<p>I am a 1st year graduate student trying to figure out what lab to join. I really liked one of my rotations, but I am having trouble figuring out whether the PI is interested in me joining. Here is the situation.</p>
<p>This lab is a very popular lab ran by a PI that has a reputation of being a good grad student trainer. More people typically want to join this lab than they have spots. The money situation has gotten pretty bad in this lab, so the PI thinks he can take even fewer students this year (definitely taking two). The PI has not expressed a lot of interest in giving me the spot. I have talked with him about joining, and he said that he needs to see all of the rotons and see who is interested in the position before discussing this. </p>
<p>He has expressed numerous times that he is interest in starting a collaboration with my other rotation PIs. This requires me to join another lab (they have tons of money) but he is willing to co-mentor me on my project. It sounds like he is willing to at least serve on my committee and maybe talk with me regularly on my project in the other lab. This guy is rarely around. With his time constraints, one is lucky to persuade him to serve on your committee.</p>
<p>I am having trouble figuring out whether he is at all interested in me taking his open spot in his lab. Everytime I express interest in this, he talks about doing the collaboration with the other lab (and me joining that other lab). Money is very tight in his lab, but the other lab has too much money. He may also not be able to take all the students that are interested in joining, so this is a way to get more students for a lower cost. It is difficult to read his behavior since he is telling me to go elsewhere but is still expressing interest in advising me. Should I write this lab off as not interested in me joining at all? The other labs are very big named PIs that run labs that may not be the best for students. These other labs are options for me though, but I think is better for graduate training. What is your take on whether this PI is even interested in having me join his lab?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it sounds like the situation is that he wasn't so impressed with you that he wants to take you, but if someone better doesn't come along, he will have to. He doesn't dislike you as a person and wouldn't object to interacting with you in the future, but he is hoping for someone with a better fit for his lab. This can't be pleasant to hear from someone you clearly admire.</p>
<p>There are lots of reasons that this could be the case and very few of the reasons revolve around you being incompetent or unfriendly or something. He could be looking for somebody who hopes to take their project in a new direction for the lab, he could be hoping for somebody with better skills in certain areas, he could feel that your work style isn't compatible with others in the lab.</p>
<p>Maybe you should cut your losses and try a different lab. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I should clarify some things:
1. The PI told all 1st and 2nd rotation students (like me) that he cant tell them if he is interested in them joining the lab, because he will not give away the positions others are still rotating.
2. He recently told all rotons to tell him whether they are interested in a position by x date, and he will pick two at that time.
3. My other labs are in different areas from his expertise, and the PIs are leaders in that field. He said that he had problems getting grants in this area since he lacks a reputation/ pubs in this area. He said that the other PIs names will help him get grants in this area.
4. He came up with the idea for me to do a joint dissertation between his and the other labs himself. He has told me numerous times that the other labs have tons more money (both have HHMI +tons of grants), and that I should consider this when picking a lab. He told me to join the other labs, and he would "co-mentor" me on a project of mutual interest to both labs. I am not sure about what he means by "co-mentoring".
5. He has not expressed interest in doing co-mentorship with the other rotons. He has agreed to do this with me. </p>
<p>I read his behavior as not interested in me joining his lab, so I am on the verge of saying I am not interested. I wonder if this is true though, since he stresses joint mentorship so much. If it was really due to his lack of faith in my skills/ability to fit into the lab, I don't see why he would be pressing co-mentoring. Hence, I do also wonder if it may instead be due to his funding problems and his desire to establish a new research area.</p>
<p>Given that this PI enforces this policy with all rotating grad students, I take back what I said earlier about this being a sign of a lack of interest in you.</p>
<p>I have heard of people with comentors. One of the grad students in my lab has a comentor in structural bio (we are a rheumatology lab). I don't think that this is a bad arrangement and I know that my coworker thoroughly benefits from the outside expertise and direction of his other PI.</p>
<p>I wouldn't consider a lab that has serious trouble getting grants. Nobody is in a great spot in terms of funding, but you should really avoid labs that has problems getting grants due to a lack of reputation and publications. Nobody wants to get their project taken away half way through. Best of luck.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I wouldn't consider a lab that has serious trouble getting grants. Nobody is in a great spot in terms of funding, but you should really avoid labs that has problems getting grants due to a lack of reputation and publications.
[/quote]
It's sad, but true. I think sometimes as scientists we feel like science should be our only driving point, but the reality is that money plays a rather major part in your ability to finish a PhD in a decent amount of time with a good publication record.</p>
<p>movewest, I think the PI sees you as a bridge to collaborating with the other labs. I don't think he necessarily has your best interests in mind when he suggests the co-PI situation, but it could be a "best of both worlds" situation -- you can take advantage of the money and the established expertise in the better-funded lab while getting mentorship from a rising star in the younger lab.</p>
<p>Bottom line: are you interested in joining another lab and doing the type of project that would be a collaboration between the two labs? If not, you should probably let this PI know you're more interested in joining his lab.</p>