Hi everyone,
I’m an undergrad working on my first research-based project (Stacked Intelligent Metasurfaces optimization using RL) which i also my Final year project, and honestly, I’m feeling a bit lost. Unlike regular coursework, research is way more open-ended, and I need to report my progress weekly to my FYP supervisor.
I’d love to hear from experienced researchers about:
- how do you organize information when studying multiple topics?
- how do you decide what to focus on when starting in a new research area?
- how do you avoid getting overwhelmed with too many papers?
- any tips on structuring self-study for research?
- how do you efficiently read and summarize research papers?
- are there any good communities or forums where early researchers can discuss their work?
I’m a complete beginner, and struggling with where to even start once I have a list of topics I need to understand before diving into research papers. If you’ve been through this stage, I’d really appreciate any advice or insights that helped you.
thanks in advance
Comments
If you are interested in research, the first lesson is TALK TO MENTORS OR MORE EXPERIENCED PEERS. Research is a networking game. Learn the face to face piece.
You have good questions. Take them to your supervisor. And don’t forget more experienced peers. I learned as much from my fellow grad students in grad school as the professors. Undergrads may not know as much but they know stuff. Talk to them.
Good luck!