Ask a PhD/PostDoc as a recommender for grad school?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi folks!</p>

<p>I'm going to apply for graduate school later this year. I am a microbiology major undergrad, and want to apply for microbiology or immunology programs. Now I am seriously thinking of who can write recommendation letters for me. Usually these phd programs require 3 recommendation letters from faculty members, but I am only able to find two recommendation letters from a professor and an associate professor, the other person I am thinking about is a phd student or a post doc.</p>

<p>So my concern is that whether phd/postdoc is qualified to write recommendations for me? I am now doing research in two different labs, but neither of the PI (the person who is in charge of this lab) directly supervises or instructs me, and PI's don't usually appear in the labs actually. Instead, it is a phd student and a post doc in these two labs who instruct me of doing experiments. They know me very well, and we usually solve problems together and meet them almost every day. So is it possible that I ask them to write recommendation letters for me? Would it be less persuasive to those recruiting staff than recommendations from professors? Would it be possible to ask the phd/postdoc to write for me but in the name of the the PI (what a weird question it is!)?</p>

<p>I've heard people say that Associate professors' recommendations are more weighty than assistant professors, and a full professor's recommendation would mean more than associate professor's. And I also heard that even if the recommender is neither a professor nor an associate one, as long as he/she is familiar with you and is able to described you comprehensively, it will be fine.</p>

<p>Thank you guys very much! Any suggestions would be appreciated:)</p>

2

<p>

Often the PI will ask the PhD student or postdoc to write the letter, or to write a summary of points to put in the letter, then the PI will edit and sign the letter. It is rare that a PI who doesn’t know you well, but in whose lab you have worked, will write a letter of recommendation with no input from the people with whom you have worked at the bench.</p>

<p>It is safe to assume that the PI will ask the PhD student or postdoc for input. You should not, if possible, have letters from non-professors for your grad school application.</p>