addressing your superiors

[bearma]

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Hi all.... weird question, but I wanted to get feedback on it. I will be doing research this summer with a PhD and an MD. Both are very friendly, laid back people. My question is, what do I refer to them as? Both sign their emails with their first names. Neither has directly told me to call them by their first names. A weird thing also, is that they have both talked about themselves in the third person, as if imitating me asking them a question, as referred to themselves by their first names. I don't want to seem too formal, but also don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Any thoughts?

 

[SocialistMD]

Hi all.... weird question, but I wanted to get feedback on it. I will be doing research this summer with a PhD and an MD. Both are very friendly, laid back people. My question is, what do I refer to them as? Both sign their emails with their first names. Neither has directly told me to call them by their first names. A weird thing also, is that they have both talked about themselves in the third person, as if imitating me asking them a question, as referred to themselves by their first names. I don't want to seem too formal, but also don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Any thoughts?

Are you asking for social skills advice? How do you address your best friend's dad or mom? I've always called them Mr/Mrs. (or, in dealing with PIs/Faculty Dr.) so-and-so until they have told me directly not to. Your faculty probably won't care one way or another, but it is always a safe bet to error on the conservative side until otherwise instructed.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I was always taught to address someone using their surname until advised otherwise. This is the safest tack - if they prefer to be called by their first names, they'll let you know.

 

[sweetpeamd09]

I'd start out calling them Dr. so and so...until they tell you differently. Or just ask them after you start. Good luck, have lots of fun! 😉

Hi all.... weird question, but I wanted to get feedback on it. I will be doing research this summer with a PhD and an MD. Both are very friendly, laid back people. My question is, what do I refer to them as? Both sign their emails with their first names. Neither has directly told me to call them by their first names. A weird thing also, is that they have both talked about themselves in the third person, as if imitating me asking them a question, as referred to themselves by their first names. I don't want to seem too formal, but also don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Any thoughts?

 

[GATORade]

Hi all.... weird question, but I wanted to get feedback on it. I will be doing research this summer with a PhD and an MD. Both are very friendly, laid back people. My question is, what do I refer to them as? Both sign their emails with their first names. Neither has directly told me to call them by their first names. A weird thing also, is that they have both talked about themselves in the third person, as if imitating me asking them a question, as referred to themselves by their first names. I don't want to seem too formal, but also don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Any thoughts?

I would call them Dr. so and so, and allow them to correct me If they would like to be addressed otherwise - Just one man's opinion. 😉

 

[criminallyinane]

Hi all.... weird question, but I wanted to get feedback on it. I will be doing research this summer with a PhD and an MD. Both are very friendly, laid back people. My question is, what do I refer to them as? Both sign their emails with their first names. Neither has directly told me to call them by their first names. A weird thing also, is that they have both talked about themselves in the third person, as if imitating me asking them a question, as referred to themselves by their first names. I don't want to seem too formal, but also don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Any thoughts?

When I am in this situation, I just generally don't call them anything I just say, "Thank you" instead of saying, "Thank you, Bob" or "Thank You, Dr. Smith." When I write emails to these people, I always write, "Dear Dr. Smith", regardless of how they sign their emails to me. Until you know them better, I would just call them Dr. _________, and if after awhile it becomes clear that they prefer you call them by their first name, or if everyone else in the lab at your level calls them by their first names, then I would make the transition. I think everyone thinks about stuff like this and doesn't really know the etiquette 😉 but I err on the side of too formal instead of too informal.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi all.... weird question, but I wanted to get feedback on it. I will be doing research this summer with a PhD and an MD. Both are very friendly, laid back people. My question is, what do I refer to them as? Both sign their emails with their first names. Neither has directly told me to call them by their first names. A weird thing also, is that they have both talked about themselves in the third person, as if imitating me asking them a question, as referred to themselves by their first names. I don't want to seem too formal, but also don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Any thoughts?

Not sure if there is a hard and fast rule, but in general you should address professors, employers and the like as Dr ______ until instructed otherwise. However if you are on a first name basis in emails, as you suggest, you can probably move that into reality without incident. Co-employees are a different story -- If they were within a few years of my age I would certainly not feel wierd using their first name if they used mine.

 

[emusibay]

Yea, this has happened to me quite a bit when PIs seem like they would like you to call them by their first names but don't expressly say it. I just call them Professor so and so until they say "Oh come on now, just call me____". It's awkward when you feel you have a friendly or even rather informal relationship, but then have to call them by their formal title, but they must like it deep down because it takes a while for them to tell their students to cut it out. 🙄

Good luck. 👍

 

[ruwan]

call them Dr. first until corrected or told otherwise by them specifically.

 

[criminallyinane]

Yea, this has happened to me quite a bit when PIs seem like they would like you to call them by their first names but don't expressly say it. I just call them Professor so and so until they say "Oh come on now, just call me____". It's awkward when you feel you have a friendly or even rather informal relationship, but then have to call them by their formal title, but they must like it deep down because it takes a while for them to tell their students to cut it out. 🙄

Good luck. 👍

I think a lot of times when they don't expressly tell you to call them by their first names, they are doing it out of respect for you, i.e., they might think that it would make you uncomfortable to not call them Doctor or Professor. It's probably less about their ego and more about just social norms. Also there are those docs that live and die by the title 🙄