The following are a list of the questions that we have received about the PhD Challenge. If there is a question that is not answered here, please contact us and we will update this page throughout the year.
- Is this a joke?
- Although the contest is called the PhD Challenge, can master’s students still enter?
- What statement are you trying to make with this contest? Are you saying that the peer-reviewing process is broken?
- I was only able to get some of the challenge name in my paper, can I still submit it as an entry?
- Does the challenge name need to appear in the initial submission sent to the reviewers or just the final published version?
- How will the judging committee determine who is the final winner if there are multiple submissions?
- If I submit an entry but do not win, will my name or paper be released?
- Can I submit an entry but not have my name published if I am the winner?
- Are submissions from faculty members who are still completing their Ph.D. still eligible?
- Will the winning paper announcement include every authors’ name (e.g., my advisor) or only the name of the person who originally submitted the entry?
- Can I join the PhD Challenge organization or reviewing committee?
- This year’s challenge is too difficult/easy/stupid/dangerous. Why did you choose it?
- I have better idea for the next PhD Challenge. Can I send it to you?
Is this a joke?
No. The PhD Challenge organization has been established in order to promote good humor throughout all fields of academia and science.
Although the contest is called the PhD Challenge, can master’s students still enter?
Yes, the PhD Challenge is open to all currently enrolled graduate students of all fields. Please see the Student Eligibility Rules for more information.
What statement are you trying to make with this contest? Are you saying that the peer-reviewing process is broken?
None. We assure our readers that there is no ulterior motive or message behind the PhD Challenge, nor is the contest’s inception designed to be a “wake-up” call for peer-reviewed academic venues. We are simply trying stir a bit of humor into the toilsome grad student lifestyle.
I was only able to get some of the challenge name in my paper, can I still submit it as an entry?
No, every potential contest entry must contain all of the words of the challenge name and in the correct order.
Does the challenge name need to appear in the initial submission sent to the reviewers or just the final published version?
As we have no way to verify that you submitted your paper with the hidden challenge name to the conference/journal reviewers, only the final published version of the paper will be accepted for contest submissions. This is why you must provide the URL to the conference program or journal proceedings for your paper. We believe that this task is difficult enough and that many would-be contestants will be daunted by the risks of altering their paper after it has been approved by the reviewers.
How will the judging committee determine who is the final winner if there are multiple submissions?
The final judging of submissions will be based on both quantitative and qualitative measurements. For the former, we will measure the aesthetic characteristics of the challenge name, such as how close the target author is to being first author and how large the font is that it is written in. For qualitative measurements, we will consider the reputation of the conference or journal and the content of the paper. Special consideration will be given to those papers where more than one author in the byline includes the challenge name.
If I submit an entry but do not win, will my name or paper be released?
No. Only the winner will have their name and paper released in the final announcement.
Can I submit an entry but not have my name published if I am the winner?
No. In order to be fair to other applicants who are taking the same risk that you are, you must agree that you allow your name and paper to be announced as the final winner.
Are submissions from faculty members who are still completing their Ph.D. still eligible?
Yes. The PhD Challenge reviewing committee has decided that those graduate students who already hold faculty positions but have yet to complete their Ph.D. are still eligible to win the contest.
Will the winning paper announcement include every authors’ name (e.g., my advisor) or only the name of the person who originally submitted the entry?
The PhD Challenge reviewing committee realizes that this may be a delicate issue for some and have decided that the announcement must at the very least include the name of the person that submitted the contest entry, but that person can decide on whether to include their co-authors.
Can I join the PhD Challenge organization or reviewing committee?
No. Membership to either the PhD Challenge organization or submission reviewing committee is strictly by invite only. Previous year winners are automatically made members of the organization.
This year’s challenge is too difficult/easy/stupid/dangerous. Why did you choose it?
Since this is only the second PhD Challenge, we are not sure of where the proper upper bound is for this type of thing. We decided to raise the difficulty level from last year’s challenge but without simply repeating the same task. We also try to choose a task that obtainable in any field, and not just the sciences. But it may be the case that getting a paper published with the challenge name will prove to be too daunting and no one will attempt it. Hence, the task for the next challenge will be chosen based on the response we receive this year.
I have better idea for the next PhD Challenge. Can I send it to you?
Yes. We are open to any suggestions and comments about future PhD Challenge contests. You may use our contact form to send a message to the organizing committee. Please note that we try to choose a challenge task that is (1) sex-neutral, (2) not geared towards one particular subject area of academia, and (3) ribald but not too overtly sexual or obnoxious.