My Responses to Common Questions to Ask Before Entering Graduate School as a PhD Candidate

Postdoc Related:
1. What helped you to decide to do a postdoc?
• I felt that a postdoc was the next necessary step. I knew that I was not interested in becoming a PI, but I wanted to stay in a science field that was not industry. I was at first considering applying for policy fellowships, but then came upon the job I am currently in. It was a new path that I had not been exposed to prior to finishing my graduate career.


2. How to decide where/if to do a postdoc.
• I began with deciding the type of research I wanted to do. I wanted to do translational research in cancer so looked for laboratories doing that type of research. Looked at MUSC (had a boyfriend here starting pharmacy school) and St. Jude.


3. How does one acquire the postdoc position of his/her dreams?
• Lots of applications to laboratories that do the type of work you are interested in.
• Do informational interviews
• Talk to current postdocs and students
• Take lots of interviews


4. What are the pros and cons of doing a postdoc at the same school where you got your PhD?
• Pros
i. Collaborations are a lot easier when you know a lot of people.
ii. You are familiar with the cores and facilities.
iii. Continuing and building new mentoring relationships.
iv. Good postdoc resources (thanks Ed).

• Cons
i. Miss out on a new experience in an all new place.
ii. Some people can get an attitude if you do your grad school and postdoc in same place, they can look down their pointy noses at you. It does really happen.
iii. Your CV does not look terribly diverse.


Career Related:
5. What careers do we have after Phd in various specializations?
• Neuroscience – a couple of friends have gone to work for a company Noldus. Noldus Information Technology develops innovative solutions for behavioral research on humans and animals. They both work in the technical department training people all over the world. Always traveling, multiple places and many times a month.
• Health Policy – fellowships offered that pay pretty well and are 1-2 years depending on what you apply for. Cover areas such as FDA, on capitol hill, and other branches of government. Most of the jobs in DC.
• US Public Health Service (PHS) – branch of government, great benefits. Most of the jobs are in DC.
• Clinical Laboratory Fellowships – Clinical Chemistry, Cytogenetics, Molecular Pathology, Infectious Disease. Mixture of two. 2-3 year programs post-graduation. Prepare you to be the director of a clinical laboratory.
• Writer/Editor – Have a friend in NY, been working as an editor for grants for a couple of years, really enjoys being project manager.
• Law – many areas that a PhD can get involved in regarding patent law, with or without a law degree.

6. What do you plan on doing with your degree? Teach? Industry? Etc. And why do you plan on choosing that path?
• I plan on being the director of a clinical laboratory. This job involves being the person responsible for molecular testing of patient samples, lot of pressure. Involved in administrative work, reimbursement of testing, test management and steward of patient care. Must stay up to date on the most recent test options and new platforms. Often times consulting for biotech companies and invited as speaker. Also may been asked to testify in local cases. Lots of diversity. Plus I got into science to help people and I believe this has direct impact on patient care. Still get to do a fair amount of research projects and clinical trials, just scaled down.


Academics:
7. What is the biggest difference between graduate study and undergraduate study?
• The biggest difference is that you are given a wide variety of information to study in a short period of time. There is going to be so much information it will be difficult to know what to focus on. I feel that you are learning how to study scientific material more so than memorizing scientific material. Don’t get me wrong, you will need to memorize some things.


8. Whether the previous knowledge or experience is important to graduate study and research work or not? How much importance are they?
• You will rely on what you have learned in undergrad. Many of the subjects covered expect you to have the basic already understood. If you do not, there will be more studying involved for you compared to those that are familiar with the subject matter.

9. If you took core curriculum did it help your understanding of science in general, or would you rather been able to take classes focused on your particular interests?
• Of course it is best to take focused classes, but the core curriculum is necessary to help you remember all the aspects of science. It is like the last 2-3 years of college if you only took biology courses wrapped into basically two semesters. It is going to be intense. But it is good to get the appreciation for all major areas of biology. A lot of research is starting large and knowing the big picture before you break it down to a focused interest. The same goes for your schooling.

10. What was the biggest adjustment academically?
• The pace. Everything is tightly packed and at an accelerated pace. This requires constant focus and for one to grow up quickly. The professors that teach the curriculum all have busy lives and most do not have the patience to deal with lame excuses (I tried that too). It is a professional school, not at all like college.


