CDC/CRACDC/CRACHiPs Mentoring WorkshopCHiPs Mentoring Workshop

What Does It Mean to Earn a PhD?What Does It Mean to Earn a PhD?Perspectives from Successful ResearchersPerspectives from Successful Researchers

Timothy M. PinkstonTimothy M. PinkstonProfessor, USCProfessor, USC

July 25-27, 2009July 25-27, 2009

My BackgroundMy Background

• Education:Education:• BSEE (minor in CS): The Ohio State Univ., ’85• MSEE (Computer Engineering): Stanford U., ’86• PhDEE (Computer Engineering, Comp Arch): Stanford U., ’93

• Experience:Experience:• Industry: Industry: AT&T Bell Labs, ’85-’86; IBM Intern, ‘89-’90 (summers);

Hughes Research Labs (HRL) Doctoral Fellow ’90-’93• Academia: Academia: University of Southern California ’93 - present• Government: Government: NSF, Jan. ‘06 – Dec. ‘08

• Research Interests:Research Interests:• Computer systems architecture: interconnection networks,

on-chip networks for multicore and multiprocessor systems• Recent Activities:Recent Activities:

• “Interconnection Networks” with Jose Duato , book chapter in Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, 4th edition, J. L. Hennessy and D. A. Patterson (2006)

• Lead Program Director for Expeditions in Computing program: NSF CISE, $40M award portfolio in inaugural year (2008)

• About the Ph.D. (ref. wikipedia)About the Ph.D. (ref. wikipedia)– Origins date back to the middle ages—first awarded in 1150 A.D. Origins date back to the middle ages—first awarded in 1150 A.D.

in Europe (Paris); first awarded in U.S. at Yale University in 1861in Europe (Paris); first awarded in U.S. at Yale University in 1861– For academic disciplines outside the professional fields of For academic disciplines outside the professional fields of

theology (Th.D), medicine (M.D.), and law (J.D.)theology (Th.D), medicine (M.D.), and law (J.D.)– Highest degree conferred by a university to an individualHighest degree conferred by a university to an individual– Advanced coursework plus regiment of Advanced coursework plus regiment of research and research and

scholarship scholarship that builds upon, and contributes to, our wealth of that builds upon, and contributes to, our wealth of knowledgeknowledge

• Value in IndustryValue in Industry– Often required for positions of technical leadership, managementOften required for positions of technical leadership, management

• Value in AcademiaValue in Academia– Almost always a requirement for college/univ. faculty positionsAlmost always a requirement for college/univ. faculty positions

• Earning a Ph.D. demarks the embarkation of a career-Earning a Ph.D. demarks the embarkation of a career-long journey of discovery and cutting-edge innovationlong journey of discovery and cutting-edge innovation

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) DegreeDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree

• Research: Research: can be thought of as “concentrated study” that contributes new knowledge & understanding– Seeks answers to difficult questions: What is (is not) possible? – Seeks discovery of new knowledge and insights in addition to

broad, deep understanding and/or creative application of them• New theories, methods, algorithms, techniques, technologies, designs

– Far-reaching scope in both time horizon and space of exploration• goes beyond high-end development, which typically looks out only a

few years and has a well constrained design space with fewer, less complex tradeoffs

– Provides basis/foundation for new innovation, new inventions …– Hallmark: SOS—sustained, original, significant work

• UUnderstand problem, gain awareness of other proposed solutions (assumptions, benefits, limitations), propose new idea(s), formulate plan of attack, evaluate effectiveness, document/disseminate results

• Scholarship:Scholarship: provides state-of-the-art context for research

Research and ScholarshipResearch and Scholarship

• What can one expect from doing research? – As much effort can go into understanding and defining the

problem as goes into finding novel solutions – May happen upon unexpected discoveries along the way– May need to change directions based on preliminary findings– Oftentimes must build new tools (research infrastructure) to

enable discovery and/or evaluation of what’s being discovered• High Performance Systems research: develop relevant benchmarks

or metrics, simulation/synthesis tools, experimental prototypes, etc.

– Many good ideas may not transfer to commercial products, yet they can contribute to our base of knowledge and understanding

– Some research results take years for technology to catch up– Highly focused effort, but can (should) have wide ramifications

• Research efforts should work towards achieving a goal

Characteristics of ResearchCharacteristics of Research

Properties of a Research GoalProperties of a Research Goal

• Simple to stateSimple to state• Not obvious how to do itNot obvious how to do it• Clear benefitClear benefit• Progress and solution are testableProgress and solution are testable• Can be broken into smaller stepsCan be broken into smaller steps

– So that you can see intermediate progressSo that you can see intermediate progress

By Jim Gray, Turing Award WinnerBy Jim Gray, Turing Award Winner

http://research.Microsoft.com/~Gray/talks/Turing2.ppt http://research.Microsoft.com/~Gray/talks/Turing2.ppt

Ultimate Driver of (Systems) ResearchUltimate Driver of (Systems) Research

ScientificInquiry

TechnologicalAdvancement

SocietalChallenges

• Push-pull between three drivers of research• Spurred by scientific inquiry, systems research

ultimately should help us meet societal challenges through innovative technological advancement

• Earning a Ph.D.– Acknowledges you for attaining highest scholastic achievement – Equips you to do research that contributes new knowledge– Enables you to become an “expert” in an area within a discipline– Puts you in driver’s seat to pursue satisfying career opportunities

• Academia

• Industry

• Government Labs

• Entrepreneurship

– Sets you on a course for making exciting and impactful new discoveries that, ultimately, benefit society

• Learning and discovery do not end with earning a Ph.D.

In ConclusionIn Conclusion