Lessons Learned During My PhD So Far
TLDRIn this video, the speaker, Andrew Dodson, reflects on the avoidable mistakes he made during his PhD in theoretical nuclear physics. He discusses his initial approach to learning quantum field theory, which involved skipping chapters in textbooks and not seeking guidance, leading to gaps in knowledge and errors in his calculations. Dodson emphasizes the importance of treating learning as a job and seeking help from advisors regularly. He also shares his experiences with overworking on problems without setting boundaries and the pitfalls of not conducting robust tests for research reliability. Dodson highlights the benefits of using LaTeX for problem-solving to reduce errors and the importance of being thorough, even when excited about a potential solution. The video is sponsored by Brilliant, an online learning platform offering courses in STEM fields, which the speaker recommends for those seeking a more interactive and engaging learning experience.
Takeaways
- 📚 Treat your learning as a job: You should invest time in learning as it's more beneficial in the long run to prevent mistakes and understand the underlying concepts rather than rushing through research.
- 🕵️♂️ Be proactive in learning: Take initiative in your education, similar to how the speaker did as a dishwasher, to ensure you are well-equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge.
- 🔍 Regular meetings with advisors: Schedule frequent check-ins with your advisor to avoid getting stuck and to receive timely feedback, which is crucial for progress.
- 🚧 Set boundaries on problem-solving: Establish a limit on the time you spend on a problem before seeking help to prevent getting stuck in unproductive loops.
- 🤔 Ask for help when needed: It's important to seek assistance when you're stuck, rather than assuming that more time alone will solve the issue.
- 📉 Be critical of your tests: Ensure that the tests you implement are robust and accurately measure what you intend to test to avoid false confidence in your results.
- 📈 Use renormalization conditions: Utilize renormalization conditions to check your work throughout the process, not just at the end, to catch errors early.
- 💡 Engage with the subject: Actively engage with the material, such as through interactive learning platforms like Brilliant, to deepen your understanding and keep yourself motivated.
- 📈 Utilize real-time problem-solving: Solve problems as you go by typing them up in LaTeX or similar formats to make your work more legible and to minimize errors.
- 🚀 Don't let excitement cloud your judgment: Be thorough and careful even when you're excited about a potential solution to avoid overlooking critical details.
- 🔬 Be meticulous with your research: Ensure that your research methods are sound and that you're not skipping steps or misinterpreting information, which can lead to significant backtracking.
Q & A
What is the main subject of the video?
-The video discusses the common mistakes made during a PhD journey, particularly focusing on the speaker's experiences in theoretical nuclear physics.
What is the speaker's area of interest within theoretical nuclear physics?
-The speaker is interested in proton structure and specifically in the 'D term,' which is related to the distribution of pressure and shear forces inside the proton.
Why did the speaker initially struggle with quantum field theory?
-The speaker struggled with quantum field theory because they had to learn it on the go while conducting research, without having taken a formal course in it first.
What was the speaker's first mistake in their PhD journey?
-The speaker's first mistake was not treating their learning of quantum field theory as a job, leading to gaps in knowledge and errors in calculations.
What does the speaker suggest as a solution to the problem of balancing learning and research?
-The speaker suggests treating learning as a job, and seeking advice from an advisor on how to budget time between reading and doing research.
What is the role of the sponsor, Brilliant, in the video?
-Brilliant is an online learning service that offers a wide range of courses in STEM fields, including physics and computer science. The speaker recommends it as a tool to help engage with the material and learn more effectively.
Why is it important to have regular meetings with an advisor during a PhD?
-Regular meetings with an advisor are crucial to avoid getting stuck on issues for a long time, to receive guidance, and to ensure that the research is on the right track.
What is the speaker's opinion on the saying 'You don't get what you need, you get what you ask for'?
-The speaker believes there is truth to the saying, emphasizing the importance of asking for help and not just expecting to solve problems independently.
What is the significance of having a robust test for verifying research results?
-A robust test ensures that the results are reliable and that the research is testing what it is intended to test, which is critical for the validity of the findings.
How does the speaker currently approach problem-solving in their research?
-The speaker prefers to solve problems in real-time by typing them up in LaTeX, which helps in making the process more legible, allowing for better note-taking, and reducing the number of mistakes.
What is the lesson the speaker learned from their mistake with the renormalization calculation?
-The speaker learned the importance of being careful and thorough, even when excited about a promising idea, and to check all relevant conditions to avoid wasting time on incorrect calculations.
Outlines
🎓 Learning from PhD Mistakes: The Importance of Proper Training
The speaker, Andrew Dodson, discusses the avoidable mistakes he made during his PhD in theoretical nuclear physics. He emphasizes the importance of treating learning as a job and seeking guidance from advisors. Dodson shares his experience of skipping essential chapters in quantum field theory, which led to gaps in knowledge and errors in his research. He advises viewers to learn from their mistakes in a low-risk environment and highlights the role of the online learning platform Brilliant in providing engaging STEM courses.
🤔 The Pitfalls of Independent Research and Seeking Help
Dodson talks about the consequences of not having regular meetings with his advisor, which resulted in him getting stuck on research issues for extended periods. He admits to being arrogant and not asking for help, which led to wasted time and unproductive efforts. The speaker also addresses the misconception that more time is always the solution, suggesting that understanding the homework's purpose from the professor could be more beneficial. He stresses the importance of robust testing and being critical of the methods used to ensure reliability and accuracy in research results.
📚 The Challenge of Excitement in Research and the Value of Thoroughness
The speaker shares an experience where he became overly excited about a promising idea, leading to a lack of thoroughness and ultimately an incorrect calculation. Dodson explains the technical aspects of renormalization and how his misunderstanding of the process caused him to redo a significant portion of his work. He admits to making the same mistakes he thought he had learned from in undergrad and stresses the importance of carefulness, even when close to a breakthrough. Dodson also discusses the use of renormalization conditions as a test to catch errors earlier in the process.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡PhD
💡Theoretical Nuclear Physics
💡Quantum Field Theory (QFT)
💡Proton Structure
💡Mistakes
💡Brilliant
💡Renormalization
💡Research Advisor
💡Learning Initiative
💡Field Strength Renormalization
💡Robustness of Tests
Highlights
The video discusses common mistakes made during a PhD, particularly in theoretical nuclear physics, and how to avoid them.
Andrew Dodson shares his personal experiences and the lessons learned from avoidable mistakes throughout his PhD journey.
Emphasizes the importance of having a solid understanding of quantum field theory for theoretical physics research.
Mistake #1: Not treating learning quantum field theory as a job, leading to gaps in knowledge and errors in calculations.
Advises treating learning as a job and seeking advice from advisors to prevent mistakes.
Introduces Brilliant, an online learning platform, as a tool for engaging with physics and STEM topics.
Mistake #2: Not asking for help and letting problems persist, which can be mitigated by regular meetings with advisors.
Mistake #3: Assuming more time is the solution to all problems, rather than seeking help or understanding the homework's purpose.
Mistake #4: Not being rigorous enough with tests to ensure results are reliable and robust.
Mistake #5: Moving on before being thoroughly convinced of the results, leading to potential oversights.
Andrew's strategy of solving problems in real-time by typing them up in LaTeX to reduce silly mistakes.
The importance of not getting overly excited about a potential solution, as it can lead to being less careful and thorough.
The need for renormalization conditions to be checked early in calculations to avoid extensive rework.
Andrew's realization that excitement can cloud judgment and the importance of maintaining caution.
The channel's purpose is to document the transition from undergrad to PhD, including sharing the not-so-great experiences.
A call to action for viewers to share their academic mistakes in the comments for collective learning.
Transcripts
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