Learning how to conduct research is a central component of graduate degree programs, and research expertise can often distinguish graduate students from other candidates on the job market. Throughout your program, you will learn the classic research methods (and/or language skills) used in your own discipline. It can also be beneficial to learn research methods of related disciplines to obtain additional data for your project and to open additional career possibilities.
Research
When deciding on your thesis or dissertation research topic, it is important to ask yourself "why"? Why are you interested in this question or problem? What about this topic captures your curiosity more than other subjects? Why is it important, beyond the scope of your discipline or the academy, that this research be conducted? What is the value of this research to others? And why are you a fitting person to conduct your specific, proposed research project?
Reflecting on these questions will bring more meaning to your research and your degree progression. Looking at the big picture can keep you motivated through the many years and challenges that are part of pursuing an advanced degree. Being able to articulate answers to these questions will also make it easier for you to apply for research funding and make you a stronger candidate for academic and industry organizations looking to hire engaged researchers. Research at the graduate level strengthens a comprehensive set of abilities, including: project management; research skills & methods; and understanding research application and significance.
Research competencies in practice
Dissertation Project. Build project management skills through proposal defenses, comprehensive exams, grant applications, and through the collection and analysis of research data for the dissertation itself. Learn how to manage and analyze large data sets or texts while determining a realistic schedule for dissertation completion.
Research Assistant (RA). These positions can be a great way to gain project management experience; many professors require graduate students to work on projects as research assistants.
Data Collection and Analysis Methods. Avail yourself of methods courses and workshops at the university. Resources like Language for Reading Knowledge Courses can help improve foreign language reading skills for students conducting research in foreign languages. Workshops demonstrating research and methods competencies can give you the tools to advance your research in more comprehensive and creative ways as well as strengthen resumes and CVs. NYU Libraries offers a series of workshops to learn research management tools, data visualization software, programming languages and more.
Grant Writing. In addition to internal research grants available through NYU, support for PhD research is widely available through government and field-specific organizations, among others: National Science Foundation , National Institutes of Health, Social Science Research Council, Fulbright Scholar Program, American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Association for University Women (AAUW), and Ford Foundation. International students, and in some cases US students conducting research abroad, should also look for funding opportunities through host-country governments. At GSAS, the Office of Academic and Student Affairs is here to help students identify and apply to grants and fellowships.
Relating Research. PhD students build in-depth knowledge on their research topics, knowledge a variety of audiences may benefit from. When thinking about the myriad applications for your research, come back to the big questions of "why"? What value do your research results have to other academics, and non-academic communities? Can your scholarship build toward more just and equitable understandings of the world, perhaps through government, NGO or corporate applications?
Research Significance. NYU offers workshops for PhD students to practice crafting research narratives and storytelling, as well as resources like Digital Humanities, the Leslie eLab, and the Public Humanities Initiative in Doctoral Education. Thinking about your research through the structure of storytelling — narrative arcs, main characters, major themes — can help you reflect on the significance of your research for public and scholarly impact, as well as practice different ways to relate your expertise to initiatives across sectors. PhD students in the natural sciences may especially benefit from these exercises via the Alan Alda Center for Science Communication.
External Research and Application Opportunities. Students particularly interested in research might find it beneficial to diversify their research experiences in and outside of the University. Seeking out opportunities to do a rotation in a neighboring lab, or through a summer internship, can help you pick up multiple research methods and skill competencies, as well as help you reflect on different directions your research interests could take. For example, you may prefer either individual or team-based research, or you may have a greater passion for quantitative or qualitative approaches. Research-focused internships or experiential learning opportunities at non-profit, government, or corporate organizations are good places to try out different research experiences.