Better Smaller or Larger Research Group for PhD studies

[blubb]

- What are the pros and cons for a smaller research group? ~1-4 PhD students

 

- What are the pros and cons for a larger research group? >4 PhD students

 

I understand this is a sort of personal preference. But what would be criteria to evaluate where I would be a better fit in advance of actually joining a group?

[PanicMode]

First of all you don't join a group, you're lucky to be asked to be part of a group. Your question depends on how many PIs are involved in a group. If one PI has 4 students vs if one PI has lots of students. Personally I would try to become a PhD student with a faculty member who doesn't have a lot of students. First of all because it's easier for them to keep the funding going and second because you will have more personal time with your advisor.