visiblethinking Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 Hello all, This is a somewhat general question: what are your thoughts on applying to a PhD program that is just starting? Do you think this could leave me at a disadvantage when it comes time to apply for postdocs/jobs? Or does the prestige of the school itself make up for this fact? There is a new program at the University of Washington that feels like a perfect fit for me but it is brand new and I'm not sure how to feel about this. Thanks!
Vene Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 What's the program? As long as the professors are pretty well established I don't think it would be a real problem. Universities are always shuffling around degrees and the details of the degree are far less important and the details of your research and how well you publish.
visiblethinking Posted September 14, 2014 Author Posted September 14, 2014 Thanks for the input, Vene! It's the Molecular Medicine & Mechanisms of Disease (M3D) program. It is supposed to be pretty interdisciplinary in nature, it is going to pull faculty from departments across the biomedical spectrum (Immunology, Genome Science, Pathology, etc.) so I'm guessing/hoping that means the professors will be well-established! The point is that it is supposed to be a translational research-focused PhD program.
Vene Posted September 14, 2014 Posted September 14, 2014 I think you'll be fine. The program I'm in is actually only a few years old, but it combines well established departments from the university. I kind of like it as it brings extra flexibility to what I can do. poweredbycoldfusion 1
bsharpe269 Posted September 14, 2014 Posted September 14, 2014 One of the programs that I am applying to is only a few years old but the faculty associated with it are top in my field. I agree that the PI matters alot more than the degree program.
ballwera Posted September 14, 2014 Posted September 14, 2014 I'm applying to a new program as well (first cohort will be fall 2015). As long as the professors are strong, and its not a no name university, I see no issue.
threading_the_neidl Posted September 15, 2014 Posted September 15, 2014 UW has very strong biomedical science programs and a strong research reputation all around, I don't think it'd be risky at all to end up in this one.
visiblethinking Posted September 16, 2014 Author Posted September 16, 2014 Alright that's great news, thanks everyone
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