Does this professor sound unreliable?

[creepypasta13]

I got admitted to a Physics graduate program and just visited the school last week. My main research interest is computational astrophysics and I spoke to the only comp astro prof there. Ever since becoming the director of the supercomputer, I heard that he's not available to students nearly as much. However, he was a pretty nice guy. However, he's the only comp astro prof at the moment (but they will hire a new theoretical astro prof really soon). He will apply for grants for funding from NASA and NSF throughout the next 2 yrs. If he can't get funding that way, he still has the funding from being director of the campus supercomputer. He only currently has 1 grad student, and he plans to graduate in 2 yrs. He is getting funded by that supercomputer grant. If he hires me, and the prof can't get the NASA or NSF grant, then I can get funding from the supercomputer grant if that guy graduates. Does this professor sound reliable to work for? Or would it be a major gamble to go to that school?

 

[twofish-quant]

If he hires me, and the prof can't get the NASA or NSF grant, then I can get funding from the supercomputer grant if that guy graduates. Does this professor sound reliable to work for? Or would it be a major gamble to go to that school?

It really depends on that schools policies. It's the policy of some programs to guarantee funding for graduate students, so in that case if a professor's grant falls through, what that means is that you have to TA classes rather than get a funded RA. You can ask whether the program will guarantee funding at which point it becomes their problem rather than your problem.

Also, I'd wouldn't worry too much about working with a specific professor until after you've entered the program. You will have a lot better information about professors once you are on the ground. The other thing is that in getting the Ph.D. done, the professor's ability to get funding is usually less important than "personal compatibility."

 

[creepypasta13]

It really depends on that schools policies. It's the policy of some programs to guarantee funding for graduate students, so in that case if a professor's grant falls through, what that means is that you have to TA classes rather than get a funded RA. You can ask whether the program will guarantee funding at which point it becomes their problem rather than your problem.

they mentioned that the avg time to graduate is 7 years, first 2 years you're guaranteed at least a TAship, and for 3rd year and after, you just need at least a 3.0 gpa I believe to get TAship

 

[creepypasta13]

After discussing the TA policy more, they just said they try their 'best' to support all students and have never had a student lack funding.

Anyways, I also wanted to know how big of an issue is it for a school to have its students take 7 yrs on avg to graduate instead of the avg 5-6? Also, I should mention that since recently becoming the Director of the campus supercomputer, the current grad student mentions he only sees that prof 3 times/month, if that means anything

 

[ych22]

7 years on average to graduate? Jesus...

 

[creepypasta13]

7 years on average to graduate? Jesus...

at least that's what the secretary told me during my visit. and that's for theorists. its 8 yrs for experimentalists. But I'm a little suspicious of that since according to gradschoolshopper, its about 6 yrs for that school

 

[ych22]

Well, anything above 5 years is pretty brutal IMHO. I've seen quite a few grad students lingering in limbo when they should have long graduated, and it has put me off considering grad studies for now.

But I guess it depends on your field...maybe 6 is considered acceptable :/

 

[physics girl phd]

The other thing is that in getting the Ph.D. done, the professor's ability to get funding is usually less important than "personal compatibility."

I agree here. Do you think he'll be available (in person or via email, etc.) if you need him around? Or do you think of yourself as working better when left to your own devices and mostly independently motivated (particularly since there's only one senior grad student in the group). Did you get a chance to talk to this grad student during your visit, and how do think of yourself as compared to that student in terms of personality and work habits (since that might be a good judge of compatibility, though not a guarantee)?

 

[Choppy]

I'm not sure how relevant this will be at your school, but when I went through graduate studies I we were funded for four years. After the fourth, sometimes people got a fifth year extension, but this wasn't guaranteed. Given the instability of the economy right now, I would assume nothing is guaranteed. So the issue, if you end up extending your program into 6+years, is that you may end up dragging it out even longer because you'll have to get another part-time job to support yourself.

As far as that grad student only seeing the professor 3x per month, it depends on what that student wants and/or needs. Some students work fine on their own and minimal supervision is not a problem. As a new grad student though, it would be to your advantage to meet with your supervisor at least on a weekly basis. Then, as you progress, you will begin to learn how frequently such meetings are actually needed.

 

[gb7nash]

Keep in mind too that NASA funding in general is drying up. It wouldn't surprise me that he's having a hard time getting funding right now.

 

[creepypasta13]

I agree here. Do you think he'll be available (in person or via email, etc.) if you need him around? Or do you think of yourself as working better when left to your own devices and mostly independently motivated (particularly since there's only one senior grad student in the group). Did you get a chance to talk to this grad student during your visit, and how do think of yourself as compared to that student in terms of personality and work habits (since that might be a good judge of compatibility, though not a guarantee)?

I don't know. The group did consist of a few postdocs and research scientists (they also seemed pretty nice and open), who were in the same office as the grad student, so I may have access to them instead of the prof, though I forgot to discuss this with the grad student. That prof was one of the very few profs out of all of the schools I visited who was so busy that he couldn't answer my email to set up a meeting during my open house visit. I had to call the secretary, who did emailed him with a 'high priority' setting so he could then see my email and agree to meet.

I completed my most recent undergrad research project very independently, as I saw my prof about once per month in-person, and we didnt once have a group meeting. I was ok with that, especially since he answered all of my emails quickly whenever I needed help

The grad student mentioned I would have to be very independent. I could handle that later on, but when I first start off, that could be a problem

So the issue, if you end up extending your program into 6+years, is that you may end up dragging it out even longer because you'll have to get another part-time job to support yourself.

wow, I've never heard of a student never being supported on a fellowship, TA , or RA before

 

[creepypasta13]

Keep in mind too that NASA funding in general is drying up. It wouldn't surprise me that he's having a hard time getting funding right now.

Being the Director of the SC, I'm a little surprised by this

 

[gb7nash]

Being the Director of the SC, I'm a little surprised by this

http://www.space.com/8320-funding-nasa-spaceship-launch-escape-system-runs.html

edit:

Maybe saying that it's drying up isn't the best way to phrase it. Funds are lower though knowing what's going on in the world right now. Knowing that you're the director of the SC, you can elaborate on it.

 

[creepypasta13]

I meant to say the prof (that this thread is about) is the director of the SC. Hahaha, I wish I were the director of the SC.

I also found something a little troubling about him, and this was really hard to dig up as he doesn't list this on his website. Hes currently about 58 years old.

 

[Ryker]

And this is bad, because ...

 

[creepypasta13]

Well I hope he won't retire, get health problems and possibly die

 

[Ryker]

He's 58, not 113.