Pushing me to work with research group I am not interested in?

[MadScience]

Hello all I was hoping you guys could shed some light on my situation.

I was admitted to one of my top choices and was contacted by a professor that I didn't mention in my SOP doing research I am just not interested in. I can say this with complete certainty since I have a lot of experience in this area and just downright do not enjoy it. In addition, the student host that was assigned to me is one of this professor's students. I am hoping this doesn't mean I am getting pushed into a corner to have to work in this group whose project is completely opposite of what I am passionate about.

Am I overthinking this? Is it possible this is all just random and I'm overanalyzing? If not, how can I politely decline interest? I am bad at this and would hate to hurt anyone's feelings or burn any bridges.

Thanks in advanced for any help!

[Angua]

Hello all I was hoping you guys could shed some light on my situation.

I was admitted to one of my top choices and was contacted by a professor that I didn't mention in my SOP doing research I am just not interested in. I can say this with complete certainty since I have a lot of experience in this area and just downright do not enjoy it. In addition, the student host that was assigned to me is one of this professor's students. I am hoping this doesn't mean I am getting pushed into a corner to have to work in this group whose project is completely opposite of what I am passionate about.

Am I overthinking this? Is it possible this is all just random and I'm overanalyzing? If not, how can I politely decline interest? I am bad at this and would hate to hurt anyone's feelings or burn any bridges.

Thanks in advanced for any help!

 

I don't think you're overthinking it -- it does sound like you are being sought after by the professor who contacted you.  There are a few possible alternate explanations -- for example, it's possible that this prof is the admissions chair or something (and thus, contacts everyone), and it's possible that your host assignment was coincidence (I've been given hosts who were not in my area).

 

However, if this prof is recruiting you for his/her research group, you have a few options.  You should try to feel out what his/her students are working on -- it's possible the prof has students working on things that will interest you, or that the prof wants to expand/shift into your area.  Also, you should try to find out how flexible the mentorship is at this department.  In my field, it is not uncommon for there to be a lot of mobility and flexibility -- students are often encouraged to work with multiple profs.  In that case, you could still work with one of your POIs at your top choice.  You can also reach out to your POIs to try to get a feel for whether they are interested in you.  Otherwise, I think the way to decline is just to treat it like any other offer, and cite fit issues as the reason for declining.

[selecttext]

it sounds like your POI doesn't want to or can't fund you but another lab, with money, is interested. i'd be complimented.

[juilletmercredi]

If you already know that you don't enjoy the area and this is the exact area, or close enough, that you've already worked in, I see no point in actually attaching yourself in that lab.  I would ask the department how flexible mentorship is - once you are admitted to the department, are you funded through a particular PI's grant and thus tied to that PI, or do you have some room to move around and switch?  If you do have room to move around, the next step would be wondering whether you would be willing to work with this PI for 1-2 years while you want for your desired PI to get money - of course, running the risk that you never move out of the lab doing things that you don't enjoy.

 

I'd say if there are better fits among your other top choices, those are probably better choices at this point in time.  You just say that you don't think the fit is good.

[MadScience]

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses!

 

I have been in touch with the POI I want to work with and he said he will be accepting students this fall, and I have also been lucky enough to be granted a very prestigious fellowship by the graduate school itself so I don't think funding of my desired POI is the issue. I guess, to explain the situation in more detail, my desired area of work is in inorganic/computational chemistry for renewable energy but my research background is in organic chemistry/biological sciences (BS in Chem working in an organic chem lab, MS in Biomedical Sciences/Immunology lab) so I feel like that is why the other professor is interested in me (cancer research lab). However, the reason why I did a MS in Biomed and not a PhD was to test the waters to see if I enjoy that kind of science, and it turns out I don't. At all. I was beyond miserable in this field and if my only option was to work in biological chemistry I would rather just not go. Sounds very over dramatic probably, but we all have our passions and our educational nemeses (haha), and this is mine. And 5 years is a long time to not be happy with your work.

 

I agree with you guys, I just need to be direct and (very graciously) mention that this Prof's research is not the best fit for my current goals (renewable energy research). I have also been informed that my desired POI will be out of town during the visiting weekend which is kind of a bummer too But I at least know what I need to do now, even if it means having to pick from one of my other acceptances that guarantees a better research fit. Thank you!