Cambridge University Press 2026
Becoming an
AI Researcher
Practical Advice for Graduate Students
A practical PhD guide for current and aspiring graduate students in artificial intelligence and related fields.
20% discount A discount code is available — see the Substack announcement.
About the book
Becoming an AI Researcher: Practical Advice for Graduate Students is a practical guide for current and aspiring graduate students in artificial intelligence and related fields. It provides advice on navigating the PhD process, conducting research, and preparing for a career in AI.
Table of contents
Preface
- 1 What is a PhD?
- 2 Finding the Right PhD Position
- 3 Start With the Problem, Not the Method
- 4 Designing Experiments in AI
- 5 Research Integrity and Reproducibility
- 6 Responsible AI Research
- 7 Meetings and Feedback
- 8 Academic Writing
- 9 Using Large Language Models in Your PhD
- 10 Attending Conferences and Presenting Your Work
- 11 The PhD Dissertation and Defense
- 12 Failure, Feeling Stuck, and Moving Forward
- 13 Navigating the PhD: Lessons from PhD Students
- 14 Industry Internships
- 15 Applying for Faculty Jobs
- 16 Career Paths Beyond Academia
About the author
Newsletter
Articles and updates
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Endorsements
Becoming an AI Researcher has always been a fascinating goal toward which all AI PhD students work. This book is thorough in the presentation of the multiple concrete steps and underlying aspects towards such a goal. The learning from the book, jointly with the inevitably needed enthusiasm, curiosity, and persistence will be of great value to all AI PhD students, especially in these days where AI aims at a ubiquitous impact.
An essential guide for aspiring AI researchers, this book fills an important gap by teaching the practical skills that PhD programs too often leave implicit. I especially appreciated its concrete examples, thoughtful guidance on working with advisors, insightful advice on navigating the use of large language models, reflections from PhD students sharing their own experiences and challenges, and reassuring discussions of feeling stuck—and becoming unstuck.
Every PhD student in AI will grapple with questions, such as how to choose the right problem to work on, how to survive peer review, and how to get the most out of attending conferences. This book captures that same practical wisdom and I'll be handing it out to my students.
This is the guide I wish existed when I started my own PhD in AI: practical, honest, and unafraid to tackle the hard parts, from finding the right problem to surviving peer review to defending your dissertation, while touching on questions students actually face but rarely get real guidance on, like responsible AI research and the use of large language models. In a field moving as fast as AI, it is easier than ever to lose your way, and this book gives students a steady compass for staying grounded and focused throughout their PhD.
The hardest part of becoming an AI researcher is rarely the math—it is about reading critically, choosing problems, experimental design, writing incisively, communication, etc. The author distills years of hard-won judgment into clear, actionable guidance. I honestly wish this book had existed when I started my own career.
A timely guide in the era of AI that revolutionizes doctoral research and training.
Citation
Stefano V. Albrecht. Becoming an AI Researcher: Practical Advice for Graduate Students. Cambridge University Press, 2026.
@book{ phd-in-ai,
author = {Stefano V. Albrecht},
title = {Becoming an AI Researcher: Practical Advice for Graduate Students},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
year = {2026},
url = {https://phd-in-ai.com}
}Out in 2026
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