PhD Chemistry Applications: Prestige of Recommender vs. Research Fit

[Pnictides]

In PhD Chemistry Applications, what is more important? Research fit or prestige of recommender?

I am asking because I am currently interested in inorganic chemistry and materials for its applications in renewable energy. I am applying to several NSF REU sites and they ask to indicate a few professors I would like to work with. I am already doing undergraduate research with a professor in renewable energy, and I plan to get a letter of recommendation from him for my applications, but I still need 2 more LORs. I plan to get the other 2 LORs from PIs at NSF REU sites. On my NSF REU applications, should I try to designate a professor doing renewable energy (research fit) but not that powerful or a famous professor (National Academy of the Sciences, Nobel prize winner, etc.) and work with a boring project that is uninteresting to me?

My current PI whom I plan to stay at for 4 years works in renewable energy, but is a new professor who does not have prestige.

[process chemist]

It has to be research fit, as most students to graduate programs have not worked with the famous professors. Those superstar profs in chemistry exist only at certain schools, and most students don't have access to them, even with the NSF-REU programs. But research fit is most important because it allows the program to connect you directly with a prof who does work that you are interested in, because you are going to have to spend 5-6 years there as a PhD student. It would be unfair to you for a program to grant admission to a student, and then have the student find that nobody in your program is doing the research that they want to pursue.

Also, talk to students in these programs. They give you an unfiltered view of their programs. I was hell bent on applying to a program, until I spoke with a grad student in that program at a conference. He told me that, if you are not one of the top students in you cohort, you probably will not end up in a lab of your choosing, and may get pushed into joining any lab. So you may go in wanting to do inorganic, but may be forced to join a biochemistry lab.

[Pnictides]

I know for a fact I want to work with inorganic chemistry, materials, renewable energy for my PhD in inorganic chemistry or materials. Can someone suggest me REU sites that cover these areas? I go on a quarter system, so the REU would need to start June 18th 2012 or later.

[process chemist]

google: NSF-REU programs. There is a list on the website.

[luce373]

You're going to have a hard time with those dates unless they make an exception for you; in my experience most of the REUs start around June 1st.

I would try going to the websites of schools that have a quarter system (Northwestern, some of the California schools?) and may work better with your dates. Often, even if the funding is through NSF, the REU program information can be found there too.

As an aside, the U of MN has a pretty good summer program and there are quite a few good inorganic and materials people there. Their program definitely starts too early, but you could always ask if they'd let you start later.

[Pnictides]

Yes, I know. Going to a quarter system school sucks because your REU options are limited. What are some good quarter system research universities in USA besides U of Chicago, U of California, U of Oregon, Northwestern, Stanford, and Caltech? I can't think of any other ones.