I was contacted by my POI... What does this mean??

[Preeti]

Hi guys...

 

I have applied to various schools for PhD Biological sciences for Fall 2013 intake. Though I haven't heard back from  any of the schools yet, I got the following email last week from my POI from the university. I haven't contacted her before. 

 

"I am writing regarding your application for Ph.D at ...., biological sciences. I am accepting a graduate student this fall and am writing to ask about your interests in any specific areas of research. My lab works on host-virus interactions, mainly with focus on inflammation and autophagy. Please let me know since we are finalizing admissions. If you are interested, provide me a number that I can call and a suitable time"

 

When I replied for this email that I am interested in her work, I got an email again saying

 

 

"What are your long term plans? Why are you interested in a graduate program at UT? My lab is 3yrs old and I am interested in students with a commitment to research. Do you see yourself fit in?"

 

And then I replied again for this email and she never got back.

 

What does this mean? Does it mean that she has accepted me into her lab or does it mean I've got acceptance?

 

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

 

 

 

 

[yoosirname]

Hi, I'm not in this field, but my hunch is that if you were accepted, it would be explicitly said. It's a good sign, though, that this faculty member is reaching out to you. Seems sort of like an e-mail interview! 

[aberrant]

I think that you're on the edge of getting in.

 

If your research interest fits with this faculty member, show interest in her work, and willing to commit to this particular PI, then she will "be your ally" and try to get your accepted by the school, and bring you under her wings.

 

On the other hand, if she figured that you two aren't a good match, you probably have to wait longer to see if anyone turns down any offers (if there is a waitlist or such thing), or you might getting a rejection letter (if there isn't a waitlist).

 

ps. Since her lab is 3 years old, she might also be an assistant professor rather than a professor switched from another school as she bring up the "commitment" in the discussion (if she is a professor, she probably would have a few students from her previous institution, so "commitment" on new students should be less of an issue.) Assistant professors tend to have lesser funding than established professors, hence, every single dime needs to be carefully spend, including making right investment such as recruiting good graduate researchers / students. A poor investment may potentially cost her tenure.

 

and that's just my speculation.

Edited March 3, 2013 by aberrant

[shreya s]

Hi! I have also applied in the same field for a PhD and have not heard anything. Did you contact the Professors of the Universities before applying or did you directly apply? 

[Preeti]

Thank you very much for your insights yoosirname and aberrant!!! This was very helpful... I am planning to ask her more about the research work that she is currently doing. Could you also please tell me how should i emphasize more that I am interested in her lab?? Should I read some of her papers and ask more about that research?

 

For Shreya S, I just applied to the universities directly and contacted only one or two professors. Actually I emailed a professor in Jaunuary in the same university saying that I was interested in his work. He never replied for more than a month and I just left it as such. Then again after a month or so he himself emailed me saying that

 

"The Department of Biological Sciences is currently reviewing applications for graduate school and I was surprised to see that your name is not on the applicant list. Do you still intend to apply to ...? If you would get back to me and let me know whether you are still interested in graduate school at ... it would be appreciated."

 

 

I was shocked to see this email and sent him all the acknowledgement I got from the university. Then he sorted out all the problem and added me to the applicant list saying that

"you're now on the list. Sorry to make you worry. The application was received, but not put on the list for unknown reasons. We will be reviewing applicants shortly and you will be notified about the results as soon as the review process is complete. Good luck!"

 

I really don't know what does this mean either. I don't know if I should email him again now or after getting an admit from the University.

[aberrant]

Thank you very much for your insights yoosirname and aberrant!!! This was very helpful... I am planning to ask her more about the research work that she is currently doing. Could you also please tell me how should i emphasize more that I am interested in her lab?? Should I read some of her papers and ask more about that research?

I'm not sure if this person is one of your POI / PI that you wanna work with. If she is, then you should already know what she does; otherwise, quickly look at her lab website, research interests, maybe 1-3 recent publications, and see if you are interested in her research. If you do, tell her right away that you are very interested in her work, specifically <insert her research interest here>, and express how did you find it interesting, and how you foreseeing yourself working on that research topic under her guidance for the next 5, 6 years. You can also assure her that you will take the offer if you are accepted, and ask her seriously consider your application, or, ask her if she can do anything about your application (and she'll try to do what she can, of course!).

