When should i worry about finding research group

[bjnartowt]

I am graduating from master's program, and am about to go into a PhD program in fall 2011, hoping to go into theoretical condensed matter physics. Should I be e-mailing professors I want to possibly work with now, or should I wait until after my first year's "core-coursework"?

 

[Vanadium 50]

You should wait until you get there.

 

[G01]

No. No need to worry about that yet.

You will probably be bogged down with coursework and teaching during your first semester. You probably won't have time to do any significant work for a group. Though it is a good idea to go to the CM seminars and possibly a group meeting or two.

Personally, I started looking at the beginning of my second semester and started working with a group at the end of my second semester.

 

[Andy Resnick]

I am graduating from master's program, and am about to go into a PhD program in fall 2011, hoping to go into theoretical condensed matter physics. Should I be e-mailing professors I want to possibly work with now, or should I wait until after my first year's "core-coursework"?

It's not clear if you are going somewhere else for the PhD or not- and if you have been accepted into a program or not.

If you have been accepted into a program, I don't see anything wrong with sending an email introducing yourself to selected faculty now, indicating your desire to meet and discuss their projects.