Research:
11. How do we adjust with the environment around our respective departments or schools?
• Get involved, but not over involved. Meaning participate in your classes and in lab meetings and journal clubs. Most departments have their own journal clubs and the sooner you are comfortable asking questions and participating, the better for you.
• Get to know your neighbors in the lab. The PIs too. You never know where a potential mentor may be.
• Make connections with other graduate students and students in other schools. They can have valuable insight for studying techniques or be a study buddy.
• You are not here alone; make sure to have others you are comfortable talking science with. Run your ideas by others to see what they have to offer and what they think are useful. Do not just run your ideas past a certain demographic either. Diversify the people you ask for their thoughts.
• Try! When opportunities to present and compete arise, take them seriously. A good example is student research day. Make yourself known.

12. What is the "lab" equivalent for biostatistics students?
• Don’t know! But I have noticed that many graduate students are teaming up with biostat students to help them with their projects. Great way to get publications.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for a tour or explanation of the science that you are helping with the stats for.

13. How useful were training grants and other sources of funding during your graduate school years?
• Difficult to get, in most cases, but absolutely makes you much more competitive when you have finished your education.
• Great grant writing experience as well.

14. Any advice on picking a research project to focus on for one's dissertation once in a lab?
• Pick something realistic. Trying to build and characterize a mouse model, NOT realistic.
• Choose something you are really passionate about, that will help when you feel like quiting.

15. When a researcher should stop looking for results he is expecting but not getting?
• You should always look at the results of an experiment with independent eyes. We all have a hypothesis, but if the data doesn’t fit the hypothesis after repeating 3 or more times, it may be time to reject your hypothesis and start trying to explain the results you have.

16. During your first year are additional rotations with collaborating labs beneficial when you have a PI picked out or is it better to begin your research right away?
• Enjoy your rotations.
• I learned how to do precise dissections and I learned about cloning. Two areas I was interested in that were related to my project, but I wasn’t going to necessarily get that training in my own lab.
• Plus I would recommend doing something that is just incredibly different from your choosen lab if it is possible.

17. How did you choose a project?
• The lab had a few projects in process and I tried a couple, but eventually had only an interest in one and that was the project I choose.
• I did do research for the other projects

18. How did you find the lab that was right for you?
• I really liked the postdocs and students in my lab, they were very helpful and knowledgeable.
• I also had an easy time talking with my mentor and asking questions.

19. What advice do you have when your project is not going the way you planned?
• Take a day off, just one day. Then come back with a vengeance.
• Try working on a different part of your project. There are usually three aims with many experiments under those aims. A new experiment may give you a new perspective.

20. How did you finally narrow down and area of interest/study?
• I was always interested in cancer; I guess I had it easy.
• Find the one thing you cannot get enough learning about.

21. Which rules shall we always obey during the research work?
• Repeat experiments (3 times at least)
• Do not falsify results.
• Be nice to others in your lab and on your floor.
• Talk to your mentor.


Time Management:
22. How would you compare graduate school to undergraduate school in terms of work load, free time, and study time?
• More work, less free time. It will become your life for the next 5 or so years.
• Be sure to take some time for yourself. Yes you will work weekends and sometimes you will be here late or the middle of the night. Enjoy those times, that is all I can say.
• Take coffee or tea breaks, something that allows you to have some time to think “free” thoughts. You also need to talk to your mentor about times to read and write. You cannot live at a bench all the time. There is more to this than just benchwork.

23. I would like them to share how they budgeted their time and what they think is unique about MUSC that helped them succeed.
• Great study breaks during exam time (free food).
• The library can be a nice place to study.
• Study groups with people from class during the first year (used to go to the local bar and talk study guides over a pitcher of beer).

24. What would you say was the most important factor in your graduating on time?
• I do not know anyone that graduated “on time.”
• The rule of thumb is add 6 months to whatever time you and your mentor think you might finish.

25. How much longer did it take you to finish your degree than you thought it would?
• About 4 months.

26. How do you balance lab and schoolwork?
• It is difficult, try to get an idea of how your mentor feels about ‘schoolwork’. Some do have a problem with it and you need to start the conversation early regarding your workload for classes. That can become the elephant in the room if you are not proactive.
• There is no clear formula, everyone is different.


