I do agree that med chem (chemical synthesis, purification and analysis) is taxing but modelling itself is less laborious. I think molecular biology (gene cloning, deletion, mutagenesis, controlled-expression) is the worst of the three because it's very unpredictable. Things can just stop working for no apparent reason (even if you did everything right). My two cents.

I do agree with you on that.

Thanks! I did some searching and found this video. So the ligand-based virtual screening is a kind of computer-aided drug design which coupled with virtual combinatorial libraries and fragment spaces in making the drug discovery process more efficient. And your job is to design the new candidate drug and bind it with the tiny proteins (receptors) you model? With different types of virtual screening techniques available, how do you validate the method of systematically exploring the promising areas in chemical space and predict the success? In fact, I was intrigued by the concept of chemical space. And how vast is chemical space?

Yes, basically trying to design/model compounds that can target the enzyme. Virtual screening is only a form of prediction to narrow down the number of lead compounds (as diverse as possible in terms of structures) you need to buy for further testing. You verify the activity of these compounds through wet lab (in vivo or in vitro). There are many ways to do so. For example, you can do preliminary antibacterial testing via disc diffusion assay, or you can do biochemical assay to measure the reduction of end products due to inhibition of the enzyme in question by your inhibitors, or even saturation transfer NMR etc. There are multiple approaches.

I appreciate your explanation and I learned something new. Okay! You have completed your magnum opus, submitted it to your thesis committee, and received permission to move onto the final step: defending your doctoral thesis. To be honest, the prospect of this ‘viva voce’ seem extremely daunting to me. Would you describe, what kind of skills have you used to defend your discovery of Novel anti-TB & antibacterial drugs during the oral exam? After all, did you defend with a flamboyant confidence style? Then... what's next? ... Filing a New Drug Application (NDA)? And then how many controlled clinical trials does the new drug need to demonstrate its efficacy? I believe your anecdotes about thesis defense & NDA will be very helpful to the juniors.

Hi there,

I plan to do a research on MP3 decoder using FPGA. Anyone do on this research before? May I know the brief flow chart regarding this project? e.g what is the inputs, outputs, processes...

Thank you!

This post has been edited by lostboat: Apr 19 2013, 03:44 PM

You all did/doing your phd here in Malaysia or overseas? Are there any difference? I asked because people study oversea for "better" teaching quality. Since there's no teaching in phd, I was wondering if it makes a difference.n

I'm doing it in Malaysia.

Are there any differences? It really depends.

First of all, it's not necessary that the teaching quality (for undergrad courses) is better in foreign universities.

Anyway, at the postgrad level, supervision quality differs from one supervisor to another. You can find good supervisors in local universities as well. The perception that supervision quality is lousy in Malaysia is caused by some "joker and lazy" academics. So, be careful when you choose your supervisor. One professor specifically said there are some jokers in my university who are just too lazy to do a proper supervision and one should avoid such supervisors or change them immediately! You have to look for the hardworking supervisors.

When comes to resources, I would say foreign universities are able to suscribe to more journals. It's a frustration to rely on my own university database.

Well I'm doing my PhD in Germany right now.

The difference is greatly the working culture. You're treated almost like a peer/ individual where you are frequently asked for your opinion, thoughts etc. it is also very informal and you actually have lunch/tea with your supervisor quite often! I'm not sure bout other places, my place here has quite a nice support system i.e. office that helps with claims, applications etc not like when I did my masters where everthing you have to do yourself and have to keep kejar the office for weeks to process your application.

The down side is of course I miss the vibrant culture and food in Malaysia! My place is very international, so the proficiency of English varies and I temper my English down a bit. And of course I cannot throw in the manglish and lahs... so in a way i miss the more animated and crazy communication style we have.

And the German food here is greatly lacking in variety and quite bland in taste.. so unfortunately my mind is often preoccupeid with food

It's similar in Australia. We call everybody by their first names here, even the world leaders in their field. You can have lunch with your supervisor but I choose not too as it gets a bit awkward.

biasa la having beers with supervisors in australia

Hihi,

I applied PhD in USM two months ago, but I was accepted for Master of Science.
The Master degree that USM offered is in research mode.
Does anyone know is it possible to shift from research mode to coursework mode?

Thanks!

Depends on uni. Usually in your application form you will state what kind of Masters: coursework or research.

If not stated it might mean there is only one type of Masters offered. Like UKM, regardless what you tick in type of Masters, for Biological science they will only offer you Masters by Research because that is the only thing they offer.

So check with the uni department whether they actually offer Masters by coursework for your course.

If the subject is available in coursework, then should be possible.

anyone study UTAR PhD ??

You should ask for alexkos because he is doing MPhil in UTAR.

Brother alexkos has not shown up on this place for quite some time.

Maybe he has successfully converted... I mean from MPhil to PhD.

i got interest on UTAR PhD in Accounting
but i am from MBA coursework
not sure UTAR will accepted me or not ?

If you have an MBA, you can surely be accepted for the PhD programme.

Why not call them up and enquire further?

But before you enroll, I'd advise you to learn up on some basic research methods and statistics.

Yeah, this is what i worry i did not hv the some basic research methods and statistics skill.
and i also do not knw the schudule of study for part time for PhD in Accounting.
as i work at Johor, is possible to study PdD at KL ???