Survival Manual

Survival Manual

J. Grad. Stud. Chem. Ed. Surv. Lett. 2000, 102, 420-435.

Graduate Student Survival Manual***

Andrew M. Chubb†, Jerry Cubbage‡, Viken Djerdjian%, Tony Layson*, Jamie M. Rintelman™, Xiaopeng Shan®, Ying Wang®

Department of Chemistry. Iowa State University, Ames Iowa

Received: 19 July 1999; Accepted: 14 August 2000

The authors of this guide are all graduate students in chemistry at Iowa State University. Our aim is to pass down some of the knowledge that we and others have amassed. It is not an officially sanctioned Chemistry Department document. It is meant to help you in your first few years, with an emphasis on guiding you through some of your most important decisions.

† Present address: Barton Group

‡ Present address: Jenks Group

% Present address: Miller Group

* Present address: Thiel Group

™Present address: Gordon Group

® Present address: Espenson Group

(1) Your First Semester

A. Choosing a Research Advisor:

1. Financial backing

As in almost every other aspect of life, money has a non-trivial impact on your graduate progress.

How often or for how long are you expected to teach? Every semester, once a year, or whenever the group may fall upon financial hard times? If you can get into the lab right away, obviously this will help you to complete your work sooner. ( See Fig. 1 )

Will he/she sponsor your trip to scientific meetings? Meetings are important for making professional contacts as well as learning of other efforts in your area.

2. Creativity

How much flexibility will you have with your research project? Will you create your own project or assume a current one?

3. Tenure?

Different people have different philosophies on what it takes to get a Ph.D. The national average is about six years; however, at Iowa State, pay deductions begin if you have not earned your Ph. D. by the end of your fifth year.

Generally, there are many factors that influence how long it will take you to complete your Ph.D. work. Will you have to learn a new technique or build a new piece of equipment before you can begin your research? Are there extra courses you will have to take to help you understand your work? Don't forget to factor in teaching. These are not necessarily negatives; in fact such activities often serve as valuable learning experiences, resulting in a deeper understanding of your project. Also, keep in mind that shorter isn't necessarily better. When you leave here you should be an independently thinking researcher. The bottom line is that it takes a lot of work to get a Ph. D.

4. Expectations for quantity of work

Are there a certain number of hours per week that your research advisor will expect you to work? Are those hours expected to fall during a certain period of the day? Does it matter what time you come to work in the morning?

5. When are you expected to begin research?

In some groups you will begin doing research your second (or even first) semester, while in other groups you will not begin until your first summer. It is important to understand what is expected of you.

Considering your research advisor's personality

For most people, there are more things to life than a research project. When choosing a research advisor, it is important to consider how his/her personality fits with yours. Remember that you will be working closely with this person for the next 4-5 years. Any significant personality conflicts will only be magnified over time. How does your work ethic compare with his/hers? Are you expected to work independently and ask few questions? Will your advisor be willing to go to bat for you? Do you want a research advisor who is friendly and outgoing, who organizes the occasional social event (i.e. the group goes out for drinks after an important event like a seminar given by a group member, or just goes out for the occasional Friday night after work)? Are you less interested in that, and more interested in someone who will be serious about your work and push you to get research done, and papers out right away? Probably you want a little bit of both, and it will be up to you to decide what ratio is best for you. This is not a matter to be trivialized; it will undoubtedly have a significant impact upon the nature of your time as a graduate student at Iowa State University. As noted elsewhere in this manual, your happiness is closely related to how productive you are and subsequently how long it will take you to complete your graduate degree.

The above statement applies to the rest of the members of a research group, but to a lesser degree. Consider how the group members work together. Are they competitive and spiteful or are they eager to lend their assistance? No matter how great of a researcher you are or how independently you prefer to work, there will come a time when you will want or need help from someone else in your group.

Have a backup choice

There is no guarantee that the person you choose will be able to take you as their student. Sometimes there are too many students and not enough room in a research group. In this case you will have to join a different group. This is more common in some divisions than others, but you can get an idea of whether or not this will be an issue by talking about it with the people whose groups you are considering.

Attend the research talks by professors, Chem 579 (and this means going to the 8:00 am talks)

Even if you are not even remotely considering joining a professor's group, go to the research talk anyway. You should be exposed to the work that is going on in all of the research groups at Iowa State. Material from these talks has been known to appear in cumes and orals.

Talk to possible research advisors early

Not only does it bother professors when people talk to them at the last minute, but it will also help you to have more time to think about your options. Maybe you will need to follow up with more specific questions once you've met with everyone you're interested in. If you already know whose group you plan to join, then it is an especially good idea to start the interview process early.

Talk with graduate students

Speak with students in the groups that you are considering joining and with students outside those groups. Find out what their impressions of the different groups are. What do they like and dislike about the group they're in?

Go to group meetings

Almost every research group meets regularly, and you are usually welcome to attend these meetings. This is a great way to get a feel for how the group interacts, and also the extent of the professor's involvement in each student's project. In group meetings you will be exposed to the research that is being conducted from the point of view of the graduate students who are performing it. Check with the professor for the time and location.

B. Choosing a Major:

Introduction

There are four major disciplines or "Majors" from which to choose: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical. In addition, you can choose to minor in any one of the three non-major disciplines. When you first arrive, each of you is asked in which discipline(s) you are most interested. This choice is by no means binding. It only serves to guide the student and their temporary advisor when deciding which classes to take and where to begin looking for a permanent advisor at the end of the semester.

