Ice cold reception

[prolixity]

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Edited September 16, 2010 by prolixity

[newms]

Starting rotations.. was assigned an advisor who is very famous and busy. When I met with my advisor early this week, the advisor seemed a bit less than enthusiastic to have me in his/her laboratory. Advisor said he/she would assign me a project yesterday, still no word. Everyone else in my program has been working since last week.

Not sure if I should just burn this bridge and ask to rotate in a different laboratory, or what. I'm just not certain why the advisor agreed to accept rotators if he/she just wants to neglect me.

I mean, if it started off this badly, what are the odds that the situation would improve? Also, the laboratory group meeting schedule impinges on my class schedule.

Any advice?

Be persistent. If you want to do research with this advisor, keep going back to him/her with suggestions and/or questions. I am reminded by the anecdote on page 9 of Charles Lord's paper on graduate school (http://paininchildhe...uments/Lord.pdf) where he describes moving to a new University and being 'pestered' by a new graduate student to do research - at the time he hadn't settled in yet, so he wasn't quite ready for research. Ultimately he was impressed by the student's initiative and passion.

Edited September 16, 2010 by newms

[AlexM451]

Be persistent. If you want to do research with this advisor, keep going back to him/her with suggestions and/or questions. I am reminded by the anecdote on page 9 of Charles Lord's paper on graduate school (http://paininchildhe...uments/Lord.pdf) where he describes moving to a new University and being 'pestered' by a new graduate student to do research - at the time he hadn't settled in yet, so he wasn't quite ready for research. Ultimately he was impressed by the student's initiative and passion.

This was really helpful to read, thanks!