Thoughts
I try to order subtopics by time to consider along the cycle. The ideas presented will implicitly bias toward a PhD for professorship.
General Resource
list serv: cogsci soc, icis, and cogdevsoc
Postbac / Predoc
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GKyDv7_p32cIQGy47Wq1cVsohegikA4tj0euqfAZ_44/edit?tab=t.0
- Mindset
- “Be really really clear why you’re doing the residency - the reason to do the residency/work is to do something you could not otherwise do at grad school/if you’re not sure about grad school.” [1]
- If the only reason you are considering a residency is because you think that is an experience you will never get at a later time --- this is likely not true. [1]
- “While performing your duties as an RA, take note of any aspects of research that are particularly difficult for you. Once you have determined your problem areas, you should confidently seek out support. Self-assessment, paired with the ability to ask for help, will be very important as you continue to progress in the field.” [17]
- They are looking for:
- Employers only care about skills you already possess. Research fit alone won’t get you the job. [16]
- Since your mentor will be graduate students, they will look for keywords they are interested in in your applications.
- Genuine interest, not their interest. For example, how do aspects of your identity and personal experiences relate to your research interests. [18]
- Duties often include “conducting literature reviews, drafting/submitting IRB applications … leading subjects/participants through an experimental or observational protocol, collecting data, managing data, coding data, developing coding systems, conducting statistical analyses, and assisting with the dissemination of findings (in posters, presentations, or manuscripts) … recruiting participants, scheduling lab visits, arranging participant compensation, or assisting with measure/survey development” [17]
- Make the most out of it
- Attending conferences
- “presentations can be especially useful and give [potential graduate school applicants] a feel for their potential mentor’s personality, enthusiasm for research, and interactive style” [17]
- Practice the language of science
- “admit your lack of knowledge about a topic, remain confident, and at the same time communicate your enthusiasm for learning new information” [17]
- Opportunities
- PsychResearchList
- Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers
- Resources for Applying to Post-Graduate Research Positions in Psychology (which actually includes postbac)
Why PhD
- “For some people, the joy of research is the joy of discovering something new that no one knew about. You might be discovering a new algorithm, a new operating system design idea, a new idea for maximizing the performance of disk arrays, etc.. For others, there’s the joy of truly understanding. You’ve probably noticed that in classes a professor or book will stop just when things are getting really interesting and say, “the rest is beyond the scope of this class.” In research, you can take a problem as far as you want and understand everything about it. For many, the joy of research comes from being able to make an impact – to change the way systems are built and design them in a smarter way. There’s also the joy of doing it right. In a company, the aim is to get a working product and ship it out quickly. In research, you can take your time and plan out your project so that you are proud to defend every one of your design decisions. Research is not about simple heuristics or quick hacks. Many people also relish the joy of being the authority on an area and of having their work read and cited by others.” [2]
Timing of PhD & Application
- Applicants with master's degrees are expected to have more publications and experience than undergraduate applicants. [1] [3]
- When to start looking for recommenders: “as early as possible”. [1]
- The process of application itself (especially customization) can help to re-evaluate fitness.
Key Dates
- Application Assistance Program & Info Session