• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Help! I need to choose a research interest for my MSEE and can't decide

R

RaynorWolfcastle

Diamond Member
Let me preface this by saying that I posted this here so that I could get responses from EEs rather than the slew of inane responses I'd no doubt get in OT with this topic. Anyhow... I graduated in December as an EE with a double specialization in photonics and telecom though I took a bunch of classes in signal processing and electronics as well. Frankly, I don't know what to go into and the application deadlines are coming up.

So far I've considered:
- Signal Processing & DSP hardware
- Photonic devices and telecommunications
- Optoelectronics
- RFICs
- VLSI design

I like circuits but I don't think I could handle large analog designs, not for a career anyway, I worked on a ~60-70 transistor analog amp IC this fall and I wanted to shoot myself by the end of it; I took an RFIC class that I really liked though. I've also really enjoyed the photonics classes I've taken; in the end I am really interested in all these subjects and I can't really pick.

Does anyone know of some sort of cross-over field that encompasses several of these topics? Is there anyone that's worked in these fields that has any advice regarding job prospects and what not? Really, I don't know what to do and would appreciate any advice.
 
I'm not a EE and have little knowledge about anything in that field, but I recommend that you look at a recent journal article or two from each of the fields. Look at what the different groups are doing and see which one interests you the most. It's one thing to be interested in a general field, but if you're looking to do research in it, you're likely to run into the details, which you might find appalling. 😛
 
Originally posted by: CycloWizard
I'm not a EE and have little knowledge about anything in that field, but I recommend that you look at a recent journal article or two from each of the fields. Look at what the different groups are doing and see which one interests you the most. It's one thing to be interested in a general field, but if you're looking to do research in it, you're likely to run into the details, which you might find appalling. 😛
Click to expand...
I've read several out of each of these:
- Signal Processing -> I am a member of the IEEE signal processing society and usually thumb through the magazine they send me every quarter or so. Usually I'll read a couple of the interesting ones.
- Photonic devices, I've read several papers about silicon photonics and quantum cryptography, all very interesting
- Optoelectronics/RFIC, some overlap between these two. I've taken a grad-level class in RFIC that I really liked and read a bunch of papers relating to the design of RFIC front-ends for wireless apps.
- VLSI. I've recently started to receive the JSSC and I've been reading a bunch of articles in it about VLSI design lately, though I've never taken a class in it. I am currently working as a technical writer for a company that has several ASIC design teams so I get to document what they do, and it seems really interesting.

So ummmm... yeah... I thought of that too, but that didn't help. 😕
 
Took a grad class on photonics and opto, seems like it's still a researcher's field. There's certainly plenty of MS/PhD opportunities there. I didn't get into signals/DSP or RF so I'm not sure what kind of research is available, but the job market is pretty good, all my friends in the field got hired quickly.

VLSI is kinda broad, afaik it can be split into two:

- circuit topology research, which is still going strong in both academia and industry.
- silicon fundamentals, device research, how that maps to good layout, highly sought after field.

Just don't ever get stuck doing layout in VLSI... ugh.

If you can handle the analog, that is a guaranteed job for sure.
 
Have you gone to a couple university websites to look up professors in each field and see what current research topics are available? At least to me if you don't like circuits, VLSI and RFIC is out of the picture. Another thing to consider is are you considering a Ph'D position? When I worked in a fiber optics company, every engineer that was hired was a Ph'D in optoelectronics.
 
I second, third, and fourth TuxDave's suggestion. When you are going into that level of research, you will be doing something a bit more specific than the categories you have listed.

When I applied to grad school, I toured the eventual school I attended. They had me interview with a whole bunch of professors there. I was talking with one and mentioned something that I had done in the past, got a feel for my interests, and then he had me meet with a couple of profs that weren't on the interview schedule who were doing some really cool research on replicating the function of an eye (starting out with a rabbit's eye) through electronics. I didn't take that opportunity, but it is something I wouldn't have even known existed had I not put a lot of emphasis on tourning the department. Having a good relationship with your advisor (and a good advisor) is extremely important. Get to know them before making your decision and you will be well off.
 
Originally posted by: interchange
I second, third, and fourth TuxDave's suggestion. When you are going into that level of research, you will be doing something a bit more specific than the categories you have listed.

When I applied to grad school, I toured the eventual school I attended. They had me interview with a whole bunch of professors there. I was talking with one and mentioned something that I had done in the past, got a feel for my interests, and then he had me meet with a couple of profs that weren't on the interview schedule who were doing some really cool research on replicating the function of an eye (starting out with a rabbit's eye) through electronics. I didn't take that opportunity, but it is something I wouldn't have even known existed had I not put a lot of emphasis on tourning the department. Having a good relationship with your advisor (and a good advisor) is extremely important. Get to know them before making your decision and you will be well off.
Click to expand...

I do have a close enough relationship with three of my profs (one in photonics, one in RFIC, one in Signal Processing).

The one in RFIC said he'd take me as a student if I'm interested, and I've worked in his lab before; he's really hands-off though and I'm not sure that's what I want. I'd probably be working on some front-ends for 3G/4G cell phones if I go with him.

The one in photonics, I've also spoken to about grad school and asked him what kind of research he was in. He has some interesting projects relating to photonic crystals for board and system-level optical interconnects (essentially there are three profs that are researching "optical PCBs").

Third one is in signal processing, and I haven't spoken to him about grad school but I'm sure he'd take me. I had a video compression project with him that I really enjoyed and I'm sure I could pursue some DSP hardware with him if I like.

Anyhow, I just don't know what I want to do. Any other advice is still appreciated. Any ideas on job prospects? 🙂
 
Well I emailed a couple of profs in photonics at my Alma Mater and they seem pretty willing to take me on. I think I'm going to go with photonics as a research interest, I'll probably look for research related to electronics so I can still do some of that since I do like it. I just hope the job prospects improve by the time I graduate because it's pretty slim pickings at the moment 🙁
 
Originally posted by: interchange
Well good luck to you then. Planning on going to the same grad school as undergrad?
Click to expand...

I'm applying to several though I think it may be easier both financially and academically for me to continue at McGill (where I got my undergrad) for grad school. The photonics lab is very well funded, the profs are excellent, McGill has a very good reputation in photonics, the cost of education is cheap (~$5k CAD/year), and I am certain to get in even with a 3.3 GPA.

I emailed one of the profs I had last semester and he replied with proposed projects in "photonic signal processing (all-optical regeneration, label processing for packet-switched networks, and microwave photonics) or biophotonics (developing optical sources for use in OCT). "

All of these sound very interesting and are the precisely the type of cross-over research I was looking for. I'm scheduled to have a chat with him on Tue about it 😀.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top