how to manage your research

How to Manageyour Research

Gerard de Melohttp://gerard.demelo.org

Tsinghua University

How to Manageyour Research

Gerard de Melohttp://gerard.demelo.org

Tsinghua University

PhDPhD

You have a challenginggoal, and a limitedamount of time.

You have a challenginggoal, and a limitedamount of time.

PhDPhD

You are a manager forthis project.

(Advisors are just advisors)

You are a manager forthis project.

(Advisors are just advisors)

Part 1:Day to Day

Management

Part 1:Day to Day

Management

TimeTime

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/add.png

TimeTime

http://www.skipandcal.net/comics/time

TimeTime

TimeTime

Image: http://www.amrgroup.co.uk/blog/2014/12/what-makes-a-successful-manager/

Step 1: Get Rid of Mental StressStep 1: Get Rid of Mental Stress

Twoodo.com

Step 1: Get Rid of Mental Stressby Being Organized

Step 1: Get Rid of Mental Stressby Being Organized

OrgMode for emacsImage: http://www.thoseoptimizeguys.com/blog/Using-OrgMode-As-A-Life-Manager/

Free your Mind!Write everything downin one place


Manage Tasks and AppointmentsManage Tasks and Appointments

OmniFocus






Sublime Editor

Two columns:easy comparison,transfer, e.g.moving to anotherdate

Two columns:easy comparison,transfer, e.g.moving to anotherdate

Hierarchical Folding:ability to close andexpand hierarchy,get an overview, evenif a subitem is manypages long

Hierarchical Folding:ability to close andexpand hierarchy,get an overview, evenif a subitem is manypages long

AutocompletionAutocompletion

Smart “Goto Anything”: Go toother files, methods, etc. inless than a second

Smart “Goto Anything”: Go toother files, methods, etc. inless than a second


● “Snooze”: Revisit in x days● Change priority● Supports opening URLs,

running scripts to automate tasks

● “Snooze”: Revisit in x days● Change priority● Supports opening URLs,

running scripts to automate tasks

Incoming InformationIncoming Information

Also can be used to add tasks to list● Parses any text, using NLP to find event dates

and adds to to-do list (e.g. conferences, talks)● Imports events from VCAL ● Imports yearly events like birthdays

from external lists

Also can be used to add tasks to list● Parses any text, using NLP to find event dates

and adds to to-do list (e.g. conferences, talks)● Imports events from VCAL ● Imports yearly events like birthdays

from external lists

Incoming InformationIncoming Information

https://www.uhasselt.be/Documents/Doctoral-School/managing%20you%20PhD/slides%20third%20session.pdf

Incoming Information: EmailsIncoming Information: Emails

Inboxes are notgood task managersInboxes are notgood task managers

Should haveone place for all tasks,properly sorted

Should haveone place for all tasks,properly sorted


http://professornerdster.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/03/five-actions-inbox-zero.png

INBOX ZERO!

Process emails quicklyby respondingor deferring (convertto task in yourcentral to-do list!)

INBOX ZERO!

Process emails quicklyby respondingor deferring (convertto task in yourcentral to-do list!)


Apps that can sendemails to task managerswith backlinks

Apps that can sendemails to task managerswith backlinks

Step 2: Start Working!Step 2: Start Working!

Start WorkingStart Working

Write PaperWrite Paper

Problem:Seems non-trivial.We may feel likeprocrastinating.

Start Working:Divide and Conquer


Write PaperWrite Paper

Come up withpreliminary titleCome up withpreliminary title

Create empty file(using right template)Create empty file(using right template)

Add title andheadings like“Introduction”

Add title andheadings like“Introduction”

···Some of these seemeasily doable!



http://blog.binfire.com/2011/04/task-milestone-tutorial/

FocusFocus

http://heeris.id.au/

Focus: Avoid InterruptionsFocus: Avoid Interruptions

Disable notifications

Email

WhatsApp, WeChat,etc.

Disable notifications

Email

WhatsApp, WeChat,etc.

