Picking a Research Group: What Should You Really be Looking for?
One of the most startling little pieces of truth I ever heard coming into grad school was You can divorce your husband, you can’t divorce your PhD advisor. The shock factor of this statement is why it stuck with me all these years. It isn’t necessarily true, but I think it serves as a reminder of how important this decision is. It is possible to switch research groups or further your career without your PhD advisor, but it also isn’t easy. This decision is as much about you as it is about the advisor and the research. Is there any truth to this statement at all? Well, in my opinion, a bit. The advisor you end up working for has a vested interest in your success. Because of this, they write a letter for nearly everything you apply for. They collaborate with you. They invite you to workshops. They introduce you to their buddies, who, hopefully, give you that position you’ve been vying for. They do a lot. Your success is a reflection of them. These aren’t necessarily good or bad things, but they are worth keeping in mind when you are making one of the biggest decisions of your career. Because it is a balance of so many factors, it becomes one of the most beautiful, nervewracking moments of soul searching in your life. Before we get started, all of this advice is not necessarily relevant based on the university/program you choose. I am focusing on three universally relevant aspects: the advisor, the outcomes, and the coworkers. I realize some grad students join the group before they have a chance to observe the gears in motion, but this can help during the recruitment/interview season as well.