Changing advisor and subfield

[zillie]

Hi everyone,

 

I know this same topic has been posted before, but i wanted to put my own specific situation out there for some advice. (Be warned, it's quite long.)

 

I'm currently a Phd student in my second year. Right now I have a great advisor who I really enjoy, a dissertation topic, and data. All of this is great, except after researching my topic and my subfield for the past year, I realized I HATE IT. Nothing is wrong with the research, the people in the field, etc. It's just that about every other article I read my final thought is, "who cares about this stuff?? What a waste of time!" Obviously, that's not a good way to feel about your subfield/research. These feelings have been building since last year, and I'm concerned if I stay where I am I'll drop out due to boredom/lack of interest.

 

I love the field I am in, but want to switch subfields, which means switching advisors as well. I'll have to restart my research entirely (which means the entire 1.5 years of research is useless). I've identified a new potential advisor whose research I'm very interested in.

 

I haven't spoken to anyone but my family about this (especially not my current advisor or potential future advisor), and this is where I'm looking for help. I want to make sure I take the appropriate, professional steps for this transition.

 

 

1) I plan to meet with my department's Director of Graduate Studies sometime this week and discuss with her if I'm allowed to switch subfields, and if so, what the process is.

 

2) Once I learn the process, I want to meet with the potential future advisor and verify whether he will take me on as a student. In the past he has made remarks about wanting me to join his team, but I'm not sure if that offer still exists (since more than six months has passed).

 

3) If all of the above goes well, then I need to talk to my current advisor. This is the part that is most nerve-wracking for me because I do like him, I just don't find the research interesting anymore. What do I say? How do I set up that meeting? How can I change fields without causing hard feelings?

 

If anyone thinks I should do things differently, PLEASE let me know. Has anyone switched subfields and advisors and want to share?

 

Any advice is appreciated - thanks!

[St Andrews Lynx]

There's no guarantee that you won't become disillusioned with the next subfield, especially after spending a couple of years involved in generating research for it. Even worse, the new PI might turn out to be a jerk, your new project might end up going nowhere, etc. I would try to avoid switching subfields. Most people end up hating their dissertation/research at some point during grad school, after all.

 

Alternatives include: 

(i) Offering to collaborate with this other PI you're interested in. That way you get exposure to a different subfield without having to completely discard your last 1.5 years of research.

(ii) Try to concentrate on the bigger picture. There is a reason that people are conducting research in this particular area. Think about applications of the research, how it relates to real-world populations. Use your imagination if necessary. 

(iii) Talk to your advisor or other grad students and say that you feel disillusioned with your research. Ask for their advice. Just leave out the "...and I'm considering switching fields" part. Most likely they will empathise. If you get on great with your PI then this shouldn't be a difficult conversation.

[rising_star]

I'm confused. If you're staying in the same field, why do you need a different advisor? I work on a very different subfield than my advisor but we're in the same field and use the same methods, so it's really not a problem. He's still able to advise me, though I turn to others (through my network) for advice within my subfield.

[zillie]

To clarify:

 

1) While it is good advice to collaborate with the different PI but remain in my subfield, it's not something I am going to do. If I stay in my current subfield my future career options are limited only to that subfield, and those are careers I no longer wish to pursue. It's difficult enough to think about finishing the semester doing this research, let alone doing it for the rest of my career.

 

2) I could become disillusioned with the new research, that's true. But I am unhappy enough with what I'm doing now and have no interest in training for a career that I don't want, that it's a risk I feel is necessary for me at this point. 

 

3) In my department, the professors of these two subfields use entirely different methodologies and research entirely different topics that don't translate to each other. There has been talk of separating this field into different fields of research as opposed to subfields (and has been done at a few universities) but that is not the case at my university. Unfortunately, my current advisor would not be able to continue to advise me in a different subfield, and even if he could, he wouldn't as he views this other subfield as "something he could never handle". This is why I would need to switch advisors,

 

4) I suppose what I want advice about is NOT should I do this (though I appreciate what has already been said) but rather how to make this a smooth process. Also to hear how other people handled a similar situation. 

 

Thank you everyone!

[juilletmercredi]

1) I wouldn't ask if you are allowed.  I would explain, in the affirmative, that your intention is to switch subfields and you want to know more about the process.  Make sure that you read the handbook first and see if there is any relevant information there, and ask some advanced graduate students if any of them has switched or knew anyone who did and if they know anything.  When you talk to the DGS I would be very explicit - "I was really interested in the aerodynamics of widgets when I first came here, and while I've enjoyed working with Professor X I have found that the aerodynamics of widgets isn't really a good fit for me anymore.  But I have discovered a very deep interest in the metaphysical properties of gadgets, and Professor Y has expressed an interest in working with me in the past."

 

2) Okay.

 

3) This is where students need to realize that their advisers are humans, too, and typically not tyrants or ridiculously emotional people.  They understand that sometimes students leave for various reasons.  I would say exactly what you say here - that you've enjoyed working with him and being in his lab, but that you don't find the research a good fit for you and your interests have developed in a way that has taken you in a different direction completely.  A reasonable person won't have any hard feelings about that kind of explanation.

[MsDarjeeling]

I love everything juillet has said.  The only thing I would add is if/when you are transitioning, do not leave your current adviser hanging.  You've done 1.5 years of research with him already and so far have had a very positive working relationship.  Do not burn a bridge and lose out on potential lor's or job references.  Do whatever it is you need to do in order to polish up that data so he/another grad student can continue where you left off or it can otherwise be concluded.  It doesn't matter if you're too tired, too busy, or you've already had work piled on by your new adviser.  You are obligated to tie up loose ends to the best of your ability and that would give you something to show for all of your hard work.  If anything is published you may still get to be listed as an author (yay!) or be invited to present at a conference (double yay!) and you don't want a hint of bitterness as he mentions your name.