Graduate Studies, Research, Writing, and Careers in Computer Science

Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory
Department of Computer Science
Iowa State University

Resources on Research, Writing, and Careers in Computer Science

Useful Books on Graduate Studies, Research and Careers in Computer Science

Here is a list of extremely useful books on research, scientific ethics, writing, dissertations, and scientific careers that I recommend to all of my graduate students.

Online Resources on Graduate Study in Computer Science

Advice for Undergraduates Considering Graduate School by Phil Agre.
Graduate School Survival Guide, Wanda Pratt.
Tomorrow's Professor (an excellent collection of articles by Richard Reis, author of a book with the same title.
Computer Science Graduate School Survival Guide by Ronald Azuma.
Information for current and prospective graduate students by Timothy Finin.
Graduate School Superstars
Choosing an Advisor by Marshall Lev Dermer, UW-Milwaukee.
How to Succeed in Graduate School - A Guide for Students and Advisors (Part 1) by Marie desJardins.
How to Succeed in Graduate School - A Guide for Students and Advisors (Part 2) by Marie desJardins.
Graduate Study in the Computer and Mathematical Sciences: A Survival Manual by Dianne Prost O'Leary.
Networking on the Network by Phil Agre
How to be terrible graduate student (by Graeme Hirst, University of Toronto).
How to cope with "burnout", by Andreas Gehmeyr.
Financial Aid

Online Resources on Ethics

On Being A Scientist: Responsible Conduct in Research (from National Academy of Sciences).
Association of Computing Machinery Computing and Public Policy Page (including Code of Ethics)
Iowa State University's Code of Computer Ethics
The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette. by Arlene Rinaldi.
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility

Online Resources on Research

You and your research, by Richard Hamming.
A Letter to Research Students, by Duane A. Bailey
Research Methods in Computer Science (Tom Dietterich's course at Oregon State).
Graduate Study in the Computer and Mathematical Sciences: A Survival Manual, by Dianne O'Leary
How to do Research in the MIT AI Lab, ed. David Chapman
How to Have a Bad Career in Research/Academia by David Patterson
Writers' Tools web page from the American Communication Association.
Dissertation News, Thesis News published by The Association for Support of Graduate Students.

Online Resources on Writing, Publication, and Presentation

Tips for Writing and Presentation of Thesis or Dissertation by Joseph Levine.
How to write a Ph.D. thesis by Joe Wolfe.
How to write a thesis in an Experimental area of Computer Science by Doug Comer.
How to Organize Your Thesis by John Chinneck.
Sample Theses from MIT
Guide for Writing a Research Proposal by Joseph Levine.
An Evaluation of the Ninth SOSP Submissions, or, How (and How Not) to Write a Good Systems Paper by Roy Levin and David D. Redell
Hints on good mathematical writing, by David Goss
A primer on mathematical writing, by Steven L. Kleiman
How to Give a Good Research Talk, by Simon Peyton Jones et al. and comments.
How to Present a Paper in Theoretical Computer Science, by Ian Parberry.
A Guide for New Referees in Theoretical Computer Science, by Ian Parberry.
Advice to Authors of Extended Abstracts, by William Pugh.
How To Have Your Abstract Rejected, by van Leunen and Lipton.
Advice for 1996 POPL submissions

Online Resources for Women in Computer Science

Papers on women in computer science.
- Why Are There So Few Female Computer Scientists?, by Ellen Spertus.
CRA Committee on the Status of Women in Research

Online Resources on Careers in Computer Science

Online Resource on Life After Graduate School

The Assistant Professor's Guide to the Galaxy by George Bekey.
Resources for new professors by Nigel Ward.

Humor

This list of resources for graduate students is maintained by Dr. Vasant Honavar, Department of Computer Science, Iowa State University. Please send suggestions, additions, or changes to: honavar@cs.iastate.edu.