Associate Dean's Message - January 30, 2023

January 30, 2023

First year students should start thinking about their thesis lab choices and take advantage of resources to help in this important decision.

Today is the start of the third lab rotation for Boston-based first year Basic Science PhD Students (second for Neuro students). JAX and PDD students started new rotations earlier this month. This is a good time to start thinking about your thesis lab decision.

Selecting a thesis lab is one of the most important decisions for a graduate student. Your thesis lab is where you will spend a great deal of time; it will set the initial direction of your research and is an important first step in your career progression. To aid you in this process, I have gathered selected portions of a guide, “Choosing a Thesis Lab,” from Washington University in St. Louis’ Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. I encourage all first-year students to review these guidelines now, and continue to refer to them during your remaining rotations and thesis lab selection process. Upper-class students are encouraged to speak honestly with first-year students about mentoring in their lab, lab culture, expectations and research projects.

If you have any questions about rotations or thesis lab matching, consult with your program’s Student Advisor and/or Program Director. Best of luck this semester.

Dan Volchok, Associate Dean