Residuality theory and the difficulty of finding a PhD

A new idea and its struggle to be financed

Have you ever heard about the Residuality theory?

If yes then you already know our last speaker, Barry O'Reilly from Black Tulip Technology and The Open University.

Indeed, he first introduced this theory in relation to software architecture (check his paper Residuality Theory, random simulation, and attractor networks ! ). The Residuality theory involves viewing software architecture practices through the lens of complexity and proposes new techniques for making technical decisions in conditions of high uncertainty. The main idea is that the system’s future is a function of its residues, whatever is left over after it is stressed.

This is an innovative and interdisciplinary approach and, as it often goes with such novelties, the main obstacle was finding some doctoral program willing to finance it. All of us, more or less, have struggled to find our PhD position. There are many websites available for helping in this purpose, such as https://www.findaphd.com/, https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/ and https://www.phdportal.com/, but also Twitter is a useful resource - the main one… at least in the complex systems community! Nevertheless, if you come out with an interdisciplinary idea, it may be difficult to find a group willing to take you on board.

Any advice that you would have done to yourself looking for the position? How did you find your PhD position?