4 ms·

I am PI and Lecturer at top 10 World University and this is the advice I give to my students: don't focus too much on the project; chances are that in 3-4 years

I am PI and Lecturer at top 10 World University and this is the advice I give to my students: don't focus too much on the project; chances are that in 3-4 years you'll move on and work on something completely different anyway. The working environment is the most important thing:your PI, your lab mates, the department/institute. Having said this, I agree with those who say Science is full of jerks. Two out of two of my advisors when I was PhD students and then postdocs where jerks. However, there is also people who try really hard to be as nice as possible yet maintaining a friendly and competitive/ambitious environment. They are just very difficult to recognize a priori if you are a student or a postdoc.

danieltillett 12y ago
This is so true. The project you take on is the least important aspect to consider. First is the lab, second is your supervisor, third is money (does you supervisor have any), and coming up lucky last is the project. I don't mean to say that the project is unimportant (it is actually really important), but that as an inexperienced researcher you are not really able to pick what is going to be a good project (neither is you supervisor unfortunately). It really involves a bit of luck, but if you are working in a great lab with great people who have money then you much more likely to end up working on a great project than you are by just trying to pick what be a great project from the start.
- centropy 12y ago
  Wow your priorities is very much the same said for startups: too much emphasis and commitment on the initial product idea (project) in the beginning and not enough attention to the possible risks coming from the team (lab), the supervisor (angels, advisors).
  - crocowhile 12y ago
    Back in 2011 I wrote this about the similarities between being a scientist and being an entrepreneur: http://lab.gilest.ro/blog/of-scientists-and-entrepreneurs/ http://lab.gilest.ro/blog/of-scientists-and-entrepreneurs/

danieltillett 12y ago

This is so true. The project you take on is the least important aspect to consider. First is the lab, second is your supervisor, third is money (does you supervisor have any), and coming up lucky last is the project. I don't mean to say that the project is unimportant (it is actually really important), but that as an inexperienced researcher you are not really able to pick what is going to be a good project (neither is you supervisor unfortunately). It really involves a bit of luck, but if you are working in a great lab with great people who have money then you much more likely to end up working on a great project than you are by just trying to pick what be a great project from the start.

centropy 12y ago
Wow your priorities is very much the same said for startups: too much emphasis and commitment on the initial product idea (project) in the beginning and not enough attention to the possible risks coming from the team (lab), the supervisor (angels, advisors).
- crocowhile 12y ago
  Back in 2011 I wrote this about the similarities between being a scientist and being an entrepreneur: http://lab.gilest.ro/blog/of-scientists-and-entrepreneurs/ http://lab.gilest.ro/blog/of-scientists-and-entrepreneurs/