PhD

On this particular night in late January, I was trying to read for my Human-Computer Interaction exam the following morning. I had written three exams before that night. I had six more exams (including my carryover course) to complete my BSc in Computer Science program at the Federal University of…

This is as much a ramble as it is a funda piece. Rest assured that there will be future blogs catering to audience here for the latter. I am no expert to be advising others (at least as of yet :p), but I believe some of what’s jotted here will…

How can positivity be toxic? When there are a lot of emotions out there, why do we always promote being happy? Since is it the easiest way to describe our feelings, or does no one question your happiness? Happiness tends to be emphasized for many reasons, such as cultural expectations…

Grab what you get. You’ve already paid for it — Conferences are fun. You get some nice shit like notebooks, mugs, and pens (you’ve already paid for with the conference fee), there is food and beverages everywhere (you’ve already paid for with the conference fee), and you meet some friends from other universities; also the ones now living a 24h…

As humans, we continuously navigate the intricate dance between balance and contrast, moderation and extremes. This dance is especially evident in our lives when we deliberate between seeking balance — having neither too much nor too little of something — versus embracing contrast — an oscillation between abundance and scarcity. …

As a child, I distinctly recall a moment that I now look back upon with fascination. At the tender age of five, I found myself at home with a lined sheet of paper, diligently writing my name: David Bombara Jr., over and over. When my dad asked what I was…

Introduction In the first installment of my articles on how I “found” myself in a PhD program at one of the world’s best computer science (CS) research institutions, I talk about my background and the experiences that shaped me and my trajectory into this current state. Here is a disclaimer: this…

Introduction In this article, I talk about the application process and how my application efforts in my first trial in the fall of 2021 and the second trial in 2022 differ. It is important to reiterate my focus on PhD programs in computer science at US schools. My experience might not…

A doctoral degree is a degree in critical thinking. It is not a degree limited to the field you are studying. Take steps to cultivate an environment and rhythms where you’ll love learning and growing in your craft. -Francis Collins On April 20th, 2020 I successfully defended my thesis, “The…