Charles Ling has been a professor at the Western University in Canada since 1989. He obtained his BSc. in Computer Science from the Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1985, and then graduated with his Masters and then Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, in 1987 and 1989, respectively. He specializes in data mining and machine learning, and their applications in Internet, business, healthcare, and bioinformatics. Overall, he has published over 120 research papers in peer-reviewed conferences and journals. Charles Ling has also engaged in much professional service in the above areas. He has been an associate editor for several top journals and an organizer for several top conferences in computer science. He is also a Senior Member of IEEE and a Lifetime Member of AAAI (Association of Advancement of Artificial Intelligence). Charles Ling is the director of the Data Mining and Business Intelligence Lab at Western University, where has been involved in several technology transfer projects. Charles Ling is also a specialist in child gifted education. He integrates his research in Artificial Intelligence and cognitive science, and develops a full range of thinking strategies that improve children's intellectual abilities. These thinking strategies embrace, enhance, and connect with math, science, and other areas.

Acknowledgments.- Preface.- Basics of Research.- Goals of Ph.D. Research.- Getting Started: Finding New Ideas and Organizing Your Plans.- Conducting Solid Research.- Writing and Publishing Papers.- Misconceptions and Tips for Paper Writing.- Writing and Defending a Ph.D. Thesis.- Life After Ph.D..- Summary.- References.- Author Biographies.