Accepted into PhD Programme at Essex
Today I received a packaging indicating my acceptance into the PhD programme in Linguistics at the University of Essex. I will be a part-time external student for the next six to eight years starting this April.
It's hard to describe just how much this means to me. Doing a doctorate is by far my oldest goal in life. I was about eight when I decided I wanted to do a PhD. In high school, I wanted to do it in theoretical physics (specifically general relativity) but 18 months into undergraduate studies decided I wanted to do it in linguistics.
Various reasons, both personal and commercial, delayed my commencement by a decade. But I always knew I wanted to come back to it. I'm finally on the path. Thank you to my referees and to my new supervisor, Andy Spencer.
Undoubtedly you'll hear a lot more about it on this blog over the years.
Comments (12)
Rick Brannan on March 14, 2006:
Very cool; I'm a tad jealous! I'm sure you'll do well. I'm looking forward to hearing more as your research and thesis work develop.
Congratulations!
Tim on March 14, 2006:
Congratulations and blessings! PhDs are a long haul, but worth it. (Mine was decades ago but Barbara is nearly on the home straight.)
Tim Wegener on March 15, 2006:
Congratulations! What did you want to study when you were eight?
James Tauber on March 15, 2006:
At eight I don't think I had any idea. I did like black holes (so maybe still general relativity without knowing it) and computers (my dad had just taught me BASIC on a borrowed Dick Smith System 80, a clone of the TRS-80 Model 1 for those outside Australia and New Zealand)
Kurt Cagle on March 17, 2006:
James,
A well-deserved honor! Congratulations!! I have to admit that I've been thinking about doing much the same in computational linguistics (like you, it's been a growing desire the more I get into the XML realm), and I am intensely envious ;-) of your getting the chance to do this.
Good luck, and I look forward to your dissertation rocking the world.
-- Kurt
Mark Little on March 17, 2006:
Hey James, congratulations! I did a PhD straight after my BSc back in the late 1980's and know how hard it was then, so you've got my respect for doing one and holding down a job.
Mark.
James Tauber on March 17, 2006:
It remains to be seen if I hold down a job :-)
msh210 on March 20, 2006:
Congrats!
Nitin Madnani on April 30, 2006:
Congrats, James ! I, myself, am a PhD student at University of Maryland, College Park in Computational Linguistics.
I got directed to your blog via the Daily Python URL. All the best :)
Nat Ibitowa on June 11, 2006:
I just stumbled into your site while looking for info about FOP. I read that you started it and became curious to read more about you.
You know what? I really salute your sense of innovation. And i beleive that you're going to invent more things during or after your PhD.
Congrats and I wish you success in the PhD program!!!
TCO on Aug. 19, 2006:
I started a Ph.D. at age 29. I did it full time. Did not have a family and had some savings/scholarship. It was a good break from working and enjoyable at times. But also felt silly and a bit regressed at times.
Last Modified: March 14, 2006
Author: James Tauber
Sylvain on March 14, 2006:
A huge congratulations James. I'm sure you'll do a fantastic job there.
Bravo