Major vs. Major Professor

The choice of a Major, by nature, is very much related to the choice of a Major Professor. However, there is a great deal of flexibility, so keep an open mind when deciding. Many professors accept students in different majors, so don't worry if you want to, for example, major in Organic but work someone who primarily does research in Inorganic chemistry. If you are interested in their research, go talk to them. Find out who is working for them. In most cases, a multidisciplinary group provides a wonderful chance to be exposed to many different areas of chemistry and makes you more valuable to employers. Above all, remember that you can always switch majors. It could cause you to have to start over with cumes, research, and classes, so choose carefully and talk it over with your advisor and other students who have gone through it before.

Below is a web address of the Chemistry faculty and disciplines in which they are involved. We don't know everything! Additional information can be found on the department's website at http://www.chem.iastate.edu/faculty/

Co-Majoring

You have the option of majoring in two subjects at once. This is not really a double major because a co-major generally involves doing half of the requirements of each major (e.g. cumes and coursework). This option typically involves choosing two Major professors (one from each co-major discipline) who must decide how the programs will be divided to form the co-major. The extra hassle and confusion involved tend to outweigh the benefits; so few students take this option. Again, if you are interested, talk to your advisor and other students (especially co-majors) to find out if it would be good for your situation.

If you decide to do this, make your decision early in your first semester or expect to exceed five years in completing your Ph.D. You and your co-advisors set up the program for your coursework and cume system. Your POS committee will offer advice on your chosen program. Most important --get your program set up early so you don't waste time taking unnecessary classes.

Minors and Areas of Specialization

These two options offer a more hassle-free alternative to a co-major. They are designed to make a student more marketable after graduation by giving them a broader base of experience. Look in your Department of Chemistry Graduate Manual for a list of minors and areas of specialization and the corresponding requirements. As always, consult with your advisor and other students if one of these options sounds appealing.

Coursework

To complete your degree in a timely fashion you should complete your coursework and cumes as soon as possible. Research can be completed more quickly when you can focus your efforts. Each discipline has coursework requirements, but some advisors recommend/mandate that you take additional classes. Graduate level coursework is significantly more intense than undergraduate courses. It is important to stay focused and manage your time wisely, especially when your responsibilities begin to multiply (classes, teaching, and research). Keep in mind that if a 3.0 grade point average is not maintained you may be placed on academic probation.

(2) Communication in the Workplace:

It is imperative to have an open line of communication with your research advisor, as well as with any coworkers in the laboratory. As you will soon see, your workplace will be composed of many types of people. From differing nationalities to differences in opinion, everyone will see the world with a unique point of view. To ensure that your research is performed in an environment comfortable to you and your colleagues, we suggest following a few guidelines.

First and foremost, try to resolve the disagreement with your coworker face to face. This may offer the quickest resolution to the problem at hand. It may simply be a difference of opinion or miscommunication that has resulted in this situation, and voicing your displeasure may not only resolve the problem for both parties, but may prevent future problems from arising as well.

If problems do arise in the workplace, try not to discuss them with colleagues who are not directly involved. This can result in the isolation of other individuals and simply make the current situation worse.

If you feel that you cannot confront a colleague directly, you should consider speaking with your research advisor or group supervisor. This may seem intimidating but remember that your success as a graduate student hinges on your success within your research group. This includes, but is not limited to, your ability to communicate and work with a diverse group of individuals in the laboratory.

Should you find that you have a disagreement with your research advisor, the best choice for resolving this conflict is to speak face to face with him/her. It is not only to your advantage but also to your advisor's advantage as well to have an open line of communication within the research group. A conscientious advisor should be open to your opinions and concerns, and will work with you to improve your experience as a graduate student.

Finally, you may find that you have a concern with your major advisor that cannot be voiced directly with him/her. In this case, you should consider speaking with a member of your POS committee. They may be able to offer advice, which will aid in resolving your concerns.

In conclusion, your happiness is directly correlated with the length of time you will spend as a graduate student. The unhappy student is often the student who leaves prematurely or does not graduate on time, neither of which results in the student realizing his/her full potential. ( See Fig. 2 )

(3) Getting Assistance as a Graduate Student:

1. Your major professor

Really, he or she wants you to succeed. You are a big investment. Create and maintain a good relationship with this person and he/she will smooth a lot of ground ahead of you.

2. Your POS committee

If the trouble is with the major professor or it's something you don't feel comfortable discussing with him/her, or you just want another opinion, try one of these people. They should all be willing to listen and help. It's to your advantage if they know you better before your Oral or Defense!

3. Other faculty or staff

Maybe you need to learn a new technique or want to find out how to use some library resources. There are people, for example, at instrument services and in the PSRR to help. If the problem is not chemistry-related, try anyone you feel comfortable talking to. Believe it or not, the secretaries know nearly everything and will be some of your best resources.

4. Graduate students and post-docs

Many times these people can offer support and encouragement when you need it. They can tell uplifting stories of their own experiences. They don't always have all the answers, but they are often useful. Get to know some; at the very least, you might need help moving furniture.

5. In the Chemistry Office:

a) Beverly Nutt

Chemistry Graduate Records Secretary

1605-D Gilman, 4-6343

vcorbin@iastate.edu

Vicki does the Chemistry Department WebPages, newsletters; email lists and can help with graduate records.

c) Bill Britton

Business Manager

1605-E Gilman, 4-7809

britton@iastate.edu

Bill is the person you will talk to about your paycheck. You need to see him to sign Letters of Intent periodically (unless you work in Ames Lab) and he'll help you with any problems you have getting paid.