KU lab (To perspective students and postdocs)

KU lab (To perspective students and postdocs)

Congratulations on your successful career up to this point! I was not a good undergraduate student myself, so I respect that and appreciate your potential. The path in front of you, however, is very different from the path behind you. Many students may have earned an A in the class you got an A in the past, but doing research is becoming one of the first. You will be the first person in the world who will create X. You will present X, and professors and industry leaders will listen to your presentation intensely and want to learn from you. It will be an amazing feeling and we will help you experience it over the next 5 years. For postdoc candidates, we will help you advance your career in the right direction. 

Many universities aim to train the left brain only and never discuss the roles of the right brain and the heart to the success. Our previous experiences, however, taught us critical lessons—we need all three elements, because there are so many obstacles and adversities in challenging research projects and in our lives. In our lab, we value all three elements and aim to train them all. See Ken’s introduction in this page. Shown below is a 5-year left brain training plan for students; it’s a guideline, and actual progresses vary among students.

Year 1 

  • Get used to grad school life, settle down personal life
  • Take courses
  • Learn the research project
  • Work on a mini project (#P1), do 1 or 2 plan-do-check-analysis (PDCA) cycles
  • Submit an abstract on #P1 for a conference

Year 2 

  • Go to a conference (networking, discussion skills)
  • Present #P1 at the conference (presentation skills)
  • Start a new, full-scale project (#P2), do PDCA cycles
  • Submit an abstract on #P2 to a conference
  • Take courses
  • Pass the oral exam (PhD qualification exam)

Year 3 

  • Go to 1–2 conferences
  • Present #P2 at the conference
  • Submit a manuscript #J1 based on #P2
  • Start a new project (#P3), do PDCA cycles 
  • Start taking more initiatives
  • Submit an abstract on #P3 to a conference
  • Form the thesis committee, present the thesis project proposal
  • Do TA-ship

Year 4 

  • Go to 1–2 conferences
  • Present #P3 at the conference
  • Submit a manuscript #J2 based on #P3
  • Start a new project (#P4), do PDCA cycles
  • Submit an abstract on #P4 to a conference
  • Work on networking
  • Report the progress to the thesis committee 

Year 5 

  • Go to 1–2 conferences
  • Present #P4 at the conference
  • Submit a manuscript #J3 based on #P4
  • Do internship at a company 
  • Present the progress, get an approval to write the thesis
  • Write and defend the thesis 

It is exciting to aim high, but do not get overwhelmed. We know that everyone comes in a different shape, and none of us is perfect. Your strength is different from your peers, and vice versa. We will help you identify your own strengths and make them even stronger. We will also help you improve your weaknesses and learn how to manage them. We want to be the best version of ourselves, and there are many ways to get there. Think about star wide receivers in (American) football. Some of them may be tall with a huge catch radius and that’s their strength. Some may be agile and quick in small spaces. Some may have blazing speed. Everyone plays in a different style. Everyone knows how to use their talent in games effectively, and all are great wide receivers. That is what we wish to accomplish. Please also read Ken’s introduction and KU lab’s philosophies. Come join us if you think we will be a good fit!