Working with PhD students

The goal: becoming an independent researcher

The ultimate goal of the PhD is for you to become an independent researcher. One of the best ways to improve at research is by doing research. At the beginning, we will discuss our shared interests and identify a project that is both tractable and interesting. This will give you hands-on experience with conducting and writing research, as well as with the methodological, theoretical, and applied tools of the field.

Becoming independent also requires learning how to execute and complete research projects. I therefore prefer to begin with a well-scoped project, often related to ongoing work. This allows us to:

1. orient you toward doing research and introduce important tools in the field;
2. develop effective ways of working together and managing a project; and
3. give you increasing ownership of the practical work involved in writing a paper.

As your PhD progresses, I will support you in developing ownership of your research interests and contributions. I may suggest concrete ideas related to those interests, but the long-term objective is for you to identify and lead your own research questions.

Our time is limited, so we will need to choose among many good ideas in pursuit of the most promising ones. I generally prefer depth over breadth. Collaboration is encouraged, but it is important for you to develop a coherent thesis topic with a clear intellectual identity of its own.

My expectations for students

The purpose of advising is to help train you as an independent researcher in statistics. An important part of this training takes place in regular weekly meetings, which typically last between 60 and 90 minutes.

Before the meeting

You are expected to:

• spend sufficient time reading or working on what we previously discussed;
• make a serious attempt to resolve difficulties by thinking carefully, searching for relevant material, consulting other sources, working through simple examples, or trying alternative approaches; and
• clearly summarize your new findings, what you have learned, and any difficult points that would benefit from discussion.

During the meeting

I expect you to explain clearly what you have found or learned. Brief notes can help you remember the points you want to discuss, but simply reading or copying material from a paper or book is usually not useful. I will comment on your ideas and arguments, ask and answer questions, and suggest approaches or references that may help with difficulties.

After the meeting

Please send me a brief email summarizing what we discussed and the next steps. This creates a useful record for both of us. You may also want to develop important parts of our discussion into more detailed personal notes.

Code of conduct

Honesty and integrity

I expect the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity. There is never a need to cover up a problem or mistake. Research inevitably involves bugs, wrong turns, and failed ideas. I am on your team, and I want to help identify and fix them.

Learning the field

I encourage you to identify and pursue questions in areas that genuinely spark your curiosity.

Meaningful and targeted effort

Good research requires sustained work, but effort should be directed toward useful outcomes. We will prioritize and triage tasks during our meetings. Between meetings, I expect some form of progress appropriate to the stage of the project, such as thinking about the problem, reviewing background material, learning new methods, working through partial results, running simulations, or trying ideas in practice.

Work-life balance

A PhD is a marathon, not a sprint. I expect you to take care of yourself and enjoy life outside the PhD. Deadlines help us maintain progress, but you should feel free to discuss or challenge them when necessary.

I strongly encourage you to take approximately four weeks of vacation each year and to disconnect properly when possible. Please let me know in advance so that we can plan around travel, disconnection, and any upcoming deadlines. Winter and summer breaks are often particularly suitable times, as academic activity also tends to slow down.

Kindness and collegiality

We are working toward shared goals, and I will strive to be kind, open, and direct. I tend to be upfront so that we can address issues promptly and avoid wasting your time.

Respectful conduct

I expect respectful discussions within the group and in external settings. Academic discussion can quickly become critical, and sharp insights are valuable, but criticism should always be expressed respectfully, graciously, and generously toward others.

Receiving feedback

I welcome feedback about how advising is going and what is or is not working for you.

Giving feedback

Feedback is essential for growth. I will distinguish between high-level questions and detailed suggestions intended to help you work more effectively. Please feel free to tell me which forms of feedback are most useful to you.