MSc Thesis Seminar on Algorithms and Machine Learning
Year | Semester | Date | Period | Language | In charge |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | autumn | 05.09-05.12. | 1-2 | English | Hannu Toivonen |
Lectures
Time | Room | Lecturer | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Wed 14-16 | C220 | Hannu Toivonen | 12.09.2012-12.09.2012 |
Wed 14-16 | C220 | Hannu Toivonen | 26.09.2012-26.09.2012 |
Wed 14-16 | C220 | Hannu Toivonen | 10.10.2012-10.10.2012 |
Wed 14-16 | C220 | Hannu Toivonen | 31.10.2012-07.11.2012 |
Wed 12-16 | C220 | Hannu Toivonen | 21.11.2012-05.12.2012 |
Information for international students
This seminar is recommended especially for foreign students in the Algorithms and Machine Learning area. The seminar language will be English.
General
NOTE: The seminar times may well change. The current schedule is provisional.
The goal of the seminar is to support students in getting their MSc thesis work started, and also to support students already working on their theses. In the seminar, students write and present their own work, review and discuss each others' work, and learn scientific writing and presentation skills. Participants must have an advisor and a thesis topic by the start of the seminar (see below). The students should be committed to work actively on their thesis during the seminar.
Finding a MSc topic and advisor
Some available MSc thesis topics are listed at http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/studies/thesis-subjects. Another channel to find an advisor and a topic is to talk with a professor, lecturer or researcher in the area you are interested in. Courses and seminars you have taken and scientific papers you have read can be good sources of inspiration and provisional topics for the MSc work. If you have a provisional topic in mind before talking to a potential supervisor, you are more likely to find an agreement. You can also contact the head of the area, Prof. Jyrki Kivinen for help in finding a supervisor.
Once you have found an advisor (with a PhD degree) and a rough topic, the first task is to write a two-page description of the topic, goals, methods, and key literature. Work on this with your supervisor until he/she is satisfied, and then proceed to formally ask for approval of the topic from Prof. Jyrki Kivinen.
General instructions on MSc thesis work, including a form for applying for approval of a thesis topic, can be found at http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/studies/msc/general.
Completing the course
Students can start writing their MSc thesis once they have completed their BSc degree and have completed most compulsory advanced courses as well as all essential courses on the thesis topic. Participation in the seminar requires that the thesis topic and advisor have been approved by the first week of the seminar (see instructions and the form on page http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/studies/msc/general).
Preliminary information of tasks performed in the seminar:
- a high-level presentation of your MSc thesis topic: subject, goals, methods, and key literature references.
- an introduction to the field of your MSc thesis and its problem setting (MSc thesis plan)
- a draft of the MSc thesis
- reviews and feedback on written and oral presentations by other students
- studies of material on scientific writing and presentations
Each of the presentations above will be delivered in writing and orally in the seminar. Active commentary and review of other students' work is also an essential part of taking the seminar.
Literature and material
Planning document
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cp310SxC97ZX3pLZcrjE4vedioIDV7X1yEWqt-woAAo/edit (anyone can edit)
Material at the department
Official instructions and templates of the department: http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/studies/msc/general
- Includes e.g. Quick guide, Document templates for Latex and other systems, Grading of MSc thesis, Graduation
- Description of the thesis process http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/studies/msc/research-process
Course "Scientific Writing for MSc in Computer Science": http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/courses/582519/2012/s/k/1
Useful material of the MSc thesis seminar on networking and services: https://www.cs.helsinki.fi/i/summanen/teaching/thesis-seminar-2011/
Joel Rybicki's hints and tips for writing MSc thesis:
http://cs.helsinki.fi/u/jrybicki/tips.pdf
Example criteria for assessing scientific papers, reports and thesis: https://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/node/65725
Useful external material
Online book "English Communication for Scientists": http://www.nature.com/scitable/ebooks/english-communication-for-scientist-14053993
Zobel (2004): Writing for computer science: http://www.justinzobel.com/
Good tips regarding style: http://sana.tkk.fi/awe/style/