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[aodnejoch]

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[labscience]

Book office hours if your PI offers them, say hi when (if) they come through the lab, and go to lab bonding events! (Mine had a yearly barbecue). I focused mainly on getting to know my grad student though, because I knew my PI would ask him to contribute anecdotes or opinions to my LOR, which made it a lot more personal.

 

[curbsideconsult]

Makes sense. I guess I'm slightly hesitant because my grad student is an international student who doesn't speak English very well, so I'm not sure if I would want them writing a LOR for me and having the PI cosign it.

Where did you get that @labscience 's grad student wrote the LOR with the PI cosigning?

Also, level of skill in written English and spoken English are two different things. I've known many a student who's taken 5+ years of Spanish, received all As, and still only know how to say "yo quiero Taco Bell." I'm not even sure they know what it means anymore.

 

[thankthegodsforbessie]

try to be in the lab for 1-2 years. Say "hi how are you" every time you see your PI

 

[Glaucous]

Stay in the lab for a while. Maybe I just got lucky with my PI, but respond to emails if they send them. Go to lab meetings. Take initiative and try to branch off into a being more independent student. Ask to meet with them. Overall, just be more involved in the lab.