Advice on Lab Joining

Logistics

  • Once you have selected a lab, you will complete a Dissertation Advisor Declaration form in my.harvard, which will be routed to your new advisor, and to Lindsay for approval. Your advisor will be prompted to review and sign off on academic and financial obligations, and this document will be re-shared with them before the start of the G2 year.
  • If you are electing to have 2 advisors, keep in mind that one must be the primary advisor

­General Tips on Selecting/Joining

  • First and most important step is to communicate. Ask all of the questions you can before signing on the dotted line! While it is possible to switch labs later, it’s a complex process, and may set you back on your work.
  • How do students select a lab? The project is important, but the mentoring style and the environment is so much more important. Reflect back on your rotation experience and try to think about what kind of mentor and mentorship you need.
  • How to tell faculty you won’t be joining? While there is no formal protocol, it’s good to assess what sort of relationship you currently have with them and go from there. A good way to stay involved with other faculty is to invite them to be on your DAC, if there is still interest
  • Co-advisors – this is certainly ok, however keep in mind that you will need to spend the time giving back to labs, by attending 2 lab meetings. 

Sample Questions for PI:

  • How many other graduate students are in the lab?
  • What is the culture of the lab like?
  • How often do you meet with students/does the lab meet?
  • Does the PI have a clear idea about what the project will be?
  • Do students have independent projects or do they work in groups?
  • How do students learn new techniques?
  • Ask PIs if you can bring your projects into the lab? Sometimes PIs are super interested in this

 

Q: Is it inappropriate to ask a potential PI about tenure or funding?

A: Not at all – faculty will not be offended. Also feel free to talk to Vlad/Victoria about this if there is any concern about having these conversations

Q: For students who are doing rotations in lots of different fields – do you get stuck with being in a certain field if you join a particular lab?

A: Not necessarily – maybe historically this may have been the case, but there is so much collaboration these days, that it’s more than welcome to bring different expertise into various fields. Something to keep in mind, this is training, not a permanent career!