What exactly is "research fit"?

[Pnictides]

What exactly is "research fit"? Is "research fit" how well your undergraduate research projects match up with the projects you will be doing for you PhD research? Let's say if I am already doing undergraduate research in renewable energy right now, would doing undergraduate research in another branch of renewable energy at a REU site increase my "research fit" for PhD applications?

Is it possible for one to abuse "research fit" to get oneself's foot in the door and then switch PIs to a different group where that new group interests you more?

Thanks.

[mcstev13]

"Research fit" is probably only used as an indicator for grouping applicants during the admission process. Honestly, your personal statement and letters of recommendation will speak to your research experiences, and so this is probably what will be used to make the final admissions decision. Furthermore, at most universities, you'll get the chance to take part in "rotations" and your final group placement will be a result your desires + group vacancies + funding. That being said, if there is a "research fit" component of your application, I wouldn't lie. Be honest about what it is you would like to do.

[UnlikelyGrad]

Actually, "research fit" refers to the research you WANT to do. If you say, for example, that you're interested in creating polymers for biomedical research, but the polymer chemists at a particular school are busy making polymers for fuel cells, they may pass you by. Basically, you should look for a school where people are doing what you want to do.

[Pnictides]

Actually, "research fit" refers to the research you WANT to do. If you say, for example, that you're interested in creating polymers for biomedical research, but the polymer chemists at a particular school are busy making polymers for fuel cells, they may pass you by. Basically, you should look for a school where people are doing what you want to do.

Besides SOP, our undergraduate research, and LORs, how else can we show research fit?

[UnlikelyGrad]

Read papers in your field of interest.

[Eigen]

It's about your SoP as well as how you come across in emails a well as eventual campus's visits and interviews.

You want, ideally, to know enough about prospective research groups to be able to insightfully talk about past works from their groups as well as suggest/discuss new directions you would be interested in exploring working in that group.

Personally, I read all the papers from the last 5-10 years for each PI I was interested in working with.

As was mentioned, my application got directly referred to the PIs I mentioned, and they asked me questions about my interest, etc. informal interviews s to speak.

[Pnictides]

http://apps.webofknowledge.com/UA_GeneralSearch_input.do?product=UA&search_mode=GeneralSearch&SID=4EfaKC1biB2Gk24bFKj&preferencesSaved=

How would I go about in searching for scientific journal articles? Would this website be a good choice?

[Eigen]

If you're still affiliated with your undergraduate university, you can use their resources to search. I'm actually surprised you didn't have a class at some point covering how to find articles- we had a sophomore class called "Introduction to Chemical Literature" that we all were required to take.

For Chemistry, SciFinder is probably the gold standard for journal searches. Web of Knowledge isn't bad, but it definitely isn't where I'd start. Pubmed is also decent, although more slanted towards the biomedical fields. You can also use searches on the pages of several of the major publishers- the ACS lets you search all of their journals from the ACS Publications site, and the Royal Society of Chemistry lets you do the same. That should cover *most* of your major journals between those two. Angewandte Chimie is also a good one to try.

[Pnictides]

I'm actually surprised you didn't have a class at some point covering how to find articles- we had a sophomore class called "Introduction to Chemical Literature" that we all were required to take.

Angewandte Chimie is also a good one to try.

I am still a 2nd year student, so I will take that class in Fall 2012. Don't you mean "Angewandte Chemie"?

Also regarding impact factor, what is the cut off for the index for the journal to be considered "A-Level"? People are saying I should try to work for a PI that has lots of publications in high impact journals.

[aberrant]

Also regarding impact factor, what is the cut off for the index for the journal to be considered "A-Level"? People are saying I should try to work for a PI that has lots of publications in high impact journals.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is a cut-off or anything that defines whether a journal is "A-Level", "B", or whatever. Even though Nature and Science have the higher (if not highest) impact factor than other journals, but that doesn't mean papers from other journal are less meaningful/significant/whatever. In other words, it is a bonus for you to work with someone who frequently publish papers in journals with higher impact factor, but don't limit yourself to those PI because it is extremely competitive to be published in these journals. I would rather look for PIs who have the most citations in their publications instead.

Apologize for any confusion caused from my broken English.

Edited December 11, 2011 by aberrant