Henry Zonio, PhD
David Gray Widdera bunch of my friends are choosing between PhD programs. here's my advice to them:
it is FAR more important to work with someone who is kind, than someone who does exactly the research you want to do or is at a prestigious institution.
xrvs@davidthewid i wouldn’t disagree, but do you know who you will work with beforehand?
Matt@xarvos @davidthewid It depends on the program. With mine, I had time to find an adviser, and I literally went around asking what work faculty had that was important but that no students were working on.
That lead to a great project I was not expecting. It turned out to be right up my alley.
bodhidave@infinimatt @xarvos @davidthewid
At the Clinical Psych department where I worked for many years, that was very much the process — you effectively apply to a professor and his or her lab.
And as a therapist, I feel advice I often give regarding personal relationships is fitting here:
The sign of a good match is when you like the person you can be in the context of that interaction.
costrike@davidthewid Broadly applicable advice.
Cedar@davidthewid would like to add that kindness sometimes boils down to personality fit. For example, you may have an advisor who "kindly" tries to tell you exactly how to do every little step in your research. You may appreciate it because you are that kind of person. Or it may kill your soul because you're not.
@dickretiredI would add that you should also look for a PI who, after a year or so of common research, allow you some leeway in pursuing your own ideas. They should be trying to foster your career.
Nick Byrd, Ph.D.Same applies for postdoc. opportunities.