Selecting a Mentor & Dissertation Project Paul A. Gulig, Ph.D. Professor of Molec. Gen. & Micro. Associate Dean for Graduate Education University of Florida College of Medicine
It's no big deal…
It's just the most important decision that you'll make over the next four years!
The Mentor The Project
The Mentor
The Mentor Research Interest Personality Lab Style Reputation $$$
The Mentor Research Interest (see project)
The Mentor Personality Hands-On vs. Hands-Off Temperament Mix Study/Social Personal History (like parenting) Freedom Expectations of time, effort, etc.
The Mentor Personality Most of our faculty members were chosen because of their research credentials. Not because they won humanitarian awards, Nobel Peace Prizes, or Mother Teresa medals.
The Mentor Lab Style Large vs. Small Make-up (undergrads, grads, postdocs, etc.) Equipment Space Roles Lab meetings Does everyone get along? Are they happy?
The Mentor Reputation Young assistant professor Older established professor Other roles (chair, dean, course director, etc.) Check with senior students Time to graduation
The Mentor $$$ ???
The Mentor $$$ How much is needed? Four years after first year. $28,000 for first 3 38,000+ after that Plus running the lab
The Mentor $$$ Department chair must sign off on mentoring agreement. Department backs mentor if shortfall. Demands are different for different chairs and even different faculty (trust, track record). Not all faculty know if the chair will sign.
The Mentor $$$ UF Research Funding Search
The Mentor If you do not get along with your mentor, you will be miserable and will have a hard time moving forward. They must sign your dissertation and help you get your next job.
The Mentor If you believe that you made a mistake, you can change if you can find someone else. Marriage counseling Communication
The Mentor Rotations Three or Four Rotations IDP Faculty search page Must be IDP faculty Research presentations Mentor list online Independent contact
The Project
The Project How important is your specific project?
The Project Quiz: What degree are you planning to get?
The Project Doctor of Philosophy
The Project Quiz: What is your major?
The Project Quiz: Major = Medical Science with a concentration in …
The Project Doctor?
The Project Doctor = Teacher
The Project Philosophy?
The Project Philo = Love Soph = Knowledge Love of Knowledge
The Project Knowledge is gained through Science.
The Project Science is studied using the Scientific Method.
The Project What are the steps of the Scientific Method?
The Project Scientific Method: Observe Hypothesize Test Conclude
The Project You are NOT getting a technical degree.
The Project You ARE being trained to be an INDEPENDENT scientist.
The Project This is more of a character or quality than a technical skill.
The Project So, if you cannot study exactly what you had dreamed, your life and career are not ruined.
The Project Find the next closest thing, a different angle toward the same subject, what you would have done as a postdoc.
The Project Besides - it's what you do as a postdoc that will determine your career path more than your graduate studies.
The Project Many people completely change fields from PhD to postdoc.
The Project However, if you do not love what you are doing, If you do not think about it in bed before you fall asleep or while you are in the shower,
The Project If you are not passionate about your research,
The Project You will not excel in your studies, you will be unhappy, and you will not succeed.
The Project When you form your committee, you will write specific aims. This is not a contract. They come and go as your research progresses.
The Project You cannot stick on the original road if it leads to a dead end!
The Project Why stick on the original road if you make an exciting discovery that opens a whole new field?
Bottom Line You should love what you do here. You should not have to drag yourself to lab everyday. Make good choices this year to get started on the right path. Do your homework. Ask lots of questions.
Questions Comments ???