Not all graduate advisors view their students work as their (the advisor’s) personal intellectual property. I did my masters and PhD in a fantastic, inspiring, interdisciplinary, and highly collaborative research group. Our advisor encouraged us to pursue our own ideas, be lead authors of manuscripts on which he was usually last author or not even an author, and lead the writing of small and large grants (which were at first unsuccessful and then, as we learned, successful) despite the fact that we could not legally be PIs on the grants. (He gives credit for student-authored grants by describing in the recommendation letters he writes for us how a student or students were the lead author and worked collaboratively with other students, faculty, etc. to execute the grant activities once awarded.) I credit this style of mentorship/advising as directly responsible for making me a confident, independent researcher, and yielding the 2 tenure-track faculty offers I was fortunate to receive earlier this year.
So, in short, not all advisors consider themselves to “ultimately own anything that goes on in their lab’s airspace.” --------- Jess Vogt Research Associate, The Vincent and Elinor Ostrom Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, Indiana University Bloomington Starting Sept 2015: Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science & Studies, College of Science & Health, DePaul University [email protected] | +1 920 850 2016 | jessicamarievogt (Skype) | @jessvogt https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jess_Vogt <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jess_Vogt> Check out the “Evaluating the Outcomes of Neighborhood and Nonprofit Urban Forestry <http://www.indiana.edu/~cipec/research/bufrg_projects_03.php>” project webpage of the Bloomington Urban Forestry Research Group (BUFRG) <http://www.indiana.edu/~cipec/research/bufrg_about.php> > On May 28, 2015, at 4:13 PM, Aaron T. Dossey <[email protected]> wrote: > > A note of caution on enthusiastic receptions from faculty when you offer to > bring a project to their lab: > > Of course all professors want to invite brilliant people with project ideas > already formulated (especially when these people already have the skills to > execute them). This is especially the case for grad school because > professors know they ultimately own anything that goes on in their lab's > airspace whether or not they had the slightest thing to do with it. > > Be careful that you understand the motivations and the realities behind these > enthusiastic responses to the idea of you coming with your own projects. > * I, too, welcome people to bring me their ideas and projects so I can screen > them and own my favorites. Anyone is welcome to conduct their research in my > facility so long as I am senior corresponding author on any publications, > owner of IP, named in all the press on the project, PI of any resulting > grants and have full control and credit for the project and any resulting > rewards - ESPECIALLY if the people come with the skillsets needed for the > project and I don't have to spend any time training them. That's essentially > what a professor is saying when they say "I welcome (or some demand, believe > it or not) students coming with their own project ideas, skills to conduct > them and especially with their own funding.". I've also seen faculty web > sites where they openly solicit even other faculty and "visiting scholars" to > come and do their work and sabbaticals in their labs. One such solicitation > is worded very similarly to what I have written above. Who would turn that > down? But, then again, who on the other side of that situation (ie: > student, postdoc, etc.) would offer all of that to someone? > > If it's too good to be true.... > > > On 5/28/2015 5:59 AM, Dave Daversa wrote: >> Hi Emily: >> >> I was in a similar situation as you several years ago. I had been working >> with a system and foresaw a lot of opportunity to answer some >> interesting/important ecological questions. I reached out to potential PhD >> advisors, met with graduate students and thought ALOT about it all. Not >> one professor with whom I spoke looked down upon my proposing my own >> project...to the contrary, this was viewed positively. I ended up getting >> this opportunity and am now finishing my PhD. The experience has been >> overwhelmingly positive and fulfilling, and has produced postdoc >> opportunities to continue doing the research that interests me. >> >> So go for it. You will get rejections and discouragement. You will get >> frustrated and confused. The key is to be persistent. >> >> More practical advice: research very well different professors and >> research groups. Send them well-drafted emails. Go and visit them. Apply >> for the NSF GRFP and other fellowships. Even if you aren't successful, >> they really help to formulate your thoughts. >> >> Dave >> >> On Thu, May 28, 2015 at 5:17 AM, Malcolm McCallum < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> If you want to know what to do in graduate school, how to go about being in >>> graduate school, and how to be a success in graduate school, and >>> successfully find a job after graduate school, >>> >>> Read this: >>> P.B. Medawar, Advice to a Young Scientist >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/Advice-Scientist-Alfred-Foundation-Series/dp/0465000924 >>> >>> It will be the best $5 (used) you ever spent. >>> >>> or, read a free online copy and spend your $5 to get lunch and read the >>> entire thing while eating.... >>> http://evolbiol.ru/medawar_advice/medawar.htm >>> >>> Now, I will say that some of the advice after graduation is more attune to >>> someone in a research school or research-focused department. That fish >>> won't bite in a teaching school, or a non-research school/department. >>> >>> The guy won a Nobel Prize, he probably has a clue. >>> >>> In any case, the bottom line is no two lives follow the same road. Take >>> yours, and hopefully it will be fruitful. >>> >>> On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 11:14 PM, Malcolm McCallum < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> If you want to know what to do in graduate school, how to go about being >>>> in graduate school, and how to be a success in graduate school, and >>>> successfully find a job after graduate school, >>>> >>>> Read this: >>>> P.B. Medawar >>>> >>>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/Advice-Scientist-Alfred-Foundation-Series/dp/0465000924 >>>> It will be the best $5 (used) you ever spent. >>>> >>>> Now, I will say that some of the advice after graduation is more attune >>> to >>>> someone in a research school or research-focused department. That fish >>>> won't bite in a teaching school, or a non-research school/department. >>>> >>>> In any case, the bottom line is no two lives follow the same road. Take >>>> yours, and hopefully it will be fruitful. >>>> >>>> malcolm >>>> >>>> On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 1:21 PM, Emily Mydlowski < >>> [email protected] >>>>> 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 >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP >>>> Environmental Studies Program >>>> Green Mountain College >>>> Poultney, Vermont >>>> Link to online CV and portfolio : >>>> https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO >>>> >>>> “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich >>> array >>>> of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a >>>> many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature >>> lovers >>>> alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as >>> Americans.” >>>> -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 >>>> into law. >>>> >>>> "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - >>>> Allan Nation >>>> >>>> 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert >>>> 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, >>>> and pollution. >>>> 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction >>>> MAY help restore populations. >>>> 2022: Soylent Green is People! >>>> >>>> The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) >>>> Wealth w/o work >>>> Pleasure w/o conscience >>>> Knowledge w/o character >>>> Commerce w/o morality >>>> Science w/o humanity >>>> Worship w/o sacrifice >>>> Politics w/o principle >>>> >>>> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any >>>> attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may >>>> contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized >>>> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not >>>> the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >>>> destroy all copies of the original message. >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP >>> Environmental Studies Program >>> Green Mountain College >>> Poultney, Vermont >>> Link to online CV and portfolio : >>> https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO >>> >>> “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array >>> of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a >>> many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers >>> alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as >>> Americans.” >>> -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 >>> into law. >>> >>> "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan >>> Nation >>> >>> 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert >>> 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, >>> and pollution. >>> 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction >>> MAY help restore populations. >>> 2022: Soylent Green is People! >>> >>> The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) >>> Wealth w/o work >>> Pleasure w/o conscience >>> Knowledge w/o character >>> Commerce w/o morality >>> Science w/o humanity >>> Worship w/o sacrifice >>> Politics w/o principle >>> >>> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any >>> attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may >>> contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized >>> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not >>> the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >>> destroy all copies of the original message. >>> >> >> > > > 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