Instead:Check during naturalbreak times. Alerts onlyfor very important people.You should be in control,not the sender.

Instead:Check during naturalbreak times. Alerts onlyfor very important people.You should be in control,not the sender.

Focus: PomodorosFocus: PomodorosFocus: PomodorosFocus: Pomodoros

● Force yourself to spend 25 minutes withfocused work on a single to-do item

● After that 5 minutes reward/break to do otherthings

● Force yourself to spend 25 minutes withfocused work on a single to-do item

● After that 5 minutes reward/break to do otherthings

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Il_pomodoro.jpg

Focus:Have a Saved-for-after-Work List


New idea? Consider creatinga task in your to-dolist so that you canfocus on the importantwork first.

New idea? Consider creatinga task in your to-dolist so that you canfocus on the importantwork first.



http://terrasdiary.com/comic/just-one/

Step 3: Scheduling and ReviewingStep 3: Scheduling and Reviewing

Scheduling:Plan Your DayScheduling:

Plan Your Day

OrgMode for emacsImage: http://www.thoseoptimizeguys.com/blog/Using-OrgMode-As-A-Life-Manager/

When everything is inone place, it is easierto consciously prioritize

When everything is inone place, it is easierto consciously prioritize

Suggestion: In theevening, try toprioritize tasks fornext day

Suggestion: In theevening, try toprioritize tasks fornext day

Scheduling:Urgency vs. Importance

Scheduling:Urgency vs. Importance

http://sidsavara.com/personal-development/nerdy-productivity-coveys-time-management-matrix-illustrated-with-xkcd-comics

Scheduling:Do Consider Priorities


You are entitled to a life!– Emily BenderYou are entitled to a life!– Emily Bender

Image: Emily Bender



Source: Emily Bender

there will always be more work than time→ prioritize the truly important over the seemingly urgent

there will always be more work than time→ prioritize the truly important over the seemingly urgent



http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/add.png

Let some balloons fly.The world won't come to an end.But choose wisely...

Let some balloons fly.The world won't come to an end.But choose wisely...



Even after work:Maybe enjoy time with your partner / family instead of just playing video games etc.

Even after work:Maybe enjoy time with your partner / family instead of just playing video games etc.

Scheduling:Have a List of Alternative Tasks

Scheduling:Have a List of Alternative Tasks

Too exhausted to start workingon proving a theorem?

Too exhausted to start workingon proving a theorem?

Avoid:Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.

Avoid:Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.

Instead: Look at your to-do list. Inside it, there should be alternative but less exhausting tasks.

E.g.: Take a break, talk to colleagues, exercise,clean the house, read an interesting paper,clean up your code, respond to emails, etc.

Instead: Look at your to-do list. Inside it, there should be alternative but less exhausting tasks.

E.g.: Take a break, talk to colleagues, exercise,clean the house, read an interesting paper,clean up your code, respond to emails, etc.

Weekly Reviewing:Reflection, Optimizing

Weekly Reviewing:Reflection, Optimizing

What did I do last week?

Am I on track towards reaching my long-term goals?

Did I do what I had planned to do? Why not?

What did I do last week?

Am I on track towards reaching my long-term goals?

Did I do what I had planned to do? Why not?

Daily Reviewing:Motivation and Productivity

Daily Reviewing:Motivation and Productivity

Part 2:Long-Term

Management

Part 2:Long-Term

Management

Long-Term ReflectionLong-Term ReflectionLong-Term ReflectionLong-Term Reflection

Again: Reflection, Reviewing,Optimizing

Again: Reflection, Reviewing,Optimizing

“Suppose you spend a minute each daypacking and unpacking the adapter.Within a year, you've lost about sixhours to just packing and unpackingyour adapter."http://matt.might.net/articles/artificial-scarcity

“Suppose you spend a minute each daypacking and unpacking the adapter.Within a year, you've lost about sixhours to just packing and unpackingyour adapter."http://matt.might.net/articles/artificial-scarcity

