Academic

A friend ask me if I find any meaning in my work. Here’s my reply. Please forgive me for answering your question in English. I find it easier to express myself clearly in English, especially on more complex topics. You ask if I find it “meaningful” to write papers that few people might read. The short answer is “Yes.” The long answer, as usual, is more complicated. Will my research cure cancer, bring world peace, or entertain millions? No. Will it contribute to a technological breakthrough one day? It’s unlikely, though possible. ...

Some students asked me why I decided to leave IT industry and become an academic. I think the real question is whether I think it is a good idea to try to become a professor. And the answer is a firm no. I must emphasize that I am not advocating for abolishing PhD programs. It is important for a society to push for advancement in science and humanity. What I meant is that for the vast majority of people, a career in academic is not a good choice. ...

Photo by ThisIsEngineering from Pexels The joke A friend sent me an article titled Is Science a Pyramid Scheme? posted on viXra, an e-print archive. The abstract is as follows – A grievance expressed by some PhD students and Postdocs is that science works like a pyramid scheme: Young scientists are encouraged to invest into building scientific careers although the chances at remaining in science are extremely slim. … The super-prolific authors at the top of the pyramid … are usually heads of large institutes with many subgroups and large numbers of PhD students, while the bottom of the pyramid is populated by PhD students and Postdocs … A new index, the Ponzi factor, is proposed to quantify this phenomenon. ...

I started searching for a permanent position academic position since last July and eventually got an offer in February. Here are some of my thoughts about the process. Tips There is very high competitions in academics. Be ready to leave for the industry at any time. Learning some practical skills that can help you get a job outside universities. Apply early. The pandemic slows things down a lot. Do not apply for too many jobs. It is a waste of time. Only apply for positions that you have an obvious advantage. ...