So, I am going to be applying for graduate programs for the Fall 2026 cycle. I am interested in a specific area of my field that has shown itself to be very hard to come by in the United States (which I know the answer would be to apply to those other programs but I've heard funding is very hard to secure internationally). Anyways, I have 8 labs so far that I am interested in. I have found another potential PhD advisor that does research that fit my interests spot on, which is very exciting. Notably, their research would fit right into the discipline I'd like to get my degree in, Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience, but this PhD advisor is in another department. I have looked at the PhD I would have to get if I wanted to apply in that department, and I know I would not enjoy taking those courses. This PI even has their PhD in CogPsyc and did a post-doc in CogNeuro! Also, they have "secondary/courtesy appointments" in Psychology and Neuroscience. I'm not sure what that means for this question, but I thought I would add it :).
So, this leads me to my question: Is it possible to have a PhD advisor in another department? If so, what does that entail (having two advisors, any workarounds, etc.)? I also don't know what it would mean if I got my PhD degree in a field that isn't in the field I want to pursue for the rest of my career. Maybe I could just force myself to do well enough in those courses? I'm not sure.
Let me know if I need to add more details about this since I know this stuff can depend on discipline and such.
Question
meghanuh
Hello!
So, I am going to be applying for graduate programs for the Fall 2026 cycle. I am interested in a specific area of my field that has shown itself to be very hard to come by in the United States (which I know the answer would be to apply to those other programs but I've heard funding is very hard to secure internationally). Anyways, I have 8 labs so far that I am interested in. I have found another potential PhD advisor that does research that fit my interests spot on, which is very exciting. Notably, their research would fit right into the discipline I'd like to get my degree in, Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience, but this PhD advisor is in another department. I have looked at the PhD I would have to get if I wanted to apply in that department, and I know I would not enjoy taking those courses. This PI even has their PhD in CogPsyc and did a post-doc in CogNeuro! Also, they have "secondary/courtesy appointments" in Psychology and Neuroscience. I'm not sure what that means for this question, but I thought I would add it :).
So, this leads me to my question: Is it possible to have a PhD advisor in another department? If so, what does that entail (having two advisors, any workarounds, etc.)? I also don't know what it would mean if I got my PhD degree in a field that isn't in the field I want to pursue for the rest of my career. Maybe I could just force myself to do well enough in those courses? I'm not sure.
Let me know if I need to add more details about this since I know this stuff can depend on discipline and such.
Edited by meghanuh0 answers to this question
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