Subject: To second year students From: Laszlo Mihaly Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:32:02 -0500 To: "pagra-l@lists.sunysb.edu" CC: "pmkoch@notes.cc.sunysb.edu" If you started in SB in Fall 2005, read on. Some students are involved in research, with a pretty clear idea about a Ph.D. project. If you are not in this category, this is the time to focus on this issue as much as you can. It is not too late, but time is running fast. Remember, it is very unlikely to get TA support in the third year of studies. The best way to get into research is to talk to several professors and ask them if they accept new students. Usually you will not get a clear yes/no answer, and that is when the conversation starts. If you took a class with the professor, remind him/her how much you liked the lectures and how well did you do in his/her class (actually liking the lectures and doing well helps at this point). Emphasize how your interest overlaps with the professor's. If you can afford the time, ask for a small project that your are willing to do during the Spring Semester (without being paid as an RA). Definitely ask about a summer appointment. An increasing number of students find advisors in Brookhaven Lab. BNL scientists advising our students are usually appointed to an adjunct position in the Department (see http://www.physics.sunysb.edu/Physics/faculty.shtml#adj) . Do not hesitate to call them; they may be looking for a new student right now. If you end up working with someone without a regular or an adjunct appointment, please notify me immediately, so that I can contact the person and discuss the issues related to advising our students. Several resources help your search. The Friday afternoon seminars have speakers looking for students. Go to the talks, look up the old announcements and contact the speakers (see http://grad.physics.sunysb.edu/~kowalczy/seminar.html , thanks to Regina and Stefan). You can also look at the bulletin board at http://graduate.physics.sunysb.edu/board/ where I post various announcements. You can come to me or Pat, and ask for advice. Finally, if you think you found the right place to do your Ph.D., please send me or Pat a note. Best, Laszlo -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Laszlo Mihaly Graduate Program Director Department of Physics and Astronomy Stony Brook University 631 632-8279 laszlo.mihaly@sunysb.edu ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^