Resources for Graduate Students
After the Master's degree and before the Ph.D.
The following is a guide that I wrote for graduate students shortly
after earning my Ph.D. It contains advice for graduate students in
mathematics during the period of time after they pass qualifying exams
(a.k.a. comprehensve exams) and before receiving their Ph.D. It provides
suggestions on such topics as choosing an advisor, beginning to conduct
research, writing up results, and submitting papers for publication.
The guide can be downloaded in the following formats: [pdf][ps][dvi]
A Brief Guide to Mathematical Writing
This is a list of suggestions I have put together for grad
students who are beginning to do mathematical writing for the
first time in their careers.
Mathematical Writing: A Brief Guide [pdf]
Getting Started with LaTeX
Are you just starting to learn LaTeX? Here is an article template that
will help you begin writing. The body of the template file contains examples
of some basic LaTeX commands, and by comparing the source and the typeset
version you can learn a few tricks that will help you write your own
article.
LaTeX Template: [tex][dvi][pdf]
In addition to this template, you may find the following resources useful
as you begin to TeX.
- A reference
sheet containing a list of symbols available in LaTeX.
- A second reference sheet. This one is
for Plain TeX, but most of the commands work in LaTeX and it contains
some symbols the previous sheet does not.
- The Not So Short Introduction to
LaTeX2e. This has the advantage of being free, but if you're going to
be doing some serious TeXing you should invest in a book. First Steps in
LaTeX by George Gratzer, and it's big brother Math into LaTeX
by George Gratzer are both excellent books. Both are available on amazon.com.
- There are three main sources on the web for TeX information:
How to Give a Good Talk
To have a career in mathematics you will have to give several talks on
your work. The following is a guide written by Joseph
Gallian that contains many suggestions on how to give an effective
mathematics talk.
"How to Give a Good Talk" by Joseph Gallian
The TA Handbook
If you have never been a Teaching Assistant (TA) for a class before, or
if would like to be more effective in your teaching duties, take a look at
the TA Handbook published by the MAA.
"A Handbook for
Mathematics Teaching Assistants" by Tom Rishel
Resources for Young Mathematicians
- The Young Mathematicians'
Network is a loose organization of mathematicians in the junior part
of their careers. Their website contains a copy of their newsletter
"Concerns of Young Mathematicians".
- This is a one page letter that appeared in
the Notices of the American Mathematical Society in 1998. It
contains advice for young mathematicians as well as a brief list of
things one should be doing to prepare for a career in mathematics.
- "You and Your Research", a talk
given by Richard Hamming that centered on the question "Why do so few
scientists make significant contributions and so many are forgotten in the
long run?". Hamming discusses what he has learned in terms of the
properties of individual scientists, their abilities, traits, working
habits, attitudes, and philosophies.
- The Notices of the AMS has published a series of articles intended
for graduate students. These deal with different topics related to
starting a career in mathematics.
- The MAA has also publised various articles aimed a graduate students.
Math Books Available Online
There are a number of texts in a variety of mathematical areas
which are available for free downloaded. A good list of of
these texts can be found at
A
Virtual Mathematics Library
Employment
"The
only real difference between grad school and
jail is that when you get out of jail there are agencies to assist you in
finding a job."
--Kevin Dooley
Here are some resources that you may find useful as you apply for jobs.
Grad Student Humor
Back