Research with professors

<p>When you guys do research with professors, do you work with the professor more or grad students? I currently got a research position and will be starting soon, but I think I will be working more with grad students. Is that typically how it works, i'm an engineering major btw. Also when it comes to get LORs, would the professor be able to write a really good LOR if you don't work with him much?</p>

<p>A grad student can write you a letter of rec, it’s fine. Essentially they will write the letter and the professor will sign it off at the bottom, basically saying “yes I agree with everything he/she said”</p>

<p>I want to know if professors can still write you good LORs if you don’t work the majority of your time with him, not a grad student. For all you people who had research experience did you work the majority of your time with the professor or grad students?</p>

<p>A recommendation written by a grad student will not be acceptable, so you need to develop relationships with your professors. This can be more difficult at a university than a liberal arts college, but the trade-off is that universities offer a greater variety of research opportunities. Make an effort to regularly discuss your research with the grad student’s sponsoring professor and you should be fine for a recommendation.</p>

<p>I did my Masters project in a research lab for 6 months and typically was assigned to a senior research fellow. I made sure my prof saw my face at least once every week and also that I had something intelligent to say about my research. This and some frequent contact/updates AFTER you stop working there is enough for them to be considered as profs who ‘know’ you. </p>

<p>But whether or not they write you a good LOR really depends on what kind of person they are, i think. (Im waiting for my LOR from both my research fellow and my prof- fingers crossed)</p>