Opportunities and Expectations

Opportunities:
I typically have 3-7 undergraduate researchers and 3-7 graduate students in my group. Consequently, I’m usually looking for a few new students in each category each year depending on grant support. All undergraduates receive an hourly wage and are permitted to work 10-20 hours per week during the semester and 20-40 hours per week during breaks.  Graduate students receive a competitive stipend and tuition waiver if enrolled in my group full time.

General Expectations:
Safety: All students are expected to follow safety protocols in the laboratory, take ownership, and practice excellent laboratory hygiene and good housekeeping.  Never carry out work without proper procedures.  If you are not confident that your research can be done safely stop work and come see me.  SAFETY COMES FIRST!

The Advanced Materials Laboratory has been designated the SAFEST RESEARCH LABORATORY at Boise State University FIVE years in a row. This is something that we take pride in and take very seriously.

Quality: Students are expected to be frugal, respectful of equipment and not wasteful of supplies. Each student must keep an accurate and professional laboratory notebook, which you leave with me upon your departure.  In some cases, students may choose to or be required to keep both electronic and paper notebooks.  Students are expected to understand statistics and error analysis in their research and practice good data collection methods and proper quality assurance practices including calibration and maintaining data security. Students are expected to conduct thorough, independent literature surveys and build on prior work in the research–write a paragraph or two on every pertinent paper that you read.  Part of quality is good house keeping.  Please keep the lab clean at all times.

Graduate Student Time Commitment: All graduate students are paid to work in the laboratory (or classroom) 20 productive hours per week carrying out hands on or theoretical research during the semester and 40 productive hours per week in the lab carrying out hands on or theoretical research when classes are not in session. Graduate students are paid to work for the group, not necessarily to work on their dissertation, although that is generally the case. To graduate in a reasonable time frame (4-5 years for a PhD), students will need to spend more than this amount of time in the lab and practice good time management. Although most graduate students are provided with some undergraduate help in my group, do not expect undergraduates to carryout your research.  They may help, but it is you, the graduate student, that is responsible for your experimental work.  Getting a PhD is like eating an elephant… you have to do it one bite at a time.  So start taking the bites on day 1 and take a few bites everyday after that…

Graduate Student Independence and Empowerment: I am a strong believer in empowering my students and encouraging them to work independently.  While I will offer you ideas and directions, I am interested in students that are able to think on their feet, solve problems independently, and push themselves (and so are the employers that hire students out of my group).

Teaching: Graduate students will be asked occasionally to help TA courses if your grant or contract permits it.  A PhD student should expect to be asked to TA up to two courses during their time in our department.

Group Ethics:  Treat all students and faculty with respect.  Always give credit where credit is due-i.e., always acknowledge others. Report problems (research as well as other issues) and successes to me on a regular basis. Scheduling meetings is your responsibility. I have an open door policy, but also expect each of you to set up regular meetings.  Treat one another and all staff with respect.  Give credit to others and praise our staff.  Support your lab- and class mates in their research.  We function best if we all work together as a team.

Presenting and Writing Success: Learn to speak and write well–I expect all my students to strive for perfection. Maintain a continuously growing and improving collection of power point slides so you can present your research results at any time with little or no notice.  When asked to give a presentation, practice and prepare…. Even in informal settings with our group, your slides should look professional, as should you.

Writing of your dissertation or publications begins now!  Don’t wait until the end. Read J. M. Williams book “Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace”.  If writing is a struggle for you, I expect you to seek help.  Prior to turning in manuscripts or dissertations you may need to seek editorial help from colleagues, the writing center, or you may chose to hire a professional editor to work with you.  I expect students to make my job easy by handing me well crafted documents.  For the sake of consistency, reporting, etc. please use CASSI format for references ALWAYS.

Publishing Papers: All my graduate students  are expected to submit at least one journal publication before their dissertation and, in the case of publication-based dissertations, I expect to see 3-5 papers submitted, and at least one accepted for publication, prior to graduation.  Undergraduate students often publish papers as well, usually as a secondary author.  This is a great way to get your foot in the door to graduate school.  I expect all undergraduates to participate in our annual research conferences where you present your research in a poster presentation.

Mentoring: My group functions through a mentoring pyramid. Graduate students may be assigned an undergraduate student to work with them.  It is expected that they will serve as positive role models and help to train and manage the undergraduate’s time efficiently.  Undergraduates are provided so that they can learn new skills, how to work in a lab safely, and to gain perspective on materials science and engineering.  They ARE NOT assigned to do the graduate students’ work.  They ARE assigned only to assist with work and to be part of a team.  Undergraduate students primary focus must always be on academic success.  Their primary responsibility, therefore, is to their courses, not research in our group.  So that should always be respected.

Travel: I often send students in my group to conferences, and students frequently travel to CAES in Idaho Falls.  During conference trips I expect you to present either a talk or poster.  You need to prepare for this well in advance and practice your presentation in front of me and the group at least once. During any travel you are expected to be a positive and professional representative of Boise State University and our Department.  Dress in proper, professional attire and act in a professional manner during the entire event.

Grades: Working in my laboratory requires maintaining good grades.  I track all student grades carefully and may withdraw financial support if I see any issues.  I expect all undergraduates to maintain >3.0 gpa each semester and graduate students to maintain >3.5 gpa.  Graduate students will be put on probation by the University if their gpa drops below a 3.0.

Letters of Recommendation and Food for Thought: When you eventually leave my group and go on to bigger things, you’ll likely need letters of recommendation from me and other faculty.  In most cases, your prospective employers will call or talk to me directly (even if you haven’t provided my name as a reference).  In addition to the usual questions about academics and skills, the kinds of questions that I address in my letters and that prospective employers commonly ask are as follows: Does the student work safely and have good laboratory hygiene? Do they follow established procedures or take short cuts? Are they mature and professional? Do they work well with others?  Do they work effectively in teams?  Do they have the ability to supervise others? Are they good mentors? Do they communicate openly and clearly?  Do they write and speak well? Do they have good work ethics? Are they consistent and reliable? Do they take instructions well.  Do they meet deliverables on time? Do they follow through? Are they problem solvers?  Are they able to absorb literature and build on it? Do they interpret experimental data and results correctly?  Can they work independently?  Are they high maintenance or low maintenance? Are they honest and able to be self critical?  Do they listen to others and take constructive criticism well? Do they cover up problems or take ownership of their mistakes?  Do they repeat their mistakes?  What are their greatest weakness? Would you hire them again?