Doctoral degrees: The disposable academic - Why a PhD is a waste of time

[KRAIT]

Dil Pey Mat ley yaar
But i would have preferred if you would have done Phd in some technology after your Engg.
Can you explain me as to where your Phd would be applied??

I worked on role of technology in controlling social crimes in a region.

Now let me tell you, the mathematical models we make help the survey collectors and statisticians working for State and Center Department to use them and estimate the effect of various variables and parameters.

Using that, they determine where more stress should be made and areas to be focused to have maximum change with limited resources.

Met a person in Gwalior who was working on Dengue Fever spread in Delhi. He said they have all the data and lab work done. It was more than 5 Crore project by Delhi GOvernment. He asked my professor to help him give a good, more precise mathematical model.

It also helps in calculating cost to implement a strategy and predicting the extent of damage and effect of the strategies used over the period of time.

I repeat same examples so that people can read at least those ones.

And I am talking of people who have been advisers of Central Bodies, state and central government.

You talk about extremism and terrorism. I can tell you how to model it and what are the various factors we ignore while trying to solve these problems in real life.

We just had good comments from reviewers to inculcate in our model so that the model can be more explanatory according to real world situations. So we dropped specific cases of Kashmir and Naxalite region and trying to make it more general.

My interest was in Understanding the root causes and game of variables that govern any system.

That's why I didn't took job at an IT company which would have paid me more with less time to work.

P.S. You can have my email ID and I can tell you the work we do. We need more researchers to work on these projects.

http://www.iitk.ac.in/math/ISMMACS/

Visit it.

 

[Jade]

Getting the Job aspect ?

Do one thing, find a good guide and publish work in important conferences and good International journals, companies will not stress that much on your University.

I am telling you from what I have been told by few of the top researchers from IIT Kanpur and other elite institutes in India, who have worked in top companies and organizations in the world.

There are many aspects. I will explain in detail. There are few points, one should consider and one can have good career even if that means compromising on few things.

Remember, many great professors also teach in universities way below Harvard. Also, the department, center of research and laboratory, their contribution in your field of work also matter a lot along with the advisor.

At certain level, whether you do the PhD from Harvard or London School of Economics, if your work is good and advisor is well known, people look at the work. After all you are recruited on your abilities too, not just brand name.

People have gone into various top universities like in MIT even if they did B.Tech from NITs or any good private institutes in India instead of IITs. It all depends on various factors.

Still I agree that brand name is important, but too much importance given to it is the mistake most students make and hence there is good drop out rate even among good students, in PhD program.

You may be right, whatever knowledge I have on PhD is from talking with guys who were doing PhD at my school, hence I have little knowledge on PhD

 

[Dubious]

@Jade PhD is a commitment...it depends on the field, it depends on your ability, funds and also support....

However, it is true that in todays world, research has been reduced to HOW MANY PUBLICATIONS YOU HAVE AND IN WHICH JOURNALS....rest matters less...

 

[KRAIT]

You may be right, whatever knowledge I have on PhD is from talking with guys who were doing PhD at my school, hence I have little knowledge on PhD

Well, you are on first step of Research. Discussion on something you are inquisitive about and open minded to present your views and rationally discuss over others.

You are doing PhD in a sense. People think PhD is a degree, its a way of life.

Even if you go for a job, if you work with passion and love what you do, you are actually doing PhD in it in some different sense.

Good to know more people are discussing on Research and PhD. We need more Indians to go in research field for making our country self reliant in every field.

 

[arp2041]

@KRAIT you can send me the details if you like, maybe i would like to help.

Have done some research work in my engg.

 

[Dubious]

Well, you are on first step of Research. Discussion on something you are inquisitive about and open minded to present your views and rationally discuss over others.

You are doing PhD in a sense. People think PhD is a degree, its a way of life.

Even if you go for a job, if you work with passion and love what you do, you are actually doing PhD in it in some different sense.

Good to know more people are discussing on Research and PhD. We need more Indians to go in research field for making our country self reliant in every field.

@KRAIT ....I think you mean what PhD used to be...Now it is a race for publications....at least for a PhD student...

You @KRAIT on the other hand are a researcher not a PhD student...BIG DIFFERENCE....

 

[arp2041]

@KRAIT ....I think you mean what PhD used to be...Now it is a race for publications....at least for a PhD student...

