Selection of a Research Mentor
As her best friend, Elise, a junior biochemistry major at a selective private four-year college interested in attending medical school, who has been selected to participate in a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at nearby GRU, a graduate research university this summer has come to you for advice concerning her choice of a research advisor. Elise has narrowed down her search to the two faculty at GRU who have active research programs in biochemistry: Professors Pop and Nu. Professor Pop is a highly regarded enzymologist who runs a research group that is well funded and consists of 10 postdoctoral students and graduate students. Professor Pop plans to retire in two years. In her interview with Prof. Pop, Elise learns that he has never had an undergraduate student in his laboratory. He tells her that she would work under a postdoctoral student in his lab, assisting the post doctoral student in carrying out an exciting new experimental protocol. Speaking with members of his research group, she quickly learns that Prof. Pop has high expectations of his students, that he is somewhat moody but that he has an excellent track record for publishing with his students. The other person with whom Elise could work is Professor Nu. Professor Nu is a fifth year Assistant Professor (Professor Nu will be considered for tenure next year) who also does research in enzymology. He has not yet been successful in attracting external research funding for any of his projects but he is highly regarded within the department as a caring and dedicated teacher and research mentor. Professor Nu currently has a research group consisting of four undergraduates, three of whom have worked with him for one year or more. In speaking with members of Prof. Nu's research group, Elise is very impressed with their camaderie and enthusiasm for their work and for Professor Nu. She learns that Professor Nu personally trains each of his students, several of whom intend to study medicine, and that each student has his/her own genuine research problem. She also learns that he has worked with twenty undergraduates in his laboratory. She is troubled though to learn that although several of the students have presented their work at regional technical conferences, none of their work has yet been published.
Questions:
- What would your advice to Elise be concerning her choice of research advisor?
- What considerations do you believe are most important in selecting an advisor and why do you feel this way?