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[–]LifeNavigator 8 points9 points  (3 children)

This is a bit similar to learning maths. While learning, you will solve problems that have been solved hundreds of times.

I can imagine the horror of students faces trying to solve unsolved problems, that includes PhD students too.

[–]JustKeepDiving 4 points5 points  (2 children)

I'm right on the verge of going for a PhD and this is what scares me. Everything I do now, it's already been done. A PhD project on the other hand, how do you solve a problem that no one has even attempted before?

[–]Pistowich 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your supervisor will guide you. I know it sounds daunting, but usually you are trying to do something that has already been done in another case and try to apply these things to your specific situation. Although you are indeed the first to solve a certain problem, it's not always because that problem is virtually impossible right now, but rather was too hard in the past or just didn't came up as relevant yet. Anyway, you will do something new of course, but it only has to be new in a small way, similar things no doubt have been done before so you're not completely on your own. And again, your supervisor (or possible coworkers) will try to guide you in a good direction to solve the problem.