You @KRAIT on the other hand are a researcher not a PhD student...BIG DIFFERENCE....

what can one do??

esp. in country like India, PhD students are threatened with Publications, if they don't publish, they don't get the Doctorate, thats the deal. So no. of publications takes preference over understanding.

 

[KRAIT]

@KRAIT you can send me the details if you like, maybe i would like to help.

Have done some research work in my engg.

Send me an email on the ID you have. I will send you me my real ID. Will be happy to work with you.

Just want to increase and spread the research culture in Engineering colleges.

Country needs it.

There is a DST funded project in if any one with GATE qualification wants to work on especially if someone wants to do MTech or PhD.

Fields are Zero Booting Computers and RF Energy Harvestors.

 

[Argus Panoptes]

@Talon @KRAIT While we are discussing the topic, where is Madan @Elmo who created the thread and disappeared? Her wise thought on the topic at hand would be valuable too, I think.

 

[Raja.Pakistani]

On Topic: I think author is right, PhDs are for LOSERS who couldn't get into medical college so the best way to get a Dr. in front of there name is to do a PhD, every Tom, Dick, Talon, Harry & Krait is doing PhDs these days. PhD has become a JOKE

I think your definition of losers is bit weird lol Every Tom, dick and Arp can make fun of Ph.D but to achieve a Ph.D is hard and involve many years of study/resezrch during which almost everything else in your life take second place

Most of those professors who are teaching in medical/Engineering colleges/universities are Ph.D holder Researchers play important role in developement of any fields be it medicine, arts, science, philosophy etc

 

[shivgan3]

PhD in any field other than Financial Engineering is suicide...

 

[Elmo]

@Talon @KRAIT While we are discussing the topic, where is Madan @Elmo who created the thread and disappeared? Her wise thought on the topic at hand would be valuable too, I think.

Oh yes, my thoughts. Once upon a time Elmo was a research associate on an expensive PhD project of her professor - after a few months, Elmo ran away, very fast, very hard, and ran, ran, ran. And she had her happy ending. The project is still up and running though

Most people do not understand the significance of what a PhD really is, especially in Pakistan. I am sure there are some very hard working souls out there, but there are many many many more who are taking advantage of the system and its need to mass produce PhDs. So we have some very mediocre people who will not let the bright ones get ahead.

Sad story, but true.

A PhD may be useless, but sometimes it can help get a visa. That has its own value for some people.

Which visa are you talking about now?

 

[xyxmt]

Dude, everything is waste of time if it isn't your Passion.

If you are pursuing a degree for degree's sake, then do it.

I am still working on the research papers, where even my name was removed. Just because, I just love the work.

For PhD or any job, live it. For me there is no concept of Hard Work for a degree.

Yaar, you know me personally. I just love to research about anything.

I never regretted my decision to join research, rather i always felt bad when I wasn't able to do it due to problems.

But I found a way. I joined this forum. I talked to all you guys, and also kept analyzing things.

Publications are just tip of the iceberg. The real fun is in the working papers and future ideas you formulate and plan when you think of guiding any student in future. I worked with 4-5 B.Tech project groups comprising 3-4 students from final year, and it was damn fun.

If you feel you are making the wrong choice, lay back, relax, have a beer and think, what you want to do, Work on your Dream or Work for Other's Dream.

Really ?

There are three key aspects to consider when you go for PhD. A reputed institute doesn't mean your PhD will be valuable.

Its all about satisfaction. I have heard stories of 10 Pointers IIT Kanpur students who left PhD because they couldn't handle it.

PhD is not every one's cup of tea.

And I personally feel, PhD is like being an Artist. You may not succeed or become famous, but you will love or hate within it.

after 20 years I realized I always wanted to be a chef, what a waste of 20 years

 

[Skull and Bones]

Really ? What are you pursuing a doctorate in ?

No no, right now in MS in Electrical Engineering, with specialization is nanoelectronics and semiconductor physics (and thinking about taking additional credits in VLSI). But since there are not much companies hiring on these specific specializations, going for PhD is the only plausible way out.

And yes, MS from a tier 1 US university.

 

[canadian icehole]

PhD in any field other than Financial Engineering is suicide...

Sadly that's the case. Acquiring a PhD may hurt one's chances of getting a non-R&D job; may give the impression of being over-qualified.