Interviewing with faculty members whose research I'm not really interested in...

[iloveyourneighborhood]

When I applied to PhD programs, I applied with a fairly specific research interest in mind (which I mentioned in my SOP) and at each school, I had 1 or 2 faculty whose research really interest me, and in whose lab I could visualize myself doing my PhD. 

 

Since then, I've been invited to a few interviews, which is great, but all of these schools require me to request 5-10 faculty members that I would like to meet. This puts me at a bit of an awkward situation because aside from the 1 or 2 faculty members, I really can't find any others whose research interests are even a little related to mine. I could randomly choose faculty members according to their broad research interests (for example, microbiology or genetics), but when I sit down with them at the interview, I'm not sure how I can approach the conversation so that I don't seem disinterested (which I'm not). Any advice on what I could talk about, if their research aren't really related to my interests?

 

 

[biotechie]

When I applied to PhD programs, I applied with a fairly specific research interest in mind (which I mentioned in my SOP) and at each school, I had 1 or 2 faculty whose research really interest me, and in whose lab I could visualize myself doing my PhD. 

 

Since then, I've been invited to a few interviews, which is great, but all of these schools require me to request 5-10 faculty members that I would like to meet. This puts me at a bit of an awkward situation because aside from the 1 or 2 faculty members, I really can't find any others whose research interests are even a little related to mine. I could randomly choose faculty members according to their broad research interests (for example, microbiology or genetics), but when I sit down with them at the interview, I'm not sure how I can approach the conversation so that I don't seem disinterested (which I'm not). Any advice on what I could talk about, if their research aren't really related to my interests?

 

I hope you wouldn't select a program simply for one or two professors unless you already know from those professors that you have a place in the lab; odds are, you won't be able to get into either lab. Either they won't be taking students your year or it will be too competitive to get a rotation. >.< You probably will have to expand your interests quite a bit. You won't want to hear this, but a lot of times, you actually end up with professors as your PIs that aren't doing what you thought you wanted to do. Grad school is going to help you refine but also expand your interests; you may not even get a post-doc in your initial interests, and your post-doc usually determines your final research direction. 

 

My projects involve epigenetics, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and lots of mouse work. I thought I wanted to work in a cancer biology lab, but I ended up interviewing with someone who does liver aging and epigenetics, and I really love his research, so I will be at least rotating with him. Go through the list of professors and look at their research in the past 5 years or so. If they are doing even one aspect of one thing you are interested in (epigenetics, for example), they should be great to talk to. You may find yourself surprisingly interested. Many programs intentionally place you outside of your comfort zone just to see what you will do and how you perform.

 

For me, I probably had four or five professors I really wanted to meet, but they were busy, so I had to select an alternate list. I picked professors based on working model (Mice/rats for me... I know I don't want to work with worms or yeast), interest, and whether or not I thought I could carry a conversation. I ended up speaking with professors in virology (research related to cancer), microbiology (host immune response), immunology, cell bio, and genetics. The common factor between them was transcriptional gene control and epigenetics, both things I do with my current project, but completely unrelated to their own research projects.

 

It opened up lots of room for discussion between us because there was that small common ground. Take the time to read a couple of their papers before the interview as well as their online bio, and you will find you have tons to talk about. Go into the interview with questions and a bit of understanding about their papers/projects. They love to talk about their research, and well thought-out questions can show them you know how to think critically.

 

Some professors will know that you are probably uninterested in their work before you even walk in, but since most see your file before-hand, they will find ways to correlate it to your projects and they will have specific questions for you. Just do your research, and you will be fine!

[selecttext]

A POI's research interests needn't be your own. It's more important that you get along and that he publishes frequently. A PhD project is your own - should you need help, you can look to your committee, supervisor, other professors in the department or you can email just about any professor in the world!!! Also try to keep an open mind to other research avenues - his interests might intersect yours  in ways you don't know. If you haven't, arrange for a meeting with the POI to find out his intentions,

[iloveyourneighborhood]

I hope you wouldn't select a program simply for one or two professors unless you already know from those professors that you have a place in the lab; odds are, you won't be able to get into either lab. Either they won't be taking students your year or it will be too competitive to get a rotation. >.< You probably will have to expand your interests quite a bit. You won't want to hear this, but a lot of times, you actually end up with professors as your PIs that aren't doing what you thought you wanted to do. Grad school is going to help you refine but also expand your interests; you may not even get a post-doc in your initial interests, and your post-doc usually determines your final research direction. 

 

My projects involve epigenetics, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and lots of mouse work. I thought I wanted to work in a cancer biology lab, but I ended up interviewing with someone who does liver aging and epigenetics, and I really love his research, so I will be at least rotating with him. Go through the list of professors and look at their research in the past 5 years or so. If they are doing even one aspect of one thing you are interested in (epigenetics, for example), they should be great to talk to. You may find yourself surprisingly interested. Many programs intentionally place you outside of your comfort zone just to see what you will do and how you perform.