Lessons Learned:
27. What are the problems they faced in grad school and how did they solve them?
• I had some problems with my mentor about 2 years in regarding the number of hours I was working in the laboratory (around 40-50 a week). After a stern talk, I started spending more time in the laboratory including a mandatory Saturday (about 60+ a week). Things were better after that. I learned sometimes you just have to suck it up.

28. This is not a specific question, but what was the biggest lesson you learned as a graduate student?
• I learned how to think independently and how to ask the right questions.

29. What's the most important thing you wish someone would have told you before you started?
• Plan to have no life during the last 2 years or so of your degree. Eat, sleep, dream your project. That is the only way to finish and not flail around.

30. What is one thing you know now that would have been helpful to know as a first year grad student?
• Get to know the other people in your class.
• Start asking questions, good questions.

31. What was the most unexpected but valuable lesson you learned in graduate school?
• Mentors are everywhere and it is good to have several of them!

32. What was the most beneficial class or experience you had in grad school?
• Rotations. I really enjoyed rotations because you got a glimpse into other teaching/mentor/lab styles.

33. What was the toughest part of your first year of graduate school?
• Getting adjusted to the new pace of learning.

34. What do you regret most?
• No regrets.


Work-Life Balance:
35. I believe that graduate school can be stressful at times, if so, how did you cope with it?
• Drinking (psst….not the best option). Just kidding. I would say, I should have done more Yoga or something at the Wellness center. You have a free membership, use it.

36. What was their motivation to keep working hard when they felt totally burned out?
• The motivation is really forcing yourself to look at the big picture and focus on why your research is important. You have to keep perspective.

37. Can you successfully get married and have a family while being a graduate student?
• No idea, it worked both ways. For some, there was success. For others, there was divorce. It is a stressful time and you have to be willing to cope with the stress in a productive way. Your spouse also needs to have understanding that you will not be there for them all the time or sometimes at all.


Mentor Selection and Relationships:
38. What factors are important in choosing a mentor?
• Easy to talk with honestly.
• Decide what function the mentor will serve.

39. What advice do you have on choosing a mentor?
• Have more than ONE!

40. What can we do to really stand out during our rotations? What are PI looking for?
• Do what you are asked.
• If the PI doesn’t give you anything to do, ask to shadow or help out the postdoc or student. Ask for a project, even a small one.
• Read and ask questions of the PI, show you are engaged. Ask to have a regular meeting time with your PI during the rotation to discuss what you have been reading or the experiments you have been performing in the laboratory.

41. How to have an excellent communication with your mentor?
• Don’t be afraid to ask for things.
• Talk upfront (before entering the lab) regarding expectations. Vacation time, working weekends (one day off a weekend), personal meeting times, presentation in lab meetings.

42. How do you pick your committee?
• Ask your PI for suggestions, then research those suggestions.
• Consider another of your mentors.
• Consider people in a field that is a specific aim for your project, you will get better input.

43. What are the things you want to look for in a professor to make him part of your committee?
• Are they a clinician, they tend to be more difficult to get at a meeting?
• Same concept with department chairs, look at how difficult it is to get a meeting with the individual to even discuss them considering being on your committee.

44. How often should your committee meet?
• Every 6 months or so after your proposal. No more than a year without a meeting. There are guidelines.

45. Have you had any experience with balancing a project that has two PIs?
• No.

46. What advice would you have for someone with co-Mentors for their PhD project (other than don’t do it)?
• Be sure that you include both PIs on every email regarding work or revisions.
• Talk with both PIs at the same time in weekly or bi-weekly meetings to ensure that everyone is on the same page with your work progression.

47. Which is more beneficial: an assist prof that can provide direct lab training or an established prof and training with a grad student or postdoc?
• For training, probably an established professor.
• Look at the training record, some assist profs have a great training record, they just haven’t been promoted yet. Some established profs are not good at training. Have people quit their lab? How many successful students have exited the lab? How many postdocs have moved on from the lab and how long were they there.

48. Has a mentor ever lost interest in a student because they showed an interest in teaching post graduation?

• Unfortunately some mentors are set in what a student should do after graduate school.
• If you are interested in teaching and know it at this point, you should have that discussion with any potential PI and look for their response.
• Ultimately, it is your life and your happiness, so they may be unhappy, but if you are producing data and writing they will be happy.