifying your Preferences
Interacting with people
Recap
April 12, 2006
The “Right” Research Topic
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A field that compliments
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Your personal preferences.
Your technical strengths.
The professional profile which you foresee for
yourself after your PhD.
Makes you feel like waking up each morning
and getting to work as soon as possible.
April 12, 2006
Characteristics of the “Right”
Research Topic
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Interesting for you
Well specified
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Can you explain it in 3 lines, 1 paragraph, 1 page?
Scope for your contribution
Ask What needs to be done, not what can I do
Will people care?
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Do your best, and people usually start to notice.
April 12, 2006
Outline
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Problem addressed
The “Right” Research Topic
Identifying your Preferences
Interacting with people
Recap
April 12, 2006
Identifying your Preferences
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Are you interested in Theory or
Implementation, perhaps visionary work?
Expand your horizons
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Take courses to get an idea of different areas
Take up projects
Read Tech. Journals and articles
April 12, 2006
Identifying your Preferences
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Out of all the choices
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Which one gets you most interested
Which one seems to be “cool” to you
Read more on that area
You will finally identify your area of choice.
April 12, 2006
Doing research is a Continuous
Process
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Cycles of expanding and focus
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From a boring/done topic -> new dimensions
A balance between in trying an idea/direction
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Try to narrow things down in each cycle
Giving up too easily
Persisting on a dead-end
Tip: often you can apply your current skills to
a new problem formulation
April 12, 2006
Optimistic view
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Good things happen to people that try
However, keep your ears open
Take advantage of opportunities
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Establish collaborations with people
See what industry wants (internships)
April 12, 2006
Outline
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Problem addressed
The “Right” Research Topic
Identifying your Preferences
Interacting with people
Recap
April 12, 2006
Interacting with people
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There is no substitute to interacting with
people.
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Talk to your advisor.
Talk to fellow students
Talk with people who are actively working in
your area of interest
Talk to few professors in other research areas
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Sometimes a completely different viewpoint is helpful
April 12, 2006
Caution
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Listen to and consider what people say
Don’t change topics every time you talk to
someone
April 12, 2006
Outline
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Problem addressed
The “Right” Research Topic
Identifying your Preferences
Interacting with people
Conclusion
April 12, 2006
Outline
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Problem addressed
The “Right” Research Topic
Identifying your Preferences
Interacting with people
Conclusion
April 12, 2006
Conclusion
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Be positive and proactive.
Repeat cycle to select your topic your interest.
Talk to advisor, students and people working
in your area of interest.
You must be persistent and finally commit at
some point.
Just keep in mind: There is no magic recipe.
April 12, 2006
Good Luck!
April 12, 2006