Posted on: April 5, 2017 Posted by: Tom D Comments: 0

The recommendations below are addressed to students and can be useful at all stages of studying, from the choice of the supervisor to the preparation of the final work.

First steps

Working with the supervisor usually begins by solving several test problems and/or reading several articles on the topic of future research. Then you will be given the main task, which in the future should grow into the theme of the final work. After receiving the next assignment, do not hesitate to ask for additional explanations. Much worse, if you are dug for a long time to disappear, so nothing is done.

Usually, the tutor expects certain results by certain dates. If you cope with the first task quickly, then you get a complication, then the next, and by the end of your studies, you have tangible results.

If the student starts working on the research paper at the end of the semester (year, the last year) and begins to solve the initially simple task, then the work is too simple and nobody needs it. It’s almost impossible to do something worthwhile in a couple of weeks.

You should be engaged constantly. Good ideas appear as a result of repeated joint discussions, and not immediately after you think about it. It takes the time to understand the reasons for the failures of the first experiments, to come up with a better algorithm, to understand something and prove its properties. Therefore, a good research paper can be prepared objectively only within a couple of semesters.

Do it yourself

Your tutor has the right to be busy, with little time to read the text sent by you, once again postpone the meeting for a week later, and provide other signs of inattention. This is normal. Spend the time to understand what to do next or do self-education. No one will give the student a topic on which there is not a single publication in the world.

Do not forget about the search Google, Google Scholar, arXiv, CiteSeer, Sci-Hub. The name of the theory, or algorithm, or formulas that you have discussed with the tutor are already keywords for searching. Find the sites of top scientific conferences in your area and find out what problems the scientific community is currently engaged in.

Be prepared for the fact that even a superficial acquaintance will take a lot of time, and much will not be clear. But you will have the right questions. Unearth the latest work on your topic, it’s an easy way to show your interest and attract the attention of the scientific tutor.

Make mistakes

Do not be afraid to make mistakes. You are learning to create a complicated thing, so no one will judge you if it does not happen all at once. Remember that the scientific community values ​​creativity, hard work and a desire for knowledge. It is generally very democratic and very benevolent. If your supervisor is not that type of a person, ask for a change. The psychological discomfort of communication for some people turns out to be a strong demotivator and a break in the work.

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