National Science Foundation Poll - Help!

[WildBill77RT]

I've helped disrupt online polls in the past for MUScoop friends, and now it's my turn to ask for the favor.  

My good friend Robert Erdmann has made only one horrible choice in life, and that was to attend UW-Madison for his undergrad. Besides that one blemish on his record, he is an incredibly intelligent individual who is currently pursuing his PhD in Plant Biology at MIT. He has entered an NSF (National Science Foundation) competition centered around innovations in Graduate Education.

If you have a couple minutes to spare, please vote at the following link to push his total higher, and if you're one of those that actually thinks about what they're voting for, please download his paper. It actually is a really good idea that deals with a shortcoming at many graduate schools.

tl;dr

continue by clicking on the link below:

https://nsf-edchallenge.skild.com/skild2/NSF-EdChallenge/viewEntryDetail.action?pid=47117

Thanks!

[forgetful]

I've helped disrupt online polls in the past for MUScoop friends, and now it's my turn to ask for the favor.  

My good friend Robert Erdmann has made only one horrible choice in life, and that was to attend UW-Madison for his undergrad. Besides that one blemish on his record, he is an incredibly intelligent individual who is currently pursuing his PhD in Plant Biology at MIT. He has entered an NSF (National Science Foundation) competition centered around innovations in Graduate Education.

If you have a couple minutes to spare, please vote at the following link to push his total higher, and if you're one of those that actually thinks about what they're voting for, please download his paper. It actually is a really good idea that deals with a shortcoming at many graduate schools.

tl;dr

continue by clicking on the link below:

https://nsf-edchallenge.skild.com/skild2/NSF-EdChallenge/viewEntryDetail.action?pid=47117

Thanks!

There is no attachment to his paper.

[WildBill77RT]

Weird.  It downloads for me, but it is in docx format, which could be causing some problems.  I've pdf-ed the document and attached it to this post.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

The dude's getting his phd from MIT, he should be able to find some undergrads to write a vote program for him. Or something.

[forgetful]

I'll toss your friend some votes, but frankly his idea lacks in the merit category.  His initial premise is that the PhD committee lacks the expertise to advise on diverse career paths outside of the academic domain.  This premise is false, especially at Universities such as MIT.

Academia is highly industrialized, with top researchers often spawning their own companies out of their research, meaning not only are they in touch with industry, but are often hiring PhDs for industrial work.  Even those not involved in their own companies are likely functioning as consultants or advisers for Big Industry.  For instance many on Monsanto's scientific advisory board are plant biologists from academia.

Thus, his PhD committee is an excellent choice for obtaining career advice. 

The second premise is in regards to PhD candidates not knowing their options.  A PhD is the highest level of education that we recognize.  If one can't figure out their life without guidance, in my opinion they don't deserve a PhD. 

A good PhD advisor not only helps you through the degree, but helps you get a job, in some cases actually essentially places you in the position you desire.

Nonetheless votes going his way.