Looking for a third recommender

[pachel]

Hi folks. I'm applying to PhD programs in neuroscience. My undergrad major was psychology but I minored in neuroscience and biology (school didn't offer a neuroscience major). My first two LoR are from psychology professors. I'm trying to figure out a third. One option is a biology professor who I took 3 neuroscience related classes with. I think he would be beneficial because it would be a rec from the more bio side of things, however I wasn't as close to him as these other two professors and I didn't do as well in all of his classes. 

 

My other option is a coworker. I work full time at a science research company right now (though not neuroscience) and thought it might look weird if I didn't have a letter of rec from there. However I've been bounced around to different departments since being hired in a year ago because the company has been struggling economically and don't have enough of a steady relationship with any of my supervisors to ask from them. Would a coworker look suspicious, as it's not from a super?

 

What do you think, other prof or science lab coworker? Thanks!

[fuzzylogician]

The other professor, hands down. A letter from a co-worker will be suspicious and will not carry a lot of weight: it's not from someone who has been in charge of you and has overseen your work, and this person also presumably only has limited knowledge about your ability to succeed in grad school. I'd steer clear of such an option.

[pachel]

Thanks, fuzzylogician. What if I did manage to get a supervisor to write a letter of rec? Would your answer still be the same? I get that a coworker would look suspicious, but do you think it would be weird if I didn't have one from a place of work, since it's semi-related to my field of interest? (I work in a toxicology testing lab).

[fuzzylogician]

Since you're applying to a research-based PhD I think it's better if your letters come from professors. Whether or not a letter from your supervisor would be beneficial depends on factors you didn't specify in your post -- when did you graduate, how long are you working for this company, and (most importantly) what will be the content of the letter? What can a letter from your supervisor contribute to your application? Specifically, grad schools want to know that you are worth their investment - that you are committed, that you are a good student, that you have experience conducting research, defining your own research questions and pursuing them, writing papers up and presenting them, etc. Can you supervisor talk about some of these qualities? Can (s)he have an informed opinion about your chances of success in a PhD program? Can they speak to your ability to conduct research -- how rigorous is your position? Now compare that to what the professor is able to say about you, and ask yourself: which is better?