<p>I find actually a ton of good science there. A lot of high-profile publication. And esp. its RNA-related research is truly top-notch. However this school seems to be greatly underrated in ranking. And I bet not many people apply to UMMS here or may even not heard this place.</p>
<p>I'm just wondering how much the phD school reputation contributes to one's final success of research? And more specifically, if facing Princeton Molecular Biology and Umass Med, how should one choose? (Princeton is pretty much more basic science-oriented and has very few investigators; so based on the strength at biomedical research and much larger number of researchers at UMMS, the research at UMMS seems more attractive to me.)</p>
<p>UMass probably has a better reputation locally than nationally, which is good for you because it means there are likely to be opportunities to find a post-doc at one of the many top tier labs in Boston/Cambridge. Of course Princeton is excellent as well and has a great national reputation, so you might be more competitive if you wanted out of the Northeast for post-doc. Tough choice, but both good ones. Your final comment is probably the most telling - if the research choices at Umass are more interesting to you, that is where you ought to be.</p>
<p>UMass Med is well regarded, even if it is not at the top of the rankings. The biggest difference between UMass Med and Princeton is the medical environment. Princeton does not have a medical school (despite Fox’s “House” using the student center as a stand-in for the hospital ) and so the professors and facilities are more traditionally academic.</p>
<p>Princeton’s Molecular Biology program is world-class, but it won’t be right for you if the faculty is not doing research in your area of interest. The dirty little secret in academia is the number of students who enter PhD programs and never finish. You need to increase your odds by finding a program that you love from the start. </p>
<p>It is true that your career trajectory will be determined in part by your program (generally) and, more importantly, your advisor/PI; this is due to opportunities for research, quality of projects underway, mentorships, and networking. But what will really determine your first job is the work you do for your dissertation. Prestige goes a long way toward getting people’s attention, but you can’t keep that attention unless your research is equally impressive. Go to the program where you’re more likely to undertake the kind of research you want. Earning a PhD is a grueling process, and you don’t want to take the joy of research out of it before you’ve even begun.</p>
<p>If you found both programs interesting, I’d say go with Princeton, no question. But since you didn’t seem all that impressed, I’d recommend that you follow your instincts to UMass Med.</p>
<p>If the program has multiple labs that would be a good fit for you then why worry about rankings or whatnot. Isn’t this where Craig Mello has a lab? This is a good school and I would bet if it weren’t in such close proximity to Boston and its host of great schools, it would be more appreciated.</p>
I would say this is true to the extent that this will determine where you will be competitive for your post-doc. That is, when we evaluate faculty candidates, their graduate work can help them (especially if it is stellar), but will not get them the job, and won’t really hurt them if it is just average - a productive post-doc ( and a good research plan) is 95% of the evaluation. So a graduate lab where you are really enthused about the work (vs. just suffering through) will more likely translate into a productive experience and an enthusiastic recommendation that will get you into a good post-doc. And MWFN is right - graduate school can be grueling - and this will be less tolerable if you are lukewarm about what you are doing.</p>
<p>Yes, UMassMed does make a concerted effort to train physicians for careers in primary care. The state of Massachusetts, all of New England in fact, has a significant need for PCPs and we saw a growing need nationally early on. It is to difficult niche to fill.</p>
<p>And yes, UMassMed is a huge player in research and has attracted big names in research int he last few years. Belevitt mentioned Craig Mello having a lab here - you are correct, he does. David Harlan is from the NIH just came on board as chief of diabetes; he’s the latest ‘big name’ to join us. We have huge labs in molecular med, diabetes/endocrinology, infectious diseases and much more. Plus millions in research in preventive & behavioral med.</p>
<p>NOTE 1: I’m a grad student and my thesis is based on social media in medicine, so I ■■■■■ the web looking to see how med professionals are using social media. That is how I found this thread.
NOTE 2: I’m an employee at UMassMed. Not an MD or PhD. I am a web manager and course designer, with an interest in social media. As a happy employee with Internal Medicine and an enthusiastic member of the UMass community I must say, come visit out website! [Department</a> of Medicine University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMass Medical)](<a href=“http://www.umassmed.edu/medicine]Department”>Department of Medicine UMass Chan Medical School (UMass Chan))</p>
<p>I’m trying to decide between UMass Medical (for biochem/molecular pharmacology) and BU Medical (for pharmacology) for Ph.D. grad studies. My pro/con lists have been coming up neck and neck, please can someone help with further insight on either of these institutions?</p>
) and so the professors and facilities are more traditionally academic.</p>