What am I studying now?
Today I began studying for the LPI examination with Marilia. For those of you who won’t click the link, LPI is a proficience examination for Linux administration and use. It would be my first “shikaku”, and I figure out that if I ever get kicked out of Academia, this can be handy. Also, it will be a chance for me to brush up my BOFH skills.
Other than that, I (should be) am studying Memetic Algorithms, and their applications to Portfolio Optimization. I have published a paper about how using MA is more interesting for Real Valued Resource Allocation problems (like portfolio Optimization), than using general GA’s - but so far my research has been composed of “been there, done that”, and now I have to do the inglorious job of analysing the effects of all parameters and alternatives to the algorithm - something which is scientifically important, but, I fear, not very publishable. I may get some more publication drops out of that if I dip into the “constraint handling” field - but to do that I need to start again my experiments, which are hopelessly rusty and webby.
Other than that, I’m writing a report for the funding agency of our laboratory (a 2 page report to be inserted in the middle of a larger report my professor will submit - but the use of a stupid word template makes things look worse than they really are), and am reviewing a book my professor is writing - two somewhat unrewarding jobs.
Finally, on the “undergrad students bugging me” front, I am now heading the TA division of the Robocup classes this year - won’t be able to hide under the umbrella of more experienced students anymore, I’m afraid.
That’s about what I am doing academically. If I’m going to bitch about something, is that I’m doing a lot of non-research relevant stuff, and postponing my research itself because of this - but hey, aren’t all grad students like that?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Cuidado pra teu professor não ler o teu blog. Falar assim do livro
dele vai deixa-lo triste. hehe. Abracao. G.
ps: estou lendo um guia sobre como sobreviver durante a pós-grad.
Achei por acaso no meu lab. :p