Optimizing PhD Advisor Changes: Strategies for Success

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for changing PhD advisors and subjects, focusing on the implications of different approaches within the context of academic ethics and personal relationships. Participants explore the potential risks and benefits of each strategy.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant considers two options for changing advisors: discussing the change with the current advisor first or exploring the new opportunity privately before informing the current advisor.
  • Another participant suggests honesty with the current advisor, indicating that changing interests may lead to a better fit with a new topic or group.
  • A participant shares experiences of friends who changed advisors due to personality conflicts, recommending that if the current advisor is reasonable, honesty is advisable.
  • One contributor advocates for the second option, emphasizing the importance of securing a new position before leaving the current one and inquiring about the participant's academic status (year, TA or RA) to assess the situation better.
  • Another participant supports the second option, suggesting it allows for a more positive framing of the change as a pursuit of greater interest rather than a rejection of the current advisor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally favor the second option of exploring the new opportunity privately before informing the current advisor, but there is no consensus on the best approach, as opinions vary based on personal experiences and the specifics of the situation.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the implications of their choices on academic relationships and departmental politics, highlighting the need for careful consideration of personal circumstances and advisor dynamics.

Who May Find This Useful

Graduate students considering a change in their PhD advisor or research topic, particularly those navigating complex advisor relationships or departmental politics.

did.geridoo
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Hi,

I want to change my current phd subject/advisor. There is one another subject/advisor that I like to work with, and I am considering one of the following 2 actions :

1- Talking to current advisor and telling him that I want to look for another subject. Then talking to the other one.

2- Talk to new potential advisor in private. If both of us seems that we may work together on a subject, then talk to current advisor. Otherwise continue with the current one.

If I follow first action and if, for some reason, fail to work with the new guy, then I would loose both, and I don't think there is another subject/advisor that I can work with.

For the second action, I am not sure how it seems from the point of view of US academic work ethic.

I like to hear any thoughts,
thanks in advance.
 
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just be honest, tall the current advisor that your interests have changed and that you believe that you have found a better suited topic with another person/group.
 
I have known 2 friends who have changed advisors. Both of them have done so because of "personality problems" with their advisors (they were at two different schools).

If you do not think your current advisor will try to sabotage you (you have a good relationship with them and they seem like a reasonable person), then I would certainly take Dr. Transport's advice. Honesty is usually the best policy.

If you are not on good terms with your current advisor, then you may want to go talk to the graduate student advisor (the person who advises all the grad students in your department) or the department chairperson. They will offer you good advice since they are "in the loop" regarding department politics that you may not be aware of.
 
Personally I would go with option 2. It's better to make sure that you have a new job before you quit the old one.

Question: what year are you? Also, are you a TA or an RA? This is sort of important. It's a lot easier to change groups when you've only worked in one group for a summer, since you're not seen as having an obligation to said group. If you're a TA, it's also a lot easier to quit, since your advisor hasn't been pouring money into you.
 
Go with Option 2. That puts you in the position of telling your advisor you've found something more interesting, and not that you want to leave even if you don't know where you are going.
 

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