Thread by @rburdine1

It's the start of graduate school in the sciences for many of you. So it's also the season of unsolicited advice for first year students! Here's mine. Warning, it isn't always warm and fuzzy. /1

You are a student, yes, but from this point on you are also a professional. Your behavior will reflect back on you positively or negatively, and it is in your control. Ok, that sounds harsh, so what do I actually mean? /2

Re classes - someone will tell you they aren't THAT important and your rotation project is the most important. Then someone will tell you the classes ARE important and you shouldn't blow them off. So what's true? YMMV depending on your institution, but the answer is both. /3

Here is where you start to figure out balance. They are both important because they reflect on you. Approach both like a professional. Show up when and where you are expected to do so. Be respectful of your fellow students and professors and lab members. /4

Use every opportunity to present yourself as someone people will want to work with and can rely on. You do not have to present yourself as someone who knows everything already. If that were true, why would you need graduate school? You should present yourself as a learner. /5

Don't do this: "Professor I have to leave class early to wash my Western blot." You may think this is a good thing because it shows your dedication to research, but it also says you don't value the time said professor is putting towards the class and you can't time manage. /6

Do this: "Professor, I apologize for missing class today but I am feeling unwell. Is there anything you would like me to do to make up for being able to attend?" This is respectful and shows you value the course and the time the professor is giving you. /7

"But," you say, "This isn't a class I like. I have to take it and the subject isn't for me." Fine and valid, and keep it to yourself. It may seem like no big deal to blow off something you don't care about, but if you are required to take it, someone thinks it matters. /8

And maybe you won't ever rotate with them or work in their field, so who cares? But science is an extremely small world. Maybe the lab you long to be part of is run by the best friend of Professor Boring Class. And Prof BC tells them you aren't respectful. It happens. /9

More than one person can tell you a cringe-worthy story about complaining to person X at a conference about person Y and finding out later the two are close, or were roommates, or *gulp* married to each other. /10

Try to do well in the class. We do notice the students who put in effort and do well. Even when they aren't interested in our labs or our subject. They stand out in a good way. You may even learn something useful, or find out you DO like a subject you didn't think you would. /11

So what about that rotation? Ask your PI or whomever is mentoring you what their expectations are. If that seems scary, and believe me, some won't even know how to answer the question, watch what the senior people do in lab and emulate that. /12

Be visible in the lab. If the PI and/or mentor are around from 8am to 5pm, this isn't the time to be working nights. People need to see you and interact with you. Your being there translates as "hard working" even if nothing actually works. Do your class work there. /13

Read papers there. Ask people to go for coffee. And try to get something to work. If expectations aren't clear, try aiming for at least one publication quality figure worth of data so when you present at lab meeting on your rotation, you have something solid. /14

Many rotation projects just flop. That's how it goes. But if you've been visible, and part of the group, it won't matter. If you haven't been visible and part of the group, it will seem like you didn't try hard enough. Regardless, present your project and the background well. /15

Try to be part of the lab. Ask questions at group meeting. Read the paper for journal club. Do something that shows you are a good lab citizen. And if the atmosphere isn't great in said lab, you'll know it, because you were present and involved and can choose accordingly. /16

When I was rotating, I had almost no lab experience. So I watched what the other rotating students did and emulated that. This wasn't a great strategy. My postdoc mentor had been away once and when she returned she said, "Did you talk about your work in group meeting?" /17

I was horrified! Of course not! I was lowly grad student and the other rotation student didn't, nor did she ask questions. My mentor kindly said, "That's not the example to follow. You should speak up. You should ask questions. It shows superstar PI you care." Lesson learned /18

And even if you figure out on day 2 the lab isn't going to be a good fit for you, make the best impression you can. Again, because people talk and notice and you want to be noticed for being a respectful, hard-working scientist. /19

You aren't an undergraduate student anymore, so their academic calendar doesn't automatically apply to you. If you run off for spring break as a first-year, and the program expected you would use that time to move your rotation project forward, it doesn't reflect well on you./20

"Wait. I can't have vacation and be a professional?" Of course you can. But ask what the expectations are. Ask the Director of Graduate Studies in your department - "Do students typically vacation during spring break?" and they should tell you if that is so. Ask ask ask. /21

"So are you saying I need to work all the time, be miserable, and never take time off?" - Emphatically, no. You need time off. You need balance. Invest in developing your time management skills and figure out how to get class work and lab work done and then - recharge. Daily. /22

And also remember, most first years are either just out of college, or only a year or two out. Not always, but typically in their early twenties. And I'm not going to lie, this isn't an easy time in life period. The rules have changed. The structure of college is gone. /23

Some people are getting married, other are ending their college relationships. You may be moving away from friends, family, or even the country you grew up in. No matter what profession you choose, your twenties are full of ups and downs. /24

Be kind to yourself and to your classmates. I think everyone should seek counseling, just to deal with being in your twenties, let alone dealing with the pressure of graduate school, imposter syndrome, and everything else. Don't think counseling is a bad thing. /25

Try not to make decisions when you are sad or scared or feeling really low. Your brain longs not to be those things and suddenly drastic options seem very attractive. Find support networks, friend, peers, mentors. Find people to help you keep perspective and normalize life. /26

And once you're past that first year, and settled into a lab, you can be a bit more flexible about when you work. But if you are a morning owl and your PI isn't, be sure to overlap with them for some of their schedule. Work hard and play hard. /27

You'll make some of your best friends for life in graduate school and beyond. Many of you will find life partners. There are reasons why us older PIs look back on grad school and postdocs with rose colored glasses. There were wonderful things that occurred! /28

I've rambled long enough so I'll close with - try to enjoy it. Learn, experience, research, and enjoy being part of the larger network of scientists. You belong here. You can succeed. You can do this. /29x

Ugh "unable"