PhD Journey: Unveiling the First Few Months and Mentorship's Influence

Introduction

In this article, I aim to provider a comprehensive overview of the intial phases of my PhD journey, and what the people should expect who are also starting thier journey into the Doctoral Program. In Section 1, I will be detailing my recent work over the past few months, offering insights into the activities that align with the typical endeavors of those starting their journey in the initial phases. In Section 2, I will emohasize the pivotal role of a SuperVisor in the PhD trajectory. Lastly, in Section 3, I will articulate my personal reflections and emotions of how I have been feeling till now.

Section 1 - Embarking on the PhD Journey: Insights into Initial Endeavors and Recent Progress

Firstly, my PhD revolves around Recommendation Systems and their integration with emotions, biophysical sensing, and cognitive thinking. The aim is to explore how these elements can be incorporated into a Recommendation System, followed by identifying potential use cases for its application.

Three months have swiftly passed since the onset of my PhD journey. Initially, my supervisor emphasized the importance of laying a solid foundation in the field of study. The directive was clear: dive into the realm of Recommendation Systems, comprehensively exploring its essence, various types, and gaining a holistic perspective on the research topic.

This stage, pivotal for all embarking on a PhD expedition, involves dedicating significant time to this foundational phase.I feel one should dedicate a significant amount of time to this, as if the base of a building isn't strong and one continues building on top of it, the building is very likely to topple in the near future. However, if the base is strong, the building becomes exceptionally solid, impervious to toppling attempts.

After building the base, I was asked to select a specific sub-topic and once again build a comprehensive understanding of it, creating a really thorough overview of that particular area. In the last few weeks, my focus has been on researching the latest advancements in this sub-topic, as we are preparing to implement a project based on it.

Section 2 - Unveiling the Crucial Role of a Supervisor in the PhD Journey

The relationship with the supervisor is of paramount importance, as they are the guiding force in an individual's research journey.

Consider the supervisor as the coach of an athlete: the coach understands the training regimen, necessary nutrition, and workouts essential for the athlete. While the athlete invests effort and hard work, it's the coach who channels this energy in the right direction, possessing a broader perspective for the long-term goal.

The bond between a student and their supervisor is symbiotic; the student commits effort, hard work, and their essence to the research while the supervisor provides crucial guidance.

A PhD is akin to a team sport rather than a solitary marathon—it's a relay race where the baton passes from one end to another, emphasizing collaboration and cooperation."

Section 3 - Exploring Personal Reflections: Navigating Emotions in My PhD Journey

I have been really happy with my decision to pursue the PhD because it's the people in the realm of PhDs who are solving world problems through their research. The entire PhD community operates through collaboration. They conduct their research, share their results, and then another PhD scholar builds upon the previous research. By working collaboratively in this manner, groundbreaking advancements are made.