Example of Long-TermExample of Long-TermAdvantage: NetworkingAdvantage: NetworkingExample of Long-TermExample of Long-TermAdvantage: NetworkingAdvantage: Networking

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Computer_industry_entrepreneur_workshop.jpg

PhDPhD

Sometimes researchfeels competitiveSometimes researchfeels competitive

CollaborateCollaborateCollaborateCollaborate

Image: https://twitter.com/ThePracticalDev/status/631073573545902085/photo/1

Be Flexible – Be Flexible – React to ChallengesReact to Challenges


Example: My JourneyExample: My Journey

Image: weinbrenner.single.arabzadeh. Architektenwerkgemeinschafthttp://www.wsa-nt.de

Computer Science branchof Max Planck Society, whichhas had 33 Nobel Prize winners

Computer Science branchof Max Planck Society, whichhas had 33 Nobel Prize winners


Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beijing_Forbidden_City_Smog.jpg

BeijingBeijing


Image: Jon Parry. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonparry/

Tsinghua UniversityNow Ranked #5 inthe worldin US News GlobalUniversity Rankingfor CS 2016

Tsinghua UniversityNow Ranked #5 inthe worldin US News GlobalUniversity Rankingfor CS 2016

Life at Tsinghua

N. ModiPrime Minister ofIndia

N. ModiPrime Minister ofIndia

Life at Tsinghua

Life at Tsinghua

Sheryl Sandberg– Lean In!Sheryl Sandberg– Lean In!



● Steve Jobs in 1984: First Macintosh● 1985: Kicked out of Apple, the company

he had co-founded with Woz● NeXT: also not a big success

● Steve Jobs in 1984: First Macintosh● 1985: Kicked out of Apple, the company

he had co-founded with Woz● NeXT: also not a big success

Steve Jobs in 1984by Norman Seeff



Bill Gates

● Dropped out of Harvardwithout a clear planabout his next steps

● Dropped out of Harvardwithout a clear planabout his next steps



My algorithmsucks!My algorithmsucks!

But maybe:● it works very well

on very shortdocuments

● With much moretraining data(Deep Learning)

● With much lesstraining data thanothers

But maybe:● it works very well

on very shortdocuments

● With much moretraining data(Deep Learning)

● With much lesstraining data thanothers



My algorithmsucks!My algorithmsucks! But maybe:

● the measure isimperfect(e.g. BLEU in MT)

● the reviewersare imperfect(“Probabilitiesare not AI”)

But maybe:● the measure is

imperfect(e.g. BLEU in MT)

● the reviewersare imperfect(“Probabilitiesare not AI”)

Don't Give UpDon't Give UpDon't Give UpDon't Give Up

Rejected atWWW 2001

but now a classic paper!

Rejected atWWW 2001

but now a classic paper!

Don't Give UpDon't Give UpDon't Give UpDon't Give Up

Listen to your AdvisorListen to your AdvisorListen to your AdvisorListen to your Advisor

Let's focus onWikipedia

Let's focus onWikipedia

Reunion

Lexical AmbiguitiesLexical Ambiguities

Reunion

Images:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reunions_Class_of_82_2007.jpghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Riviere_Langevin_Trou_Noir_P1440224-35.jpg

and many more...and many more...


Hipsters in London

Images:https://www.flickr.com/photos/poisonbabyfood/4274634681https://www.facebook.com/alexander.balabanov.82


Lexical Ambiguities

“Dry vegetables”“Dry vegetables”

Lexical Ambiguities

Lexical Ambiguities

Image: http://cameraontheroad.com/2006/03/signs-of-bad-english-chinglish/

UWN: “Universal Wordnet”

