[CalmLogic]

My favorite part:

Besides having publications, how do I demonstrate that my research has impact?

You need to show tangible results of your work, whether it be a software system you've built, an experiment you've run to completion, a statistical analysis you've performed on real-world data, etc., and more importantly, demonstrate the significance of those results in advancing your particular field (even if it's in some tiny way). You will need to write persuasively about the impact of your research in your statement of purpose, and your advisor will have to corroborate your claims in his/her letter of recommendation.

Philip Guo - Advice for preparing to apply and actually applying to science Ph.D. programs