So many folks getting into PhD programs! As my Christmas gift to the twitter-verse, here are some research-based tips on choosing an advisor (mostly based on engineering but could apply to many fields outside of STEM too) (1/n) #academicchatter #AcademicTwitter

You got in? That’s great! If you don’t have an advisor yet, selection begins NOW regardless of the deadline your department says. This research takes time and successful students use this period after admission to their advantage. (2/n)

In this digital world, access to faculty is easier especially for folks outside the US who often can’t do in-person visits. Reach out to faculty and schedule some Zooms! Not admitted yet? Still do the research. Better be early than late! (3/n)

Get familiar with the advisor selection rules in your program. They're different everywhere!!! (4/n)

Being satisfied with your advisor choice happens by design. Meet many times with the same faculty, talk to their students, read the papers from the lab, contact alumni if that option is made available, come back with questions about the research...(5/n)

... ask other faculty in the department about your top advisor choices. Seek ALL POSSIBLE information and use that to inform your choice. (5 continued/n)

Read between the lines – if they don’t answer emails now (holidays notwithstanding), that could be an indicator of how they’ll be as an advisor. Yes, talk to their students about how they advise, but also make your own observations. (6/n)

If possible – ask to sit in on their research group/lab meetings prior to committing. Student body language and actual language around their advisor speaks volumes to their advising style. (7/n)

Yes, funding matters. But in engineering very many schools will fully fund you so include this in the things you ask about. If they’re not paying you to go there, consider another school. 8/n

Record how they make you feel. They need not become your friend but you’ll still work with them a lot (especially in STEM). If meeting them stresses you out more than makes you excited about work - take note! This is particularly true when discussing funding. (9/n)

You may prefer assistant vs associate vs full based on well-meaning internet advice. Know that how titles impact advising will vary across departments and fields since some are more formal or more equal than others. Take titles with a grain of salt at each program. 10/n

Ranking means very little in terms of the learning experience but the advisor means everything. Check your ego at the door when choosing a fancier school with a ‘meh’ advisor over a less fancy school with a great advisor. (11/n)

For my minoritized folks, yes sharing an identity with the advisor can be cool but it does not mean they’ll be your ally automatically. Make your decision on multiple data points (see point 5/n above). (12/n)

12)Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions. Pretending to know everything does NOT get you ahead. Students who ask a lot - even when the question was stupid - get a better sense of the PhD process and progress. (13/n)

The PhD is for learning and if the advisor and community you are considering aren’t willing to teach you, that’s not the product you should be buying. (14/n)

If you already did all of the above and have an advisor, congratulations! I wish you the best of PhDs! Now go apply the above advice for committee members. (15/n)

Last but not least - If you’re in engineering education and looking at programs check out @ASU_EESD. The application deadline is January 15. Also, if you like this topic, I'm hiring :)

- FIN -

P.S. Always happy to chat about my research offline. Twitter is brutal for chatty qualitative folks like me (see my 16 point thread above).