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Selecting a Mentor & Dissertation Project

Selecting a Mentor & Dissertation Project. Paul A. Gulig, Ph.D. Professor of Molec. Gen. & Micro. Associate Dean for Graduate Education University of Florida College of Medicine. It's no big deal…. It's just the most important decision that you'll make over the next four years!.

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Selecting a Mentor & Dissertation Project

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  1. Selecting a Mentor & Dissertation Project Paul A. Gulig, Ph.D. Professor of Molec. Gen. & Micro. Associate Dean for Graduate Education University of Florida College of Medicine

  2. It's no big deal…

  3. It's just the most important decision that you'll make over the next four years!

  4. The MentorThe Project

  5. The Mentor

  6. The MentorResearch InterestPersonalityLab StyleReputation$$$

  7. The MentorResearch Interest(see project)

  8. The MentorPersonality Hands-On vs. Hands-Off Temperament Mix Study/Social Personal History (like parenting) Freedom Expectations of time, effort, etc.

  9. The MentorPersonality Most of our faculty members were chosen because of their research credentials. Not because they won humanitarian awards, Nobel Peace Prizes, or Mother Teresa medals.

  10. The MentorLab Style Large vs. Small Make-up (undergrads, grads, postdocs, etc.) Equipment Space Roles Lab meetings Does everyone get along? Are they happy?

  11. The MentorReputation Young assistant professor Older established professor Other roles (chair, dean, course director, etc.) Check with senior students Time to graduation

  12. The Mentor$$$???

  13. The Mentor$$$ How much is needed? Four years after first year. $28,000 for first 3 38,000+ after that Plus running the lab

  14. The Mentor$$$ Department chair must sign off on mentoring agreement. Department backs mentor if shortfall. Demands are different for different chairs and even different faculty (trust, track record). Not all faculty know if the chair will sign.

  15. The Mentor$$$UF Research Funding Searchhttp://apps.research.ufl.edu/research/search/

  16. The MentorIf you do not get along with your mentor, you will be miserable and will have a hard time moving forward.They must sign your dissertation and help you get your next job.

  17. The MentorIf you believe that you made a mistake, you can change if you can find someone else.Marriage counselingCommunication

  18. The MentorRotationsThree or Four RotationsIDP Faculty search pageMust be IDP facultyResearch presentationsMentor list onlineIndependent contact

  19. The Project

  20. The ProjectHow important is your specific project?

  21. The ProjectQuiz:What degree are you planning to get?

  22. The ProjectDoctor of Philosophy

  23. The ProjectQuiz:What is your major?

  24. The ProjectQuiz:Major = Medical Sciencewith a concentration in …

  25. The ProjectDoctor?

  26. The ProjectDoctor = Teacher

  27. The ProjectPhilosophy?

  28. The ProjectPhilo = LoveSoph = KnowledgeLove of Knowledge

  29. The ProjectKnowledge is gained through Science.

  30. The ProjectScience is studied using the Scientific Method.

  31. The ProjectWhat are the steps of the Scientific Method?

  32. The ProjectScientific Method:ObserveHypothesizeTestConclude

  33. The ProjectYou are NOT getting a technical degree.

  34. The ProjectYou ARE being trained to be an INDEPENDENT scientist.

  35. The ProjectThis is more of a character or quality than a technical skill.

  36. The ProjectSo, if you cannot study exactly what you had dreamed, your life and career are not ruined.

  37. The ProjectFind the next closest thing, a different angle toward the same subject, what you would have done as a postdoc.

  38. The ProjectBesides - it's what you do as a postdoc that will determine your career path more than your graduate studies.

  39. The ProjectMany people completely change fields from PhD to postdoc.

  40. The ProjectHowever, if you do not love what you are doing,If you do not think about it in bed before you fall asleep or while you are in the shower,

  41. The ProjectIf you are not passionate about your research,

  42. The ProjectYou will not excel in your studies, you will be unhappy, and you will not succeed.

  43. The ProjectWhen you form your committee, you will write specific aims. This is not a contract. They come and go as your research progresses.

  44. The ProjectYou cannot stick on the original road if it leads to a dead end!

  45. The ProjectWhy stick on the original road if you make an exciting discovery that opens a whole new field?

  46. You should love what you do here. • You should not have to drag yourself to lab everyday. • Make good choices this year to get started on the right path. • Do your homework. • Ask lots of questions. Bottom Line

  47. QuestionsComments???

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