It's not life experience but the knowledge that one acquired either theoretical or hands on where one understands what he wants ( that's where working world exposure comes in) & knows what to research (why do u think previous generation professors took their phd later?) That is when the phd content is a "mature' in terms writings & content..but as we know..who wants to read up 300+ pages or more research paper.

This post has been edited by feekle: Sep 1 2010, 03:08 PM

Most previous professors who are called authority in their own field does not work first. They jumped straight to acquired pHD. Thats the reality of the world of academia. Their work is merely only the purpose of gaining knowledge and publish/share their finding with fellow researcher around the world.

U mean the problem statement part is when applying for grants?

i tot that is done by your supervisor?not?

Well, problem statement is part of proposal or thesis written. Example in my study

"The characterisation of plant chitinase gene activity and function by heterelogous expression and transformation would facilitate the understanding of chitinases roles in plant defense mechanism and development"

so the sentence above basically tell whoever read my proposal, what is the motivation of the study, hence the excuse to waste research grant.

i c.. thats like conclusion right?

so u dont actually write

Problem statement: "The characteri....."

no, it's nothing like conclusion. I don't know how to better explain it.

It's like why are you doing the research...
Example: Disease <insert disease> is deadly, killing <insert number> people per year..<insert plant name> is used in traditional medicine to threat <insert disease>..therefore my research is to identify the possible active compounds of <insert plant name> extract for potential drug development...

Seriously, you need to know what is your problem statement or you don't know what are you working on the project for...

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Added on September 1, 2010, 6:37 pmEh...i used to work on Chitinase from Trichoderma virens during my RA time...

This post has been edited by highwind85: Sep 1 2010, 06:37 PM

I didnt even hear of problem statement before. Do you write in in journals? Theses? I never write any thing like dat b4.

Problem statement: My research is to..

No such thing i have come across

Problem statement is usually the backbone of the introduction of the project...the rationale of the project....it will answer very common questions like why you study this? why you study that?
every research stems from a problem..if you don't know what is your problem statement, you need to go back to basics and see why you do your research..
Papers, thesis, proposals...basically all these need a problem statement...don't be misled by the word "statement"...it's not 1 statement...it's usually in paragraphs...just like "Statements of Purpose" or "Personal Statements"

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Added on September 1, 2010, 7:23 pm" b-Lactam antibiotics have been used successfully
for several decades to target the enzymes involved
in the last step of peptidoglycan synthesis. Nowadays,
the worldwide spread of b-lactamase-producing
organisms is an important public health
threat"

This is a common problem statement...extracted from a research paper...it's the 1st sentence i see after abstract...

This post has been edited by highwind85: Sep 1 2010, 07:23 PM

k thnx hgihwind.. i think i understand what u mean. Its like a common sense u write in your introdutction but you dont actually label them "Problem statement"

I neevr heard of this word b4 but used it.

who teach that the phrase is call problem statement

LOL, small world eh. I'm working on characterising the gene isolated from sago palm.

Nice explanation. When I was first writing my proposal for my final year project, "Problem Statement" confuse me...take some time to fully grasp the idea (i can be slow at times).

my supervisor is Prof Mani Maran from mechanical school.
right now the project is still tryin to improve the brittleness and to make it cheaper than tungsten carbide.

Most professors who do their PhD first before working, not the other way around.

Don't mind me asking, are there any PhD students in psychology here? I'd love to hear from you guys regarding the whole course which I am indulging my fingers in right now, though I am working actually. I've heard from many that is is nerve wrecking and filled with theories and theories. But, honestly, is it very tough? I am not a really bright student since high school, but I love to analyze things from many different views to see each and every advantage and disadvantages from every views possible.

So to speak, is it compulsary to work a few years before heading to PhD. I have to start from degree though. Also, must we have qualification in chemistry(for medicine) to do psych...?