How pursuing postdoctoral research can bring your ideas to life
With Dr Shin-Fang Ch'ng, PhD in Computer Science with AIML (Australian Institute for Machine Learning).
Taking on postdoctoral research (or a ‘postdoc’ for short) was a natural progression for me. I have always cherished the “eureka” moments in research, and am excited about the challenges of advancing scientific knowledge.
When I finished my PhD, I was uncertain whether to enter industry or academia. Ultimately, I chose to pursue a postdoc career to continue my passion for research while keeping the door open to both paths. This role enables me to deepen my research expertise in this fast-evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI) so that I can continue contributing to scientific developments. Without a doubt, I believe pursuing this path will be an invaluable asset no matter where my career takes me next.
What the transition from a PhD to a postdoc is like
I’d like to quote my PhD advisor: “A PhD is like an explorer navigating uncharted waters, consistently building the right tools and seeking your own place to anchor.” This metaphor, in my view, perfectly captures the essence of the PhD journey.
The initial period of exploration was the best time of my PhD experience. It was the one time in my PhD when I had the luxury of fully dedicating myself at my own pace to develop the foundational tools essential for my growth as a scientist. These skills not only included deep technical knowledge, but also critical thinking, effective communication, and the ability to articulate my ideas clearly through scientific writing. Each new skill and experience brought me closer to defining a unique research domain I could truly make my mark.
However, I quickly realized that completing my PhD within a fixed timeframe required disciplined time management, which limited the freedom to explore as deeply as I wanted. There were many moments when I felt I was just barely keeping my head above water because I constantly need to juggle my desire for deeper exploration with the pressure of meeting deadlines. Yet, these constraints ultimately shaped my journey in invaluable ways. They built my resilience and sharpened my research focus – skills that are crucial for advanced academic pursuits.
Transitioning into my postdoctoral position feels like embarking on an exciting new voyage equipped with better tools and experience – one that allows me to revisit and expand the territories that once seemed beyond reach. Armed with the foundational skills and experience from my PhD, I now feel empowered to delve deeper into my field and expand into new areas. I am also more confident in my ability to mentor and inspire new researchers.
Dr Shin-Fang's research is inspired by the holo-communicators from Star Wars.
How Star Wars inspired my research
I think that my research is deeply inspired by my childhood love for science fiction. One of my key inspirations come from the Star Wars movies, particularly the use of holo-communicators that transmit three-dimensional projections across vast distances in real time. This concept of merging virtual elements with reality, much like teleporting without physically being there, combined with my passion for turning ideas into practical applications, sparked my interest in exploring similar ideas in the real world.
In my current research, I am working on creating lifelike 3D models of the world using just a few photos. Imagine taking a picture of your favourite place, but instead of producing flat, static pictures, you can generate a 3D model that enables you to explore the scene from every angle, as if you were still there!. You can relieve the experience or even share it with others. To achieve this, we train neural networks, combined with classical computer graphics and geometry, to accurately infer the shapes, appearances and the spatial locations of objects within the scene. This technology has a wide range of applications, including virtual reality, autonomous driving, smart city infrastructure inspections and more.
In the artificial intelligence space, my ambition is to build technologies that are robust and safe which can be used to revolutionise various aspect of human life. I believe that good research derives from solving real-world problems and delivering useful results to society.
The benefits of postdoctoral research
Pursuing postdoctoral research offers three key benefits that are essential for my growth as a scientist. First, it provides privileged access to cutting-edge research, which is crucial for staying competitive in this fast-paced field. Second, a postdoc offers the flexibility and freedom to dream big and explore innovative ideas. Unlike the more conservative, resource-driven focus in industry, the postdoctoral environment encourages curiosity and creativity while remaining grounded in practical resource management. This enables me to pursue unconventional solutions, which I believe are essential for driving significant breakthroughs in science.
Additionally, it places me in a highly collaborative environment with some of the brightest minds in the field. I am able to learn from the best simply by being around them. My supervisor has especially been a significant source of inspiration for me. With his strong technical expertise and diverse experiences, he has been instrumental in guiding me in the right direction when tackling research problems. He always encourages our research team to first simplify the problems – reframing them as one-dimensional problem and approaching them from a mathematical perspective – before diving into more complex solutions. He has also profoundly shaped my research philosophy, and has consistently motivated me to aim higher and focus on research problems that can genuinely move the needle in the field. Despite teaching and managing both the institute and our lab, he remains deeply committed to research. He even often writes code himself to test new ideas. His dedication and boundless energy inspire me to work just as hard as him.
Could postdoctoral research be the right path for you?
Deciding whether to pursue a postdoc should align with your career goals, passions and circumstances. If your goal is to become a professor or secure a research-driven position, a postdoc is often a necessary step. For those interested in industry roles, it’s important to assess whether a postdoc will provide the specific skills and experiences that align with your desired position. For instance, many R&D roles in industry highly value postdoctoral experience. If you’re still contemplating about your career direction, a postdoc can also be a good choice, as it keeps both academic and industry options open.
Reflecting on your PhD journey is crucial. If you found the research process exciting with all of its challenging experiences, a postdoc could be the next natural progression to further develop your expertise. I am a strong believer that whatever you do should be driven by passion as true dedication comes naturally when you care deeply about your work. Compared to a PhD, a postdoc offers more flexibility and a shorter commitment, giving you the freedom to explore different directions. It’s also perfectly fine to start a postdoc and later realise it’s not the right path for you – this too is part of the learning process.
Dr Shin-Fang took photos of herself and with the power of science and technology created a 3D model to illustrate her research, especially for this story — mind blown!