Joining a Research Group
Most of our PhD students enter the program after communicating with and selecting a research advisor. Communicating with faculty can be intimidating at first, so we have provided some tips for a successful advisor search.
It is essential to start the process of finding a research advisor early. Many factors may affect whether there are positions open in a group, regardless of whether you are an excellent candidate. Give yourself time to explore your options and find a group that fits your goals and interests.
Masters with thesis students should also prioritize finding a research group early, ensuring enough time to complete a thesis during the program.
How to Inquire About Positions with Faculty
Identify Potential Research Advisors within the Univeristy:
1. Explore ME faculty and their research interests. Use the Faculty Research Matrix to get started. For faculty you are interested in, look at their lab website and recent publications.
2. Contact the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. The Associate Chair is familiar with the other labs in the department and may be able to help find a lab that aligns well with your interests. They may also be aware of funding states and other situations in labs that affect whether new students are being accepted.
3. Consider research groups outside of the department. Several ME students have found great success in biomedical engineering, materials science, and computer science groups. Discuss with the Graduate Advisor or Associate Chair for Graduate Studies if you are planning to join a lab outside of the department, there may be additional necessary steps.
Contact Potential Research Advisors: Faculty often get many emails each year from prospective students. It is best to be brief, but highlight key information that will pique the Faculty’s interest. For the main body of the email, your goals are to (a) introduce yourself, (b) inquire about whether they are taking students, (c) make it clear why you are interested in that particular faculty member, and (d) get any advice they might offer. Always be respectful and genuine in your approach.
1. Have a professional email subject and introduction. Make sure your email address is professional as well (no gmail accounts with middle school names). A recommended subject heading would be “Inquiry from potential graduate applicant”.
2. Introduce yourself and who you are. Consider including where you got or are getting your degree, what kind of research experience you’ve had, and/or what you have been doing since graduation. If your previous experience is very different from their work, briefly explain why you want to change directions.
3. Mention the reason you are emailing them (most likely as a potential or current graduate student).
4. Briefly discuss (1-3 sentences) a research project or paper from the Professor you are interested in. You do not need details, just establish you are interested in this group. Do not say you only want to work with a specific technique or project. Funding priorities and interests change, and you do not want to limit yourself. If there is a specific project you are truly excited about, that is ok to include, but be sure to mention your general interests as well.
5. Be specific in what you are asking. Do you want to know if they have openings? Do you want to set up a meeting? Provide general availability here.
6. Attach your resume or CV. Most faculty will want to see your GPA from previous education if it is good. If your GPA was not good, do not include it, but be prepared to discuss any factors that affected your GPA and how you believe your graduate school education will be different.
7. Follow-up once in 2 weeks if you do not hear back, but do not pester.
Most importantly, do not be afraid to send the email. The worst that can happen is they do not reply and forget that you sent it.
What to Expect During the Search for a Group
If you receive a positive reply, be prompt with your response. Schedule a time to meet with the Professor, and ask for contact details for current students. If the initial meeting goes well, consider asking if you can attend a group meeting. Remember the important considerations when joining a research group, and try to get answers to you questions.
Sometimes faculty will simply not reply. In this case, no information is no information. Some faculty don’t read this kind of email, some may not be taking graduate students and didn’t want to take the time to reply, and some may have just missed the email or had extenuating life circumstances. If you really want to work with this faculty, consider sending a follow-up email after two weeks.
Rejection is not personal. If you reach out to a professor to join their lab and they decline, it is important to not feel personally rejected. There are numerous reasons a professor may not be able to take on new graduate students at the time, which include but are not limited to: lack of funding, lack of space, personal commitments, changing research directions, etc. Keep reaching out to other professors and you will find the lab where you belong.
You are not alone! Getting started with research can be a daunting task. You are learning a new set of skills and learning about a lot of new things all at once. It is easy to get overwhelmed when you’re starting out or feel like you don’t belong, but rest assured that you were personally selected to join the department for your specific experiences and skills.
Identifying a Good Fit - Questions for yourself and the research group
You successfuly identified a potential research group and have scheduled a meeting with the professor and maybe a tour of the lab. How should you go about identifying if this lab will be a good fit? Remember, just as the Professor will be determining if you are a good fit for their lab, you need to determine if the lab is a good fit for you.
First, consider these questions to establish what is important to you. Try to give more than one word or sentence answers. Really consider how you want your graduate school experience to be, and what you need to get out of graduate school for your future success.
- What do you consider important for your success? Is it the research and advancement of science, publications and conference presentations, competition, the envinronment of your peers? What markers of success are important in your field?
- What are you considering for life after the PhD? Industry or academia?
- Do you like to work alone or as part of a team?
- Do you prefer a set daily schedule or more flexible hours?
- Are you self-motivated or do you need deadlines?
Try to answer these questions in the course of meeting with the Faculty advisor and students in the group. There is no necessarily right answer to these questions, but based on the personality and principles you outlined above, the answers can guide you to make the best match.
1. What is the group’s research scope? Do they specialize in one area or cover many different research areas?
2. Evaluate the group’s recent publications. How frequently do they publish? Where do they publish? Are graduate students given primary authorship?
3. Where does the group present their work? Are graduate students supported to present their work at meetings, including financial suport?
4. What is the funding situation? Are students in the group primarily supported on TAs, RAs, or fellowships?
5. How much involvement does the advisor have in research? Are they hands-on or hands-off? Are the projects assigned? Do you have some freedom to explore?
6. Is the advisor accessible? How often do they meet with students? What form do these meetings take?
7. Can the advisor provide relevant career guidance?
8. How supportive is the advisor? Are they positive motivators?
9. Does the advisor encourage involvement in professional soctieties, volunteer opportunities, and career development besides research?
When selecting a research group, it is important to consider beyond the scope of their research. Will this research group allow you to lead the kind of life you want for the next 4-6 years?