What is the best research topic?

How can I find out the best research topic that fits me?

• I am thinking of getting PhD in computer science. As long as I know I need to select a topic in computer science so I can specialize on it. How can I find the best research topic for me? The one that fits me best. The one that I was just born for it. My grades are pretty good. I wish there was a quiz so I can find the right research subject for me like it says you are good to go with programming languages or machine learning etc.

• Answer:

  When going for a Ph.D, don't pick a sub-topic.  Pick an adviser.  I made the mistake of picking an adviser by his research, not by our compatibility.  I had a bit of a catastrophe during my first semester and my adviser was not understanding of it, so I ended up dropping out. When you go for a Ph.D, you become the world's most knowledgeable person on the exact subtopic you research -- you are doing something no one else in the world has done exactly like you.  But your subtopic will be so narrow that chances are the knowledge you get from your research won't be used in the place you end up working, except in the rare condition that you spin off a business from it -- and even then, your attitude and ambitions will matter more than which subtopic you decided to research. So... pick what you love to do the most, then pick a professor in the broad area and get in contact with the students that work for him/her and find out whether or not you would like working with the group.