CSC 590

Research Support Roles in a Research Team

Undertaking the role of "real" research is serious business (even though it may be in very modest, tiny increments like our M.S. theses!)  

First, there are ethics to it all, the ethics of plagiarism and basic conduct and basic professionalism.  There are legal issues of IP you need to consider at some level, licensing issues if create a new product and want to use it or market it.  

Then there are the issues of the research itself - how to make sure you "know" the basic field, you "know" of the most relevant and current research, and you "know" what has NOT been done yet (or can explain carefully why it is legitimate research to copy or repeat another's work.)  

Writing quality is another part of the story: the human reader cannot interpret your semantics for what they are truly worth unless the syntax is precisely correct.  (Compare this to the syntax of your program code and the compiler...)  A well written paper that makes clear all its pertinent ideas in a simple manner is a pleasure to read and to sign :-)  One that is written poorly is very painful for the reader (and the writer, eventually!)

Your job as a researcher is to make just the smallest incremental change to the state of our knowledge in your area.  To do this, your thesis must be based on what is already known, show the "edge" where you can teach us something new, and to then teach us something new (however small!) in a clear and simple manner.  That's it.

Research Teams

To work together as a loosely coupled team can be very rewarding.  You often receive far more than the effort required to participate would indicate.  Help each other with a few basic tasks:

1. Get to know each other's research areas and the main authors in those areas.  Keep an eye out for materials that would be helpful to your team members.  Note citations or search criteria and share them.

2. Be prepared to review documents for written comments and suggestions.  Leave each of your egos at the door to the room where you do the reviews :-)  Remember, criticism is usually your friend here, your committee may hit you hard if your friends and team mates don't prepare you well enough with the questions that arise from your work (or the quality or accuracy of the work itself!)

3. Have a weekly meeting for status and updates on each of your efforts.  Make it simple and "didn't get much done" is acceptable.  Progress and new directions should be shared at the top level.  Team members can help by comment and question during such meetings.

4. Share information about advisors and potential committee members, share information about the administrative nonsense you must handle to finish your thesis.