Introduction and Background
What was your research area, and what made you choose the Ph.D.?
I focused on wireless communications and networks during my PhD. In particular, it was about designing communication protocols for machines that have vastly different communication patterns and needs than humans. This area, known as Machine-Type Communication, is now a key pillar of 5G. I chose to pursue a PhD in this area because I enjoyed the underlying mathematics.
Before the Ph.D.
What inspired you to pursue a Ph.D.? Was there a defining moment or motivation behind your decision?
I didn’t have a single defining moment. I didn’t have any career aspirations. It was more that I loved learning and digging deeper into interesting problems, so pursuing a PhD felt like a natural next step. I figured I’d enjoy getting deep on research and seeing where that takes me.
How did you choose a program or an advisor?
I went straight into a PhD after my bachelor’s, so I didn’t really have research experience when I started looking for a program. I first heard about the SINGA scholarships from an email forwarded by the department secretary at Bilkent University. At the time, I couldn’t have even pointed to Singapore on a map. I did some research, learned about Singapore and its universities, NUS (National University of Singapore) and NTU (Nanyang Technological University). I got excited about both living in Singapore and doing PhD there. Then, I browsed the research interests of professors who do research around the topics I like: probability and information theory and contacted Prof. Teng Joon Lim through e-mail.
Did you face any challenges in scholarship and admissions?
It was pretty straightforward for me. I directly applied to the scholarship, the admission followed upon the award.
Challenges and Learning Moments
What obstacles did you face during your Ph.D. course, and how did you navigate them?
The toughest part for me was the first semester. I got a bit overzealous and registered for more courses than I could comfortably handle. Most courses were completely new to me. Meanwhile, many of my peers had already studied similar courses from their prior studies. I guess undergraduate programs in China (where most my peers were from) were a lot more specialized than in Turkey. On top of that, the classes ran in the evenings from 6 to 9 PM, which left me juggling both coursework and research at odd hours. It was exhausting. But once I cleared about half my course load that first semester, everything felt much easier.
How did you stay motivated and manage stress, especially during intense periods or when things didn’t go as planned?
I heard terrible stories from my friends about the stress they have to endure. I was lucky to have a supportive advisor. My peers were helpful too. Excluding the first semester, it would be accurate to say that it was the most stress-free period of my life. I had a lot of time to explore, learn, and pursue what I enjoyed.
Was there a point where you doubted your ability to continue? How did you push through those moments?
The biggest obstacles were less about the technical side and more about managing my own motivation and direction. When doing a PhD, there’s a ton of flexibility, so it’s easy to feel like you’re wandering around the edges of human knowledge without a clear roadmap. I used to meet with my advisor weekly. That helped me stay motivated, and on the right track.
What’s a memorable mistake or failure you experienced during your Ph.D., and what did it teach you?
In hindsight, I could have chased impactful problems and developed skills to do so. I got so wrapped up in the intellectual stimulation of the research I was comfortable with, that I missed the chance to tackle bigger, more important problems. I might have failed if I’d aimed higher, but ultimately I feel that’s how one makes an impact.
What kept you passionate about your research throughout your Ph.D., despite the challenges?
It was mostly curiosity and enjoyment towards intellectual challenge.
Did you have a personal mantra or philosophy that guided you during your journey?
I wouldn’t say I followed a grand philosophy. If there’s anything close, it’s the idea of continuous learning. I enjoy discussing philosophy and many mantras sound cool, but I’m simply not able to apply them to my day.
Achievements and Highlights
What was your proudest moment or achievement during your Ph.D. journey?
Probably getting my first paper accepted. Frankly, I’m not very proud of that paper. But it was accepted only one year into my program despite my heavy course load. Seeing it accepted made me think, “Hey, this might not be quite as difficult as people say!”
After the Ph.D.
How did completing your Ph.D. change your perspective on the world or your field of research?
I believe the PhD is about learning to learn. Sure, you may get lucky and find that the exact topics and skills you picked up during your PhD line up perfectly with what you’ll do later on, but that’s often not the case. I changed my topic from wireless communications in PhD to cybersecurity after graduation. The human knowledge is expanding fast, people are getting smarter, AI tutors are upgrading all researchers, so one must always stay curious and continue learning. After completing my PhD and adding several years of research career on top, I can say I’m not an expert on anything but in learning itself. As Harry Truman once said: “An expert is someone who doesn't want to learn anything new, because then he wouldn’t be an expert.” Don’t be an expert.
Advice for Current and Aspiring Ph.D. Students
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your younger self before starting your Ph.D.?
Address bigger, important problems. Choose an advisor who’ll offer flexibility in your approach and pace.
How should students approach finding the right advisor or research topic?
I’d say the first step is to figure out whether you truly enjoy a topic, or if you’re just drawn to its current buzz. Right now, AI is the hot field and a ton of students are rushing in, which could be perfect for some sincerely interested, but not everyone. Trends shift, and by the time you graduate, you might find yourself competing with a sea of equally ambitious, talented people. If you genuinely love the research and the challenges it brings, you can typically pivot your skills to address whichever “big problems” come next.
About choosing advisor, definitely meet with them before choosing. Prepare questions. If possible meet with other researchers in the team, and learn how the advisor treats students. A simple Zoom meeting would do.
What strategies would you recommend for overcoming challenges and staying resilient?
You’ll likely have a lot of free time. Give yourself enough time to recharge. Do whatever you enjoy. Get new hobbies.
What tools did you use to stay productive and manage your workload during your Ph.D.?
I didn’t use any planners, schedulers and the likes. I like to work at my own pace.
Do you have any books to recommend for students?
Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. A quick and easy read, teaches the importance of thinking about innovation, and original ideas, i.e., 0 to 1, rather than just improving whats out there, which is 1 to n.
Any last advice to students who are currently pursuing or considering a Ph.D.?
A PhD is an exercise in independent learning, problem-solving, and willpower. You work at your own pace to tackle problems no other could solve. But it’s not just about the research you’ll produce, it’s about sharpening how you think and learn for the rest of your life.
