The true meaning of PhD - I just wonder... (Jan/28/2007 )
I just wonder what it takes to be a " true" PhD in its real sense, or like some sort of the essence of a genuine PhD..
We all know that there are lots of PhD programs available in different universities. Of the possible ways to earn it, here are some that i know
1) Mixture of course work and research (very tough). in where i am, accumulated number of units of subjects+exam+dissertation+2 papers with at least one as first author in an International Journal= PhD
2) by research alone (like engagaging in projects)or by coursework alone
3) by publication of a dissertation without having to matriculate (e.g. JSPS-Ronpaku)
4) honorary degree
My prof always say that the PhD degree is just a badge, i somehow believe him. How about you guys?
We all know that there are lots of PhD programs available in different universities. Of the possible ways to earn it, here are some that i know
1) Mixture of course work and research (very tough). in where i am, accumulated number of units of subjects+exam+dissertation+2 papers with at least one as first author in an International Journal= PhD
2) by research alone (like engagaging in projects)or by coursework alone
3) by publication of a dissertation without having to matriculate (e.g. JSPS-Ronpaku)
4) honorary degree
My prof always say that the PhD degree is just a badge, i somehow believe him. How about you guys?
I guess every university/country/etc has its own, depending which institution is responsible. A good general meaning I learned is "It is a proof that you can work on your own authority". That means no one has to instruct/superwise you and is meant with all it consequences: Planning the experiments (what makes sense, what is unknown, has a chance for success), doing the experiments (which methods are suitable, feasable), interpreting the results, writing a paper or giving a talk to make it public etc etc pp. Just everything the work e.g. of a professor constitutes of.
We all know that there are lots of PhD programs available in different universities. Of the possible ways to earn it, here are some that i know
1) Mixture of course work and research (very tough). in where i am, accumulated number of units of subjects+exam+dissertation+2 papers with at least one as first author in an International Journal= PhD
2) by research alone (like engagaging in projects)or by coursework alone
3) by publication of a dissertation without having to matriculate (e.g. JSPS-Ronpaku)
4) honorary degree
My prof always say that the PhD degree is just a badge, i somehow believe him. How about you guys?
I guess every university/country/etc has its own, depending which institution is responsible. A good general meaning I learned is "It is a proof that you can work on your own authority". That means no one has to instruct/superwise you and is meant with all it consequences: Planning the experiments (what makes sense, what is unknown, has a chance for success), doing the experiments (which methods are suitable, feasable), interpreting the results, writing a paper or giving a talk to make it public etc etc pp. Just everything the work e.g. of a professor constitutes of.
well this is not necessarily the case in every phD.
i know phD students with every single experiment planned and designed by their professor. they do work like technicians and still earn their phD 
to me phD is a way of learning. you learn how to research, how to write a paper, how to do some things that you dont like and still find wisdom in that...
for those who want to continue in the competetive sceintific feild, phD means a first step to their future of course. We all know that there are lots of PhD programs available in different universities. Of the possible ways to earn it, here are some that i know
1) Mixture of course work and research (very tough). in where i am, accumulated number of units of subjects+exam+dissertation+2 papers with at least one as first author in an International Journal= PhD
2) by research alone (like engagaging in projects)or by coursework alone
3) by publication of a dissertation without having to matriculate (e.g. JSPS-Ronpaku)
4) honorary degree
My prof always say that the PhD degree is just a badge, i somehow believe him. How about you guys?
I guess every university/country/etc has its own, depending which institution is responsible. A good general meaning I learned is "It is a proof that you can work on your own authority". That means no one has to instruct/superwise you and is meant with all it consequences: Planning the experiments (what makes sense, what is unknown, has a chance for success), doing the experiments (which methods are suitable, feasable), interpreting the results, writing a paper or giving a talk to make it public etc etc pp. Just everything the work e.g. of a professor constitutes of.
well this is not necessarily the case in every phD.
i know phD students with every single experiment planned and designed by their professor. they do work like technicians and still earn their phD to me phD is a way of learning. you learn how to research, how to write a paper, how to do some things that you dont like and still find wisdom in that...
for those who want to continue in the competetive sceintific feild, phD means a first step to their future of course.i agree with you kathy..oftentimes than not, experiments are really designed and planned by the supervisor. Luckily, we still end up as the first author
. Thats almost my case, however i feel fortunate that my prof is a bit receptive of my ideas whenever i suggest something. I know that there are cases, that the student is like a technician.Somehow im thinking how good it is to feel that majority of the idea and planning emanated from you, something that you can really call "your own"
i know phD students with every single experiment planned and designed by their professor. they do work like technicians and still earn their phD to me phD is a way of learning. you learn how to research, how to write a paper, how to do some things that you dont like and still find wisdom in that...
for those who want to continue in the competetive sceintific feild, phD means a first step to their future of course.i agree with you kathy..oftentimes than not, experiments are really designed and planned by the supervisor. Luckily, we still end up as the first author
. Thats almost my case, however i feel fortunate that my prof is a bit receptive of my ideas whenever i suggest something. I know that there are cases, that the student is like a technician.Somehow im thinking how good it is to feel that majority of the idea and planning emanated from you, something that you can really call "your own"
In my university you work this way when you do your master or diploma work. My professor only knows theoretically what I'm doing, when listen to a presentation of me. I work almost completely independent as our other phds.
bit interesting. Technician or Academician?? Its upto you, what you really wish to be??
Dont feel bother that your idea has been modified by your mentor. Original idea always be appreciated and some unwanted depth would be eliminated in your particular research work. Complete independent doent mean 'DO AS YOU WISH".
I mean I beleive in sharing ideas with senior and junior fellows. This is why there are public discussions, seminars, publications etc etc. Moreover here is bioforum. Afterall what is our desire is we want to learn something, and we want to share what we learnt.
Just keep doing good works in your field is PhD.
yes it depends maybe on professors or on students or on both. here one phD student who is about to graduate is rejecting to send his paper as his (my too) professor wants. he wanted to do some editing and thus couldnt graduate in this semester. but as long as he is concerned he is doing the right thing. he came to me and asked me what would I do....and I told him that I believe there are billions and billions theories and hypotheses you can come up with about certain facts. so usually I have my point of view (hypothesis) and my professor's hypothesis. I will always try to defend his. 
because to me you can defend both. it really doesnt matter which one to defend, since both can turn out to be wrong after all, but what really matters to me and where real researcher (phD) lies is to know how to defend. So I present my hypothesis and I listen to his. Then I read more about his, try to defend it and go on researching it. He is happy, I am happy and my phD is going on.