 

For me, I probably had four or five professors I really wanted to meet, but they were busy, so I had to select an alternate list. I picked professors based on working model (Mice/rats for me... I know I don't want to work with worms or yeast), interest, and whether or not I thought I could carry a conversation. I ended up speaking with professors in virology (research related to cancer), microbiology (host immune response), immunology, cell bio, and genetics. The common factor between them was transcriptional gene control and epigenetics, both things I do with my current project, but completely unrelated to their own research projects.

 

It opened up lots of room for discussion between us because there was that small common ground. Take the time to read a couple of their papers before the interview as well as their online bio, and you will find you have tons to talk about. Go into the interview with questions and a bit of understanding about their papers/projects. They love to talk about their research, and well thought-out questions can show them you know how to think critically.

 

Some professors will know that you are probably uninterested in their work before you even walk in, but since most see your file before-hand, they will find ways to correlate it to your projects and they will have specific questions for you. Just do your research, and you will be fine!

 

Thanks! I never thought about it that way, that maybe I will not even end up working for those 1 or 2 profs. It's clear now that I should approach the interview with a more open mind. I appreciate your response.

[biotechie]

Thanks! I never thought about it that way, that maybe I will not even end up working for those 1 or 2 profs. It's clear now that I should approach the interview with a more open mind. I appreciate your response.

 

No problem! Good luck at your interviews!

[Deadmeat]

A POI's research interests needn't be your own. It's more important that you get along and that he publishes frequently. A PhD project is your own - should you need help, you can look to your committee, supervisor, other professors in the department or you can email just about any professor in the world!!! Also try to keep an open mind to other research avenues - his interests might intersect yours  in ways you don't know. If you haven't, arrange for a meeting with the POI to find out his intentions,

 

Just wanted to say this is well said. Basically, all the faculty I have spoken to at my current university said the same thing. Make sure you connect and get along, same working style, same expectations. I'm sure you'll find someone in the general area you want to work in that fits that. Plus, when you get soooo in depth in a topic, its hard to not be passionate about it. So I'm sure those passions will follow you regardless of what project you work on. 

[iloveyourneighborhood]

Just wanted to say this is well said. Basically, all the faculty I have spoken to at my current university said the same thing. Make sure you connect and get along, same working style, same expectations. I'm sure you'll find someone in the general area you want to work in that fits that. Plus, when you get soooo in depth in a topic, its hard to not be passionate about it. So I'm sure those passions will follow you regardless of what project you work on. 

Very nice and very true. Thank you!!

[xxxxzhou]

I hope you wouldn't select a program simply for one or two professors unless you already know from those professors that you have a place in the lab; odds are, you won't be able to get into either lab. Either they won't be taking students your year or it will be too competitive to get a rotation. >.< You probably will have to expand your interests quite a bit. You won't want to hear this, but a lot of times, you actually end up with professors as your PIs that aren't doing what you thought you wanted to do. Grad school is going to help you refine but also expand your interests; you may not even get a post-doc in your initial interests, and your post-doc usually determines your final research direction. 

 

My projects involve epigenetics, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and lots of mouse work. I thought I wanted to work in a cancer biology lab, but I ended up interviewing with someone who does liver aging and epigenetics, and I really love his research, so I will be at least rotating with him. Go through the list of professors and look at their research in the past 5 years or so. If they are doing even one aspect of one thing you are interested in (epigenetics, for example), they should be great to talk to. You may find yourself surprisingly interested. Many programs intentionally place you outside of your comfort zone just to see what you will do and how you perform.

 

For me, I probably had four or five professors I really wanted to meet, but they were busy, so I had to select an alternate list. I picked professors based on working model (Mice/rats for me... I know I don't want to work with worms or yeast), interest, and whether or not I thought I could carry a conversation. I ended up speaking with professors in virology (research related to cancer), microbiology (host immune response), immunology, cell bio, and genetics. The common factor between them was transcriptional gene control and epigenetics, both things I do with my current project, but completely unrelated to their own research projects.

 

It opened up lots of room for discussion between us because there was that small common ground. Take the time to read a couple of their papers before the interview as well as their online bio, and you will find you have tons to talk about. Go into the interview with questions and a bit of understanding about their papers/projects. They love to talk about their research, and well thought-out questions can show them you know how to think critically.

 

Some professors will know that you are probably uninterested in their work before you even walk in, but since most see your file before-hand, they will find ways to correlate it to your projects and they will have specific questions for you. Just do your research, and you will be fine!

 

 

A POI's research interests needn't be your own. It's more important that you get along and that he publishes frequently. A PhD project is your own - should you need help, you can look to your committee, supervisor, other professors in the department or you can email just about any professor in the world!!! Also try to keep an open mind to other research avenues - his interests might intersect yours  in ways you don't know. If you haven't, arrange for a meeting with the POI to find out his intentions,

 

 

Just wanted to say this is well said. Basically, all the faculty I have spoken to at my current university said the same thing. Make sure you connect and get along, same working style, same expectations. I'm sure you'll find someone in the general area you want to work in that fits that. Plus, when you get soooo in depth in a topic, its hard to not be passionate about it. So I'm sure those passions will follow you regardless of what project you work on. 

I'm very glad and grateful that I ran into this thread and read these posts! This opens up a whole brighter future. Thank you guys!