How to keep your reading committee engaged throughout the research-dissertation writing phases and not just at the end

1
How to keep your reading committee engaged
throughout the research-dissertation writing
phases and not just at the end

• Panelists Sam Graham, Lakeshia Taite, and Raheem
  Beyah

FACES Seminar February 3, 2009
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Composition of committee members

• Optimize member's value vs. likelihood to be
  difficult
• Choose group that will help make work stronger
• Rank not necessarily important

3
Others can help

• Dont rely solely on committee for guidance
• Seek mentors
• Mentors can be inside our outside of the
  University

4
If direction of project changes after proposal
and you want to remove a committee member

• Consult with advisor and follow School's
  guidelines
• Try adding new member to committee as opposed to
  removing another member

5
How difficult is switching your area of research
after graduation?

• Read and write more papers in that area...like a
  second PhD
• Consider Post-Doc to gain experience

6
Is a Post-Doc necessary before academia?

• Good idea if you're not ready for the academic
  environment right away
• Good way to supplement existing knowledge and
  skill set

7
How to convince your advisor that you're ready to
propose

• Start writing papers that will lead to proposal
• Get people engaged early

8
How do you generate project ideas?

• Conferences, meetings, papers, peers, etc.
• Easier than one may think

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How to approach faculty to sit on your committee?

• Use Doodle online tool for scheduling meeting
• Provide a wide timeframe to hopefully avoid
  conflict
• Some Schools (e.g., ECE) have faculty manage this
  process