Wow, I too am amazed by the tone of this message - obviously it is coming from some deep-seated indignation based on someone’s previous bad experience. A much as I strongly disagree with the main message, I do agree that any student needs to research any and all potential advisors. Different faculty all have different ways in which they work with students and the potential graduate student needs to make sure that it is a good match (obviously it was not for the previous person). Looking at the recent publication record of a potential advisor, talking to current and past graduate students, asking about funding options, researching the courses offered by the department, etc. are all really good ideas. In many programs (including my own), graduate students are fully supported financially during their entire time in the program so they don’t need to hold any additional jobs that would interfere with their graduate studies. So you want to ask about things like stipends, tuition costs (hopefully zero), health care, support for travel to professional meetings and the like.
As a last note, I sincerely doubt that many of us think of ourselves as a “boss” (as the message below suggests); rather, we are teachers (yes, “mentor” or “advisor” is what I consider myself personally) of our students with the ultimate goal of creating collaborators. I would also argue that rather than being “very rare” for a faculty member to care about a student’s career, it is ABSOLUTELY central to what we do. In every committee meeting I have attended (both for my own grad students as well as others in the department), someone always asks the student what their ultimate goal is and then we prepare a plan to help them get there. The whole point of a graduate program is to graduate independent scientists who will be successful in whatever career they choose to pursue - whether it be in academia, education, state or federal government, etc. Like Steve mentioned, being active in graduate programs - originally as a student and now as a mentor - has yielded some of my most valued relationships over the years. If it was not for two wonderful faculty mentors at UC Irvine (Steve Weller and Ann Sakai) who agreed to take on an undergrad in need of research credit and then encouraged me to continue on to graduate school, I would never be where I am today. I am sure that many other faculty had similar experiences and we now strive to “pay it forward”. Consequently I hope that students like Emily continue to follow their dreams and keep up the search to find the right match with a mentor and graduate program. Sincerely, Theresa Theresa M. Culley, Ph.D. Associate Professor Provost Fellow Department of Biological Sciences University of Cincinnati 614 Reiveschl Hall Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006 Office: 703 Reiveschl Hall Tel: 513-556-9705 Web: www.homepages.uc.edu/~culleyt/CulleyLab.html<http://www.homepages.uc.edu/~culleyt/CulleyLab.html> Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> On May 27, 2015, at 6:56 PM, Aaron T. Dossey <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: 1) I wouldn't go to grad school for science these days. Universities and faculty are far too exploitative and the career opportunities requiring a graduate degree are far too few (especially in academia and government). Best to get out there and get a job and experience with those years, or even start your own organization or company. You may be interested in the articles and "Notes" posted on this page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Postdoc-Union/275402225908673 2) It is the responsibility (one of an ever waning list) of the faculty boss (referred to some as "mentor" or "adviser") to provide projects (well funded ones) for their students, then spend time TEACHING them the projects, techniques and science behind the projects. I would be suspicious of any lab that requires you to come up with your own project, especially if they require you to come with your own funding. 3) If you do have project ideas, best to pursue them on your own time and well separate from the lab and/or involvement of any university faculty member. Basically if you know what you want to do and more or less how to do it, you don't need grad school: you need resources/facilities to pursue it. So, find (sit down for this) COLLABORATORS (not bosses) and some sort of funding or access to lab and equipment you need. You can even try crowdfunding, or like I said, start a company or non-profit. 4) If you DO dive into graduate school for some reason: selecting a decent ethical faculty boss who actually cares about YOUR career (very rare) will be your most critical decision/task. the following are criteria and methods you should use: a) talk to as many people IN the lab and especially FORMER lab members as possible, b) ask the faculty boss how joining their lab will help your career, what you will BE TAUGHT, what projects are available and what FUNDING is driving those projects (and listen closely to the answers), c) ask if you would be allowed to pursue independent side projects without the faculty boss' involvement (ie: do a side project that's your idea with other students or other labs in your own side collaboration - this is critical to build toward an independent career in science, which is the main reason to go to grad school in science at all). This means publishing at least one paper without that faculty member and possibly even applying for a grant or two (toward the end of your term in the lab) without their name on it. If they say no, immediately find another lab. While many will tell you no one will do this and this is unusual and you shouldn't expect this freedom, that is nothing short of a lie. If you accept that lie, you will find out the hard way when you try to pursue your real career after grad school. d) Be SURE the lab or department will pay you a FULL stipend you can live on AND health insurance for at least 5 years while you complete your degree. e) be sure that no one in the labs you are considering has taken more than 5 years to finish their Ph.D. or 3 years for Masters. f) if you determine that a graduate degree is ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED for your career goals (think about this carefully) then do a Ph.D. rather than a masters. g) I do not recommend young professors without tenure, or working for older or higher ranking professors that also have adminstrative appointments on top of their professor job (things like also being the "director of the center for X" etc. I consider moonlighting and almost a guarantee that you'll never see them, which means you'll never learn anything or be taught anything by them which is the entire point of grad school). h) Also have a frank discussion about how authorship is handled in the lab AND if you are expected to write grants (don't do it if you won't be listed as a co-PI), and even about how patents will be handled... and get those things IN WRITING! 5) Do not be placated, pacified, bribed, distracted or fooled by anything else. a LITTLE higher salary, a boss that smiles a lot, showering you with compliments, students (especially early grad students or undergrads) who say things like "they are SO nice to me, they let me go to conferences" (something they should all offer by default, at least 1 conference per year for you to present at).. etc... can distract from the more important issue: how going to grad school will benefit your career and get you quickly into an independent science career within 2-3 years after graduating (max). Those are some good solid things that should take you a long way toward your next set of decisions which will be critical for your career success (or lack of it) for some years to come. What you decide to do at this stage of your career will have long lasting consequences. Let me know if you have further questions! ATD of ATB On 5/27/2015 2:21 PM, Emily Mydlowski wrote: Hello all, I'm delving into the graduate school search (MS and PhD programs) quite heavily and am seeking advice regarding approaching faculty with a research project. The system I'm interested in working on is that which has many unanswered, interesting questions I would love to pursue. From a faculty perspective, is proposing a project topic (too) bold of a move to a potential advisor? Any advice would be much appreciated. All the best, Emily Mydlowski Northern Michigan University ATD of ATB and ISI -- Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Founder/Owner: All Things Bugs LLC World's Largest supplier of Cricket Powder / Cricket Flour ! Capitalizing on Low-Crawling Fruit from Insect-Based Food Ingredient Innovation ABOUT: http://allthingsbugs.com/People LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/all-things-bugs-dr-aaron-t-dossey/53/775/104 FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Allthingsbugs ISI: https://www.facebook.com/InvertebrateStudiesInstitute PHONE: 1-352-281-3643
