Shotgun Research
Paul Beame mentioned being hiring manager at a research lab as a test of executive skills on the research side. That got me distracted with an unique form of research found in labs.
You do what I call "Shotgun Research" at some labs. You go into a meeting with a person you haven't met, and in the following one hour, you have to bond with them, size them up, get their respect, quickly formulate a problem that will match the interests of both of you, and put in place the skeleton of a novel idea or direction or even a claim. Then before the clock interferes you have to lay the foundation for how the direction will be developed, and leave with a social contract. Later of course you will refine the problem, nudge the direction and rewrite the claims, and have to do the sweat work to make it a project or a paper, but the initial shotgun meeting is the key.
I modelled shotgun research after shotgun sequencing in genomics which wiki tells me is "named by analogy with the rapidly-expanding, quasi-random firing pattern of a shotgun." Quasi-random is right. Shotgun research does not lead to FOCS/STOC papers., but leads you to problems which with serious sweat may become one.
You do what I call "Shotgun Research" at some labs. You go into a meeting with a person you haven't met, and in the following one hour, you have to bond with them, size them up, get their respect, quickly formulate a problem that will match the interests of both of you, and put in place the skeleton of a novel idea or direction or even a claim. Then before the clock interferes you have to lay the foundation for how the direction will be developed, and leave with a social contract. Later of course you will refine the problem, nudge the direction and rewrite the claims, and have to do the sweat work to make it a project or a paper, but the initial shotgun meeting is the key.
I modelled shotgun research after shotgun sequencing in genomics which wiki tells me is "named by analogy with the rapidly-expanding, quasi-random firing pattern of a shotgun." Quasi-random is right. Shotgun research does not lead to FOCS/STOC papers., but leads you to problems which with serious sweat may become one.
posted by metoo at 5:45 AM
9 Comments:
so do you think this is a good thing or no? do you think it's a good thing to have done at least once in your life?
Hi Hal,
That seems to be value judgement, to be made by each individual. I personally like some things about corporate research labs.
-- metoo
Sounds more like a shotgun wedding...
I think you're doing an important blog, specially when you publishing this kind of articles... it's an informative content and I'll be a regular reader because I've got an habit to read this kind of articles, specially if they're on blogspot. 23jj
I've been reading this blog and you're doing an important informative project and this'll be my best blog t the bookmarks. 23jj
This blog is so interesting. I must say that at first I thought it would be a waste of time, but after reading your post was impressed with its quality. I just hope that over time you continue maintaining the same quality, and most of the same passion at the time of writing.
Interesting project! I think there are positive and negative facts, but the most important is to be sure of what you want and what you do, and I guess you are. Continue with your shotgun research.
This is something I was looking for because it's so good, I'd like to get more information about this excellent blog because I got some facts I didn't know.
That seems to be value judgement, to be made by each individual. I personally like some things about corporate research labs.
Post a Comment
<< Home