Strategy advice needed - urgent

[Pekka]

I have a problem, perhaps a positive one but not entirely.

As some of you know, I'm hoping to graduate (do my thesis) and go to professional in IT security. I have a special field in it which is social engineering.

Now, so far I've been executing this plan, but now I'm facing a problem of new suggestions.

One of my professors have taken me under the wing it seems like. The professor has a project for me which I have agreed to do and be assistant researcher in it. It seemed like a great idea and I think it still is.

However, the professor wants me to complete my eduaction with it, meaning that I will continue to do my thesis on that project etc. I don't necessarily agree with that, because the project is not 100%-related to IT security.

But the project is OK too, I can't go into details what it is, but it's related to hospitals. It has some.. security element to it though. I had a meeting about it today and it was pretty exciting yet scary. They had my student registers and basically went through my studies, courses I had completed and grades I've gotten. Then, the professor told me about second opinions they had gotten from lecturer/PhD student who has also been evaluating me it turns out.

To my fortune, they were all positive, so now they want me to take this project and fully do it. The problem is, this determines what I graduate from and.. it's heavy. Basically, if I do this, I won't do the thesis I planned on in the first place.

However, maybe there is a way to do this without closing any doors? I can choose my thesis subject freely, so maybe this hospital project would still allow me to somehow sneak in the IT security aspect, in that case I'd do that thing I wanted, except that I did it for hospital.. ???

I'm in dire need of advices, my strategic abilities are blurred. I was greatly flattered by the action today, I got everything, my own working room too, so I have my own office now (WTF?!). It's happening fast, and there's a career for me here, but I just.. I mean, medical stuff and IT, that can be lucrative, yes it's interesting and I have all these materials to study so I understand some medical procedures but still.

I still have my passion for IT security. Should I try to sneak in that aspect and say that I want to do my thesis fro this project as well and sneak that sucker in?

Mm.. I'll come back later, ask any questions so you can give me advices, but I need them relatively fast. It seems as if my grand plan might alter and it's happening fast so I'm rather confused. On the other hand I feel happy about this, I'm flattered and kind of... I feel that I've been given a special position.

[DaShi]

First, I say that you take the hospital project. Don't think about it as a thesis, but a major stepping stone for your career. If you truly have this much support for it, it would be a shame to throw it away.

Second, only put in the IT security if it fits. I remember tutoring an architecture student and helping her on her thesis. The main flaw with her thesis was that it was more about analyzing a movie than about architecture. I told her that, her advisor told her that, but she just would let go of it and each draft contained lengthy critiques on said movie and it's descriptions of human nature. What was my point again? Oh yeah, don't mix beer and hard alcohol.

[Pekka]

Right. This is why it's a great dilemma. Positive one but still, it feels to be a burden to think about it.

I've had so much great support.. support that I never asked for. I should add that his kind of opportunity is fairly rare at this stage of studies, meaning that I haven't even started my thesis, yet I'm offered everything, keys to the hand and 'what do you want to do'.

The project is also meaningful and has contribution. It's international and it will be published. It's been already in display in some magazines even though it is not completed. There's only one that can do this as student and it turns out to be offered to myself.

THe problem is, I will do this, however, the professor would definitely want to _continue_ with it, towards thesis and work the whole thing. I mean, I'm getting like access to hospital too. I will be credited in the work as well.

But the IT security is my personal passion. Medical field is really not. I like the project, I do like it. But after that? I've graduated and I don't have any work on IT security that can be shown, as in my thesis. SO where do I go from there?

I just want to do these both. I'd like to do two thesis' if that's what it takes but that's not possible.

BUt it would be not the best option to shut this door, since I've already been evaluated and passed that stage to do this, I have free working time and what ever I want to do with this. So I'm not even controlled too much. Sounds like a dream project? SUre. but my heart is divided between two.

I know only one other person who is in the same position and he is my friend. So we are getting connected decently, and what I can get out of this is a letter of recommendation from the professor, which is cool.

So.. I'm torn. How can I complete these both? I don't want to turn my back on the IT security thing. Not yet. I need more direction and guarantees before jumping ships, so I want to keep these both open as long as possible so I can make an educated choice.

But more to the point, there's absolutely no good money in this in Finland. Researches get paid crap. I dont' even like the professor salary level even though it's relatively high. I want to see the money and opportunity in this first.

[rah]

Take the project and milk it for every drop. It will look good on any resume.

I'm a highly paid IT director and while I started out as a computer engineering major, I graduated as a poly sci major. Go figure. And in the long run the poly sci aspect of my education was the main reason I was selected for management over all the other techno geeks. Well, maybe is because I was able to talk like a normal person.

Besides, if you turn down a sweet off like this, it WILL have a negative impact on your education career.

[Pekka]

How would it have negative impact on my education career? I see one negative impact which is basically burning the bridge with the professor and effectively burning the bridge with other professors as well as a result.

I would have no problems saying that even though I think this is a good thing I woudl like to check out other things first.. I mean I was given an office. How many students get an office that aren't even doing their thesis? I don't know anyone else. I'm there in the same section with PhD students and professors. So I'm definitely the junior of that floor. I was even introduced to that floor today.

