How to Plan Research Projects and Careers

Question

I am wondering how successful computer scientists working in research positions plan their research projects and careers in the face of uncertainty and career pressures such as external deadlines and publication expectations. Time estimation is a notoriously difficult problem in software development and in research, yet managers, deans, and other people who evaluate the performance of researchers for hiring/firing/compensation purposes need researchers to be able to make accurate estimates of the time and effort it takes to complete their work. "Publish or perish" is the reality for researchers to earn a living doing research, but competitive conferences have acceptance rates in the 10%-30% range. How do researchers manage these performance expectations without "perishing"?

brudgers · Accepted Answer

[random remarks from the internet]I suspect it is like every other social endeavor, success is mostly a matter of interpersonal relationships.Interesting projects arise from being around people who get what you are interested and even if they don't dig it, appreciate how into it you are. Interesting projects come from being part of a community of "like minded assholes."The contrary end of the spectrum is an infrastructure filled with gate keepers who see themselves as gatekeepers.The difference becomes stark in regard to deadlines.A community values the creative thing as a creative thing: The cool thing takes as long as it takes to make, but doesn't take very long because the creator is into it.Gatekeepers value meeting criteria. When ix publications a year is a key to some gatekeeper's gate, it just means getting past six other gatekeepers.Good luck.