Research semester in math

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











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Admittedly, this is a soft question.



My own experience in mathematical research has been of long periods of research, mostly characterized in long "blocks" and sporadic breakthrough.



How does this image fit with research semesters, in which many researchers (veterans, early careers, postdocs and students) gather at a single institution, e.g., ICERM, IPAM etc., for a few months? What kind of research do one usually do in these sorts of semesters? Should one get there with a well defined project a-priori? Do you find this format effective for mathematical research?










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    up vote
    7
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    Admittedly, this is a soft question.



    My own experience in mathematical research has been of long periods of research, mostly characterized in long "blocks" and sporadic breakthrough.



    How does this image fit with research semesters, in which many researchers (veterans, early careers, postdocs and students) gather at a single institution, e.g., ICERM, IPAM etc., for a few months? What kind of research do one usually do in these sorts of semesters? Should one get there with a well defined project a-priori? Do you find this format effective for mathematical research?










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      up vote
      7
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      7
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      Admittedly, this is a soft question.



      My own experience in mathematical research has been of long periods of research, mostly characterized in long "blocks" and sporadic breakthrough.



      How does this image fit with research semesters, in which many researchers (veterans, early careers, postdocs and students) gather at a single institution, e.g., ICERM, IPAM etc., for a few months? What kind of research do one usually do in these sorts of semesters? Should one get there with a well defined project a-priori? Do you find this format effective for mathematical research?










      share|cite|improve this question















      Admittedly, this is a soft question.



      My own experience in mathematical research has been of long periods of research, mostly characterized in long "blocks" and sporadic breakthrough.



      How does this image fit with research semesters, in which many researchers (veterans, early careers, postdocs and students) gather at a single institution, e.g., ICERM, IPAM etc., for a few months? What kind of research do one usually do in these sorts of semesters? Should one get there with a well defined project a-priori? Do you find this format effective for mathematical research?







      soft-question research






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      Amir Sagiv





















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          Generally one applies for a short-term position to perform the (expected) final research (and writing) on a topic one has been working on for a while, for instance to explore ramifications, extensions, and so on. It is a rare venue (like the Institute for Advanced Studies) that hires you for an extended period based more on "promise" than well-identified needed execution.



          My recommendation is to do what lots of great mathematicians do: think about several projects intermittently. When one project seems particularly promising, or has succumbed to part of your analyses, highlight that one and apply for a short internship to explore it more fully.






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            1 Answer
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            Generally one applies for a short-term position to perform the (expected) final research (and writing) on a topic one has been working on for a while, for instance to explore ramifications, extensions, and so on. It is a rare venue (like the Institute for Advanced Studies) that hires you for an extended period based more on "promise" than well-identified needed execution.



            My recommendation is to do what lots of great mathematicians do: think about several projects intermittently. When one project seems particularly promising, or has succumbed to part of your analyses, highlight that one and apply for a short internship to explore it more fully.






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              up vote
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              Generally one applies for a short-term position to perform the (expected) final research (and writing) on a topic one has been working on for a while, for instance to explore ramifications, extensions, and so on. It is a rare venue (like the Institute for Advanced Studies) that hires you for an extended period based more on "promise" than well-identified needed execution.



              My recommendation is to do what lots of great mathematicians do: think about several projects intermittently. When one project seems particularly promising, or has succumbed to part of your analyses, highlight that one and apply for a short internship to explore it more fully.






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                up vote
                2
                down vote










                up vote
                2
                down vote









                Generally one applies for a short-term position to perform the (expected) final research (and writing) on a topic one has been working on for a while, for instance to explore ramifications, extensions, and so on. It is a rare venue (like the Institute for Advanced Studies) that hires you for an extended period based more on "promise" than well-identified needed execution.



                My recommendation is to do what lots of great mathematicians do: think about several projects intermittently. When one project seems particularly promising, or has succumbed to part of your analyses, highlight that one and apply for a short internship to explore it more fully.






                share|cite|improve this answer














                Generally one applies for a short-term position to perform the (expected) final research (and writing) on a topic one has been working on for a while, for instance to explore ramifications, extensions, and so on. It is a rare venue (like the Institute for Advanced Studies) that hires you for an extended period based more on "promise" than well-identified needed execution.



                My recommendation is to do what lots of great mathematicians do: think about several projects intermittently. When one project seems particularly promising, or has succumbed to part of your analyses, highlight that one and apply for a short internship to explore it more fully.







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                David G. Stork




























                     

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