So now to turn my back on it, yeah, I think that even though everyoen understands you go where the grass is greener, it still leaves a bad taste plus 'who does he think he is?' kind of thing and I would think the same and it's fair to think so.

But this is a commitment. I don't see myself in this medical field. I don't know anything about it. I don't see any opportunities to set up my own business in it. I don't see money in it. There might be and there must be, I just don't know how or where.

This certainly destroys my plans of transferring into top Uni abroad for the next year. I simply don't have time for that. That's OK though. Wanted to do that, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

I know medical field and IT combined is respected and ranks good in your resume, however, I don't see my future there. I have already figured out the hoops and doors of IT security thing. Now, this is unknown territory. I have big dreams and goals in IT security. My own business, great income, great work. Here I see great work but I don't know the hoops.

It's a commitment, if I truly drive this thing, I go 100%. I don't do 90% things.

So far people have suggested to take it, it's a great opportunity. But... are there any other strategies? How can I play both teams? How can I.. do this and also do the other thing, for example I do have time to do this and thesis. They are not exclusive time wise.

I figured this and let me know how you feel about it.. I wait for my opportunity on the IT security, I've applied for thesis spot and waiting for answer.. for the company I've worked for. This is a HUGE opportunity. I mean absolutely huge. It would open the doors of that field ot me as in I would most likely be able to do etnographic research, spending a lot of time with key people and after that is completed, get hired in fairly good position. Do that for some time and look for other opportunities to set up my business. THis was my plan. I still think it's solid. Even my business plan is soon completed, I've done a lot of research for this.

So.. if I get accepted, I would say to my professor that you understand I got once in a lifetime opportunity here and I knwo this project is also one of them but I have applied earlier to this one. I like both projects, but I want to do my thesis for this thing more so what if I take up a position in the Uni to work this project, maybe as an assistant, complete it. But at the same time work for my thesis for this company.

This way I would be able to do both, and it would work as in there's enough time and resources. Then the professor would understand that I want to do the project and I will, but I just get the thesis paper from other place, but I'll be doing both jobs.

This way I'd actually get paid, spend half of the week in Uni doing this, half the week in the company doing my thesis. Is this plan viable, strategy wise, given that there would be enough personal resources meaning that I Have time for both?

[SlowwHand]

I told you, health industry; and here an offshoot falls in your lap.
Do it.

[Pekka]

Thanks for all of your support but everyone just means it looks good in resume. I do agree.

But where's the money? Even if I'd get hired by local companies to research, consult or what ever in IT&Medical field, there will be no good money in it in here. I don't know how to set up any businesses around this either, that's where I could make money.

Or I could be a researches in this for good, and again, no money in it.

Everyone assumes there's money in it, where is it?

[SlowwHand]

If you're good at it, the money will come.
Worry more about if you like it. Do you want to do something you hate, even if the money is outstanding? Maybe you do, but I wouldn't.

[rah]

Don't stretch yourself too thin. It usually ends up in crappy performance all around.

Yes, the burned bridges is the main negative aspect I was talking about.

You're young, career choices have plenty of time to be acted on.

Doing anything well and being respected for it will open other doors later.

Money will come eventually.

And being in the IT field, the security specialists that I know that are making the big bucks are not the young pups (who are usually better) but the older dogs that have built a reputation and have built a good network. That network does not have to be in the specific field.
Every company uses computers and security is always an issue. There are many ways to backdoor in.

[Asher]

Happy birthday Pekka!

[Pekka]

It's not my birthday? My birthday is in July, or are you trying to say happy b-day because it seems like I'm changing fields like I change my underwear, once a month? I'm not happy about this, I feel inconsistent. It's like weakness, it's not that I can't decide what to try to do, it's just that opportunities are presenting themslves from places I never expected to get anything.

[-Jrabbit]

The biggest mistake most students make is believing that their studies define their career choices.

Tell the people involved about your long-term goals, but still accept the research position. It can only enhance your prospects in the long run.

This is a rare opportunity, Pekka, and you should take advantage of it.

[Pekka]

rah, right. And I agree it's all about connections, since that game is played by reputation. First, you have none. Not an easy task, but if you manage to build yourself, the sky is the limit.

Still, I don't see where the money is in medical field. Yeah in pharmacy, sure, but that's not my field..

So your advice would be choose the other one. I don't think that would strech my resources too thin. The only thing that might have a negative feel to it is that my professor would think I'm playing two teams, that is that I'm not loyal enough.

[Proteus_MST]

As rah said in his first posting,
even if you do your thesis in the medical field it doesn´t mean that you cannot switch to IT Security after graduating.
In my diploma thesis in biology we not only didn´t get an office of our own but we also had to gather a lot of our needed equipment for our experiments without much help from the department.
I´d always take such a chance as you´re given by this Prof

[rah]

Actually now confused as to which you consider the other.

I'd go with the professors that have shown a liking for you and the faith that you'll do a good job. His help in the future will never hurt. Focus grasshopper.