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Choosing Research Work
The introduction to research should normally occur in the second semester of graduate work for all but remedial students. Therefore, every student should enroll for at least one unit of Topics in Physics (Phys 6960) or
Reading
in Physics (Phys 6940) during each semester after the first. This is to be done in a formal way after discussing with research professors in physics or related subjects what their topics of research are, and then being accepted by one of these professors to work with him or her. During the fall a meeting for first-year graduate students is held, at which time the available research opportunities are described. Failure to enroll and actually engage in research at this time may prejudice the student's career in this Department. The choice of research field and project at this time may well be tentative, and students are free to change fields when they have gained more experience and solidified their interests.
When a student has selected a research supervisor, and the supervisor has agreed to take on a student, they should inform the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) in writing. When a student selects a research supervisor, that supervisor usually becomes the student's academic advisor. The Secretary of the GPC should be officially notified by the student if the academic advisor is changed. Typically, a research advisor will be using her/his grant or contract money to support a student. A student who changes research advisors will generally have to begin a new research project which will extend the length of time necessary to complete his/her thesis. For all these reasons, we encourage students to begin the selection of a research advisor early in their career at Rensselaer. We also encouragethe student and her/his research advisor to take steps as early as possible to form a definite commitment about whether the relationship will work out. For these reasons, the GPC has chosen to establish several guidelines which we encourage both graduate students and faculty to follow.
- The GPC requires that students file a research plan by the end of March in their second year. This research plan should normally indicate a research advisor, some indication of the research topic, and planned mechanisms for support of the research. Students are strongly encouraged to begin this selection process in the spring of their first year at Rensselaer, and normally the first summer provides an opportunity to begin a trial research project with an advisor. Students who are unable to meet this requirement should notify the GPC in advance of the deadline and the committee will try to help them.
- Once a student starts working on a research assistantship, the student may still choose to change advisors if the student finds that his/her research is unsuitable for his/her goals or feels that the relationship is unsuitable. However, before a student formally accepts a position with another advisor as an RA, the student and the new advisor should consult with the previous advisor so as to arrange the transfer with the minimum amount of disruption.
- If an advisor (or student) decides that a student should not continue in his/her research program, the department will make all reasonable attempts to provide "bridge" support until the student is able to find a new advisor presuming that the student remains in good academic standing. However, one of the reasons that a research advisor may decide to terminate support is because he/she feels that the student is not making good progress toward an advanced degree (either the M.S. or Ph.D.). In this case, the GPC, after meeting with the student, may decide to recommend that the student withdraw from the Physics Graduate Program.
Students working with research supervisors outside the department are subject to some additional regulations. They must designate a member of the Physics Department to serve as the official advisor for the research. That department member will become the student's academic advisor, and will chair the student's candidacy and Ph.D. thesis committees. In general, students working with research supervisors outside the department must be supported by RA's or external fellowships.
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