 

good luck on your application and keep us updated

Edited March 4, 2013 by aberrant

[Preeti]

Thank you for your advice aberrant!! I had already read few of her publications and emailed her regarding my interests in her lab. Sorry I did not put the question properly in my last post. I was going to ask you if i should read some more of her papers and ask any questions about that to her. Anyway, I just got a reply from her after I expressed my interest and motivation for doing a PhD in her lab. She said

 

"Our current research points to a role of ........<Research that she is currently doing>. At the same time, I am planning on initiating projects on role of <........>. My lab is only 3yrs old and I work with the students in my lab until they are set in their project. Working on viruses indicates time course expts which can at times run to odd hours and odd times of the week. I am looking for motivated students who are committed to a Ph.D program. If you see yourself as a committed and motivated student and research truly interests you, you will find my lab to be a good fit. Think about it and let me know".

 

What does this mean and how do i tell her that I am still interested in her lab?

[aberrant]

Anyway, I just got a reply from her after I expressed my interest and motivation for doing a PhD in her lab. She said

 

"Our current research points to a role of ........<Research that she is currently doing>. At the same time, I am planning on initiating projects on role of <........>. My lab is only 3yrs old and I work with the students in my lab until they are set in their project. Working on viruses indicates time course expts which can at times run to odd hours and odd times of the week. I am looking for motivated students who are committed to a Ph.D program. If you see yourself as a committed and motivated student and research truly interests you, you will find my lab to be a good fit. Think about it and let me know".

 

What does this mean and how do i tell her that I am still interested in her lab?

I believe it means that you'll have to show interest in her lab in order to be accepted by the program. To tell her that you are still interested is pretty easy, right? Just be honest with her about how you're interested in her current research / new project, whichever one that you are more interested in. Assure that you are a committed and motivated student (if it hasn't be mentioned in your LORs), and how you are looking forward to work in her lab. You can also ask her if there is anything you can do now to prepare yourself prior to your work in the lab, such as asking her for a couple papers that you can read to building up your background knowledge in her current research / new project / project that she thinks you are a good fit. Just be honest with what you think.

 

On the other hand, though. If you get accepted by this school and somehow you turn down the offer, you are very likely to burn this bridge considered how eager she wants a new graduate student for her lab.

[Preeti]

I believe it means that you'll have to show interest in her lab in order to be accepted by the program. To tell her that you are still interested is pretty easy, right? Just be honest with her about how you're interested in her current research / new project, whichever one that you are more interested in. Assure that you are a committed and motivated student (if it hasn't be mentioned in your LORs), and how you are looking forward to work in her lab. You can also ask her if there is anything you can do now to prepare yourself prior to your work in the lab, such as asking her for a couple papers that you can read to building up your background knowledge in her current research / new project / project that she thinks you are a good fit. Just be honest with what you think.

 

On the other hand, though. If you get accepted by this school and somehow you turn down the offer, you are very likely to burn this bridge considered how eager she wants a new graduate student for her lab.

 Thank you so much for your advice aberrant!! That was very helpful.  I emailed her emphasizing my interests in her lab and she also sent me a paper to read. I read the paper and replied to her back asking certain questions about the paper and her future research on that. Now, she has replied to me saying that

 

 

"Thanks for your continued interest. Right now, we are still trying to figure out <.......>. Since these projects are moving quickly, I am having the students focus on these. I will send you some reviews which I believe are good starting points for any research before reading detailed peer-reviewed papers. I will try to talk to you tomorrow if that is OK.

I am not sure if you are corresponding with other faculty as well since you have interest in neuroscience as well. The reason I bring this up is because students are recruited directly into our labs without rotations, that saves us time and the students settle in quickly. If you have other labs also that are of your interest, feel free to let me know, mainly because I am looking to recruit directly to my lab."

 

If she is going to call me and speak, what will she be probably asking me? I reiterated that I was interested in her lab and that I would be glad if she will consider my application and take me to work in her lab. I was interested in one more lab in the same university and when I contacted the professor of that lab, he said he was unsure of taking on any graduate students for now. Should I tell her about this?

 

Thank you very much in advance!!