The new PhD student after a great big reset of 2020
Back in 2008 while a PhD student , the "2008 crises" happened , and also in academia in a always fearful Portugal. Back then one of the top most concerns was towards technology fears ... misconceptions and incorrect understandings of what is private. Or what is secret. While a PhD student , I was asked by my supervisors Miguel Ferreira and Joost Gulikers to elaborate a "planning" of expected tasks and possible outcomes in terms of experimental results. This was a novelty* back then, the requirement to elaborate a in depth and detailed MS project , Gantt like project plan. So I did. And without exceeding the number of acceptable meetings among us 3.
When I began, moving my mind to what was written on paper and previously agreed, I found the need to make prototypes of it. Samples/specimens. Experimental setup. All in a relaxed and #fun way to feel the #text in literature. With the lowest expectations and with no immediate final outcome from that. To me, even today, makes more sense to take the experiment to the limit, in safety, but to its limits. And many times this means breaking something in the process, so good #fixing and #mending skills are a requirement.
During that initial "experiment prototyping" is important to not take it "seriously" , what is important is to be creative and for that is important to do things in a relaxed environment , in a #fun environment. Preferably while brainstorming with others nearby.
During this initial process is normal to setup experiments in the laboratory, that others may find odd , may find strange or even have a laugh about it. Something a researcher needs to learn how to handle while on his PhD path without losing the #fun of it.
Only when that prototyping stage is done, i advise one to sit in front of a computer in an office to google what is needed to be searched on the web. This was 2008. The 2022 reality is much , much different. In 2022 for anyone get the best search results first needs to do some searching , wait for the AI algorithm to digest the new "user preferences" and 24h later (or so), repeat the searching process. In 2022, the reality is now "5G" with #live data and #contents being valued more over the more traditional methodologies. and this means the smartphone and a tablet are now minimum requirements in a laboratory with a photonic always on internet connectivity. This will also means lots of excel and word templates and defiantly means usage of machine learning data mining techniques. Finally, it also means the possibility of artificial intelligence technologies on a researcher's findings.
Today is Monday, it’s raining and is cold outside. Still, don’t forget a long walk in a nearby park. With warm cloths. To relearn what is nature, in particular, to remember how rain falls and how rain water droop feel in your face…and how different is from YouTube relaxation videos!
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this short essay took me approx.. 45min do write.
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