Salam and good day.
Yes, i know.
Well, needless to say, it's been a while since my last post. I was a little bit occupied with finalizing my PhD thesis (the title is "Exploring Computational Models for Intelligent Support of Persons with Depression"). Alhamdulillah, earlier this month, I have finally submitted my thesis to the reading committee members and waiting for their decision. I hope they will be nice to me :-) Keep my fingers crossed and pray for me!
Technically, my doctoral research is almost come to an end, and it is a high time to venture into a new insight of another work yet related. While waiting for their decision, currently i am working on a new project with my thesis advisor. We are exploring an exciting field of computational models for neural and brain activities during unipolar depression. Some parts of my work is to investigate brain functions within depressed persons, and its relation to their bodily responses and cognitive activities. It provides different layers of computational abstraction levels while retaining some important concepts (or all) from neuroscience and cognitive psychology literature. All i can say, this field is pretty new and i foresee to decipher the unknown. I will keep you update.
Anyway, one of the most funniest parts is, people often asked me, "how do i really enjoy my PhD?" Of course, to definitely say that I enjoyed doing my PhD would be a half-cooked lie, not just an ordinary lie mind you. :-) All I can say that it is really demanding and can be a very frustrating course of study. It should only be undertaken if you really enjoy doing serious scientific and academic research. While doing your PhD, you will spend most of the time in the lab and unconsciously ( i bet) you tend to disengage yourself from the cruel world outside, and to marry the thought that those reviewers (name it, journals, conferences, examiners) will try to eat you. Ok, it might be too much, but reading a number of e-mails from your supervisors and project sponsors will give your an eerie feeling (actually, it is a mind-over-body problem, since we tend to think something wildly negative when all your supervisor asked was a copy of your paper. Trust me, they are not cruel, but our thought is. They just want to fix you ..heh..heh..heh).
So, in order to not become entirely away from reality it is a good idea to get a real hobby and the less your hobby has to do with the subject of your PhD thesis, i can say the better. If you are considering doing a PhD on a subject you really enjoy and find fascinating then beware. The chances are that after three or so years of studying nothing but your chosen topic, you will hate the very mention of its name. (In my case, nobody likes depression). :-)
Anyway, enough mumbling from a demented mind of mine. So, as an avid fan of Dolly Parton, i know a song fits our lives well. Better to get living to all of you! Enjoy.
Pakcik said: Ï love my life, because life is awesome!
Yes, i know.
Well, needless to say, it's been a while since my last post. I was a little bit occupied with finalizing my PhD thesis (the title is "Exploring Computational Models for Intelligent Support of Persons with Depression"). Alhamdulillah, earlier this month, I have finally submitted my thesis to the reading committee members and waiting for their decision. I hope they will be nice to me :-) Keep my fingers crossed and pray for me!
Technically, my doctoral research is almost come to an end, and it is a high time to venture into a new insight of another work yet related. While waiting for their decision, currently i am working on a new project with my thesis advisor. We are exploring an exciting field of computational models for neural and brain activities during unipolar depression. Some parts of my work is to investigate brain functions within depressed persons, and its relation to their bodily responses and cognitive activities. It provides different layers of computational abstraction levels while retaining some important concepts (or all) from neuroscience and cognitive psychology literature. All i can say, this field is pretty new and i foresee to decipher the unknown. I will keep you update.
Anyway, one of the most funniest parts is, people often asked me, "how do i really enjoy my PhD?" Of course, to definitely say that I enjoyed doing my PhD would be a half-cooked lie, not just an ordinary lie mind you. :-) All I can say that it is really demanding and can be a very frustrating course of study. It should only be undertaken if you really enjoy doing serious scientific and academic research. While doing your PhD, you will spend most of the time in the lab and unconsciously ( i bet) you tend to disengage yourself from the cruel world outside, and to marry the thought that those reviewers (name it, journals, conferences, examiners) will try to eat you. Ok, it might be too much, but reading a number of e-mails from your supervisors and project sponsors will give your an eerie feeling (actually, it is a mind-over-body problem, since we tend to think something wildly negative when all your supervisor asked was a copy of your paper. Trust me, they are not cruel, but our thought is. They just want to fix you ..heh..heh..heh).
So, in order to not become entirely away from reality it is a good idea to get a real hobby and the less your hobby has to do with the subject of your PhD thesis, i can say the better. If you are considering doing a PhD on a subject you really enjoy and find fascinating then beware. The chances are that after three or so years of studying nothing but your chosen topic, you will hate the very mention of its name. (In my case, nobody likes depression). :-)
Anyway, enough mumbling from a demented mind of mine. So, as an avid fan of Dolly Parton, i know a song fits our lives well. Better to get living to all of you! Enjoy.
Pakcik said: Ï love my life, because life is awesome!
