Choosing a project

[ScreamingHairyArmadillo]

Now that I've finally decided on a school (yay!), I'm starting to think about potential projects. I'm doing the MS first and going to be supported by fellowships for 2 years (there is a half year RA available for me if I need it). This obviously opens up a lot of time for me to develop my own project. My POI works on urban farms, which I would love to study. Obviously, I could carve out a piece of this field because it's fairly new.

However, my POI recently got a grant to work on the chemicals found in bee foraging areas along an urban to rural gradient (awesome). She and I have been talking about this project for awhile, and she knows I'm really interested. However, in the grant there was money requested for a MS student. So, do you think she'd rather me do another project so this money could be available for someone else? I don't know if anyone else is looking to get in on this though.

Obviously I could ask, but I was wondering what you all think. Also, she hasn't actually told me she got the grant yet - I read it on the lab blog!

Edited March 23, 2010 by ScreamingHairyArmadillo

[Sassytune]

Congrats on acceptance and also for already being in a position of choosing a project! How cool is that!

Both the projects sound very engaging. If you are getting funded by a fellowship, then it is not necessary that the PI *has* to allocate funds from her grant to you, she could still take on another student for that project, even if you work on the project. So I don't think you will be taking money away from another student. If you are really interested in the project, you can ask to work on it. I would think it is up to the PI to work out the allocation of the grant $. It is indeed, very commendable of you to worry about another student's funding.

Good Luck on selecting the project!

[ScreamingHairyArmadillo]

I don't think I'd be getting money from the grant, I just wonder if she'd want multiple people on a project? You know when I say it, it sounds stupid...why wouldn't she want an essentially free pair of hands?

[Sassytune]

why wouldn't she want an essentially free pair of hands?

If you choose urban gardening, and come north - we might meet.