I am a current MS student studying Conservation Biology. What I want to
let you know is it is okay for ideas, topics, and plans to change. When I
entered last fall I planned on going for a PhD and studying something
rather obscure. I am now planning on finishing my MS on a more broad and
Jeremy and others interested,
In March 2010, I developed a list of Ideas for developing graduate
research questions with the help of colleagues in my UW-Madison
China-IGERT program and the Soil Science Department. Some of the
ideas may be more appropriate for those interested pure vs. applied
Maybe instead of asking whether you need graduate school to achieve your
career goals, you should instead ask whether you would consider it an
immense waste of time if it didn't lead to the career you expected. If so,
maybe it's not for you. You've got to love learning, thinking, research,
and
Hello all, this upcoming Fall semester I will be attending the
University of Massachusetts Lowell to obtain my Master's Degree in
Biology with the possibility of a Biotechnology option. I want to do a
Master's Thesis because I want to get my PHD later on, but I am really
not sure what I
Jeremy,
What I suggest is to get to know the faculty at your institution (U-Mass
Lowell) and what they do. You can begin doing so just by looking at the
Department's website and from there, individual faculty links. Most will
have much detail on their research focus, current funding, interests,
Malcolm's rule for MS Thesis topic.
#1. It must be doable within two academic years (if a field project
that would be two summer sessions.
#2. It should be a specific question that the results will be
publishable unless something REALLY unforseen happens.
#3. You should work with an organism
Hi Jeremy,
You haven't told us the most important thing -- WHY you're doing a
Master's and want to do a PhD. Answer that, and you'll be well on your
way to picking a topic, with the rest being a matter of finding a
specific question.
I also highly recommend the book _On Becoming a Biologist_ by
Jane,
I agree completely. In fact, even before asking the why question, or
at least something to ask at the same time is: IF you NEED graduate
school to achieve your goals (career, etc.). You should definitely
decide WHAT your goals/dreams/interests are and then do your homework.
If you
