<p>I really like this particular professor's research (chemical eng), but there's one problem: She's new and hasn't got tenure. </p>
<p>Do you think it's wise to go with someone who hasn't got tenured? Can somebody give some input?</p>
<p>There's also another professor who's more established but i don't like his research as much. </p>
<p>Any input at all will be appreciated!
Thanks!</p>
<p>Hahaha, I'm also in chemical engineering and went with a new (and thus untenured) adviser. I was in exactly the same position, where I could have gone with a more established person who's research I wasn't as interested in.</p>
<p>Look, how long is the tenure process at your school? I'm going to guess on average six years. Part of your adviser's tenure review consists of how many students she/he is or has graduated. Also, the amount of papers you'll be publishing will be larger, as your adviser will be depending on you to establish their career. As you should be able to get out in 5 years, you'll be gone by the time they go up for review.</p>
<p>I love setting up our lab and learning how to deal with shipments, making appointments for installing equipment, and getting things repaired. There's also something special about being a first graduate student.</p>
<p>If this person's research is really what you want to do, go for it. </p>
<p>My advice would be different if this was the new adviser's third or fourth year, in which case not having tenure starts to matter. I've seen students have to leave the graduate school and follow their adviser to another university to finish their PhDs (of course, their original institution is who issues it, but you still have leave all your friends and life behind).</p>
<p>She started in 2004, which means her review is gonna be in 2009 or 2010. I don't know how long the tenure process is at Notre Dame. And I am an incoming student in Fall 2007. This means that I might get shafted it she doesn't make it through the review process. </p>
<p>What school do you go to?</p>
<p>Amazing. I did my undergraduate at Notre Dame, and I know exactly who you're talking about. Notre Dame is an amazing university, at least it was for undergrad. Be sure to get football tickets, though next season is looking like it might suck.</p>
<p>In that case, I would be very very careful. I thought you meant that the professor was absolutely new. </p>
<p>Who are you interested in working for besides her?</p>
<p>I'm at Princeton now.</p>
<p>I'm thinking chang and kamat hehe. I like chang's work more. It seems like he's popular though I'll have to fend off some other kids if i want to work with him.</p>
<p>I can't get football ticket until August. I don't even know how to watch football unfortunately :*( Maybe I'll pick it up when i'm there.</p>
<p>treehaqr, </p>
<p>read "Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D." by Robert Peters. It has some good advice about choosing an adviser and a thesis topic.</p>
<p>It's okay, I wasn't much of a fan either. You'll learn, at least if you want to have something to talk about with the undergrads.</p>
<p>Chang is a great researcher and very widely respected, and one of the smartest professors I've ever known (also happens to be a Princeton grad school alum; I hunted down his thesis once when I was here). You'll be in good shape if you decide to work for him. I don't know anything about Kamat; I think he works mostly in the DoE lab.</p>
<p>Also, the Robert Peters book is pretty good, though it was written 10 years ago. You can find it on Amazon for pretty cheap.</p>