Goal: Universal Index of Word/Name

Meanings

Goal: Universal Index of Word/Name

Meanings

Account for polysemyand synonymy

Account for polysemyand synonymy

Gerard de Melo

UWN (de Melo & Weikum 2009):over 1,000,000 words in over 100 languages

Taxonomic Links:MENTA


Finally, use region growingFinally, use region growingalgorithm in the spiritalgorithm in the spirit

of Leighton & Rao 1988of Leighton & Rao 1988

Finally, use region growingFinally, use region growingalgorithm in the spiritalgorithm in the spirit

of Leighton & Rao 1988of Leighton & Rao 1988

Linear Program RelaxationLinear Program RelaxationLinear Program RelaxationLinear Program Relaxation

Approximation Guarantee:Approximation Guarantee:4ln(nq+1) 4ln(nq+1)

for n distinctness assertions,for n distinctness assertions,q=max |Dq=max |D

i,ji,j||

but independent of |Dbut independent of |Dii| !| !

Approximation Guarantee:Approximation Guarantee:4ln(nq+1) 4ln(nq+1)

for n distinctness assertions,for n distinctness assertions,q=max |Dq=max |D

i,ji,j||

but independent of |Dbut independent of |Dii| !| !


Use Identity ConstraintAlgorithm to form equivalence classes

Use Identity ConstraintAlgorithm to form equivalence classes

Markov Chain RandomWalk with Restartsto Rank Parents

Markov Chain RandomWalk with Restartsto Rank Parents


Submitted to topconferenceSubmitted to topconference

Submitted to evenmore selectiveconference

Submitted to evenmore selectiveconference

RejectedRejected


NOT FOR REUSE NOT FOR REUSE

NOT FOR REUSE NOT FOR REUSE

CIKM 2010 Acceptance Rate: 126 / 945 = 13.3%

CIKM 2010 Acceptance Rate: 126 / 945 = 13.3%

UWN/MENTA

multilingual extension of WordNet forword senses and taxonomical information over 200 languages

Gerard de Melo

http://lexvo.org/uwn/http://lexvo.org/uwn/http://lexvo.org/uwn/http://lexvo.org/uwn/

Job OpportunitiesJob Opportunities

Image: Sainsbury

Study by Quoctrung Bui, NPR, 2015-02, based Census Bureau data, excluding the two catch-all categories"managers not elsewhere classified" and "salespersons not elsewhere classified."http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/02/05/382664837/map-the-most-common-job-in-every-state


Image: Sainsbury


Truck drivers could not beoutsourced to other countries,e.g. China.

Truck drivers could not beoutsourced to other countries,e.g. China.


Image: Sainsbury

Which jobs do you think are safe?Which jobs do you think are safe?

Other people's opinions:http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34066941


Image: Sainsbury


Factory/Machine Operator jobsleft the US a long time agoFactory/Machine Operator jobsleft the US a long time ago


Image: KUKA Roboter GmbH


Do you think this is correct?Do you think this is correct?

Sony Aibo PS


Sony Aibo PS

Knightscope's Security Guard Robots


Image: Sainsbury


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-H02370,_Sekret%C3%A4rin_an_Schreibmaschine.jpg


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-H02370,_Sekret%C3%A4rin_an_Schreibmaschine.jpg

Images: http://www.chunkofchange.com/2012/07/siri-calendar-commands-let-me-pencil-you-in-getting-siri-on-your-calendar/


Computers are increasingly doing:- legal analyses- translation- customer service- advertizing and marketing ideas- journalism

Computers are increasingly doing:- legal analyses- translation- customer service- advertizing and marketing ideas- journalism


In the future, every decisionthat mankind makes is goingto be informed by a cognitivesystem like Watson, and ourlives will be better for it.

Ginni RomettyCEO of IBM, 2015

PossibilitiesPossibilities


Larry Page andSergey Brin,2003

Larry Page andSergey Brin,2003

Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31495566@N00/17451790


PageRank Paper:Rejected from SIGIR 1998.Never got published separately

PageRank Paper:Rejected from SIGIR 1998.Never got published separately

Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31495566@N00/17451790

Source: http://rakaposhi.eas.asu.edu/f08-cse494-mailarchive/msg00037.html


http://backrub.stanford.edu1997http://backrub.stanford.edu1997


Sundar Pichaias a student atIIT Kharagpur,India

Sundar Pichaias a student atIIT Kharagpur,India


Sundar Pichainamed CEOof Google in2015

Sundar Pichainamed CEOof Google in2015

Image: http://www.indiatvnews.com/business/india/india-born-sundar-pichai-named-new-ceo-of-restructured-google-19663.html

Don't Listen to your AdvisorDon't Listen to your AdvisorDon't Listen to your AdvisorDon't Listen to your Advisor

Follow your PassionFollow your PassionFollow your PassionFollow your Passion

Image: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Websters-Third-New-International-Dictionary-Unabridged-1993-/291587582043


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Encyclopedia_Britannica_in_the_library_of_The_Kings_School,_Goa.jpg


Rob Matthews: printed small sample of Wikipedia

Actually, a printedWikipedia corresponds to2000 Britannica volumes

Source:http://www.labnol.org/internet/wikipedia-printed-book/9136/

Actually, a printedWikipedia corresponds to2000 Britannica volumes

Source:http://www.labnol.org/internet/wikipedia-printed-book/9136/

UWN/MENTA

multilingual extension of WordNet forword senses and taxonomical information over 200 languages

Gerard de Melo

http://lexvo.org/uwn/http://lexvo.org/uwn/http://lexvo.org/uwn/http://lexvo.org/uwn/

Lexvo.orgLexvo.org

2008 ISWC2008 ISWCPoster PaperPoster Paper2008 ISWC2008 ISWCPoster PaperPoster Paper

Semantic WebSemantic WebJournal 2014Journal 2014Semantic WebSemantic WebJournal 2014Journal 2014

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinaryWork, e.g. inWork, e.g. inDigital HumanitiesDigital Humanities

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinaryWork, e.g. inWork, e.g. inDigital HumanitiesDigital Humanities

Lexvo.orgLexvo.org

Think Big, DreamThink Big, Dream

http://geekcom.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/

Tim Berners-Lee

25 Years of the World Wide Web:1989−2014


http://geekcom.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/

Tim Berners-Lee



Submitted apaper to

Hypermedia 1991but it was onlyaccepted as

a poster paper

Submitted apaper to

Hypermedia 1991but it was onlyaccepted as

a poster paper

Think Big, DreamThink Big, DreamThink Big, DreamThink Big, Dream

Who would'vethought you couldtake on1. Big Banks2. Big Car Companies

Who would'vethought you couldtake on1. Big Banks2. Big Car Companies

Elon Musk


Space Travel!?

2009/102009/102009/102009/10

received“Boldest Dream

Award” at our MPII D5

Fall Retreat

received“Boldest Dream

Award” at our MPII D5

Fall Retreat

Learning Common-SenseLearning Common-SenseLearning Common-SenseLearning Common-Sense

earring hasProperty gorgeousconcept definedAs theorysonar partOf submarinepredator desires food

Commonsense word relationshipsextracted from Google 1T n-grams24 relations bootstrapped via ConceptNet→ 1,158,141 triples

Tandon et al. AAAI 2011, etc.

Learning Common-SenseLearning Common-SenseLearning Common-SenseLearning Common-Sense

WebChild

AAAI 2014WSDM 2014AAAI 2011

WebChild

AAAI 2014WSDM 2014AAAI 2011

Knowlywood: Human ActivitiesKnowlywood: Human Activities

CIKM 2015CIKM 2015

Knowlywood: Human ActivitiesKnowlywood: Human Activities

CIKM 2015CIKM 2015Tomorrow

10:30 Room 107Tomorrow

10:30 Room 107


Why do you think Mary put on thering at the end of the movie?

Yes, that was powerful scene. The factthat she put it on after reading theletter from her mother indicates

that she may have changedher mind about the value of ...

SummarySummary

Image: http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/06/09/artificial-intelligence-reportedly-able-convince-judges-real-person-first-time/

Think Big

Long-TermPlanning

Work Hardbut alsoEfficiently

how to manage your research

Education