Asking Professor if they plan on staying

[konst]

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I'm currently a sophomore entering my spring semester and I've been in talks with a new assistant professor of biology at our university. During the fall semester she told me that her research lab will open in the spring, and I'm planning on contacting her soon. Would it be rude to ask her if she's planning on staying at the university for my junior and senior year? Our university frequently turns over professors, and I'll have a professor for one semester for them to be gone the next. Also, I'm guessing it's a no-no to ask them about the funding for their lab. I'm mainly concerned about longevity, as this professor made it very clear that the work involved with the lab will be relatively intensive, and I want to confirm that my efforts won't be for naught. If it isn't too intrusive to ask, what would be the safest way to word these questions?

 

[chaim123]

I'm currently a sophomore entering my spring semester and I've been in talks with a new assistant professor of biology at our university. During the fall semester she told me that her research lab will open in the spring, and I'm planning on contacting her soon. Would it be rude to ask her if she's planning on staying at the university for my junior and senior year? Our university frequently turns over professors, and I'll have a professor for one semester for them to be gone the next. Also, I'm guessing it's a no-no to ask them about the funding for their lab. I'm mainly concerned about longevity, as this professor made it very clear that the work involved with the lab will be relatively intensive, and I want to confirm that my efforts won't be for naught. If it isn't too intrusive to ask, what would be the safest way to word these questions?

While there can be quick overturn of lecturers and instructors, I would think it would be pretty rare for someone to be given lab space at a university just to leave soon thereafter. There's a lot of time and money that goes into opening and managing a lab, and I wouldn't make the assumption that the lab is going to close within the year. Additionally, it may not be in the professor's control if the lab stays open or gets shut due to administrative or funding concerns. Doesn't seem like a fruitful conversation to me.

 

[Sleepingdoc]

I'm currently a sophomore entering my spring semester and I've been in talks with a new assistant professor of biology at our university. During the fall semester she told me that her research lab will open in the spring, and I'm planning on contacting her soon. Would it be rude to ask her if she's planning on staying at the university for my junior and senior year? Our university frequently turns over professors, and I'll have a professor for one semester for them to be gone the next. Also, I'm guessing it's a no-no to ask them about the funding for their lab. I'm mainly concerned about longevity, as this professor made it very clear that the work involved with the lab will be relatively intensive, and I want to confirm that my efforts won't be for naught. If it isn't too intrusive to ask, what would be the safest way to word these questions?

Why does it matter if she stays with the university? If you are interested in a research lab, just ask her that you are interested..., if she is still there, then she will let you research there, if not just figure it out then.

 

[GreenDuck12]

I'm currently a sophomore entering my spring semester and I've been in talks with a new assistant professor of biology at our university. During the fall semester she told me that her research lab will open in the spring, and I'm planning on contacting her soon. Would it be rude to ask her if she's planning on staying at the university for my junior and senior year? Our university frequently turns over professors, and I'll have a professor for one semester for them to be gone the next. Also, I'm guessing it's a no-no to ask them about the funding for their lab. I'm mainly concerned about longevity, as this professor made it very clear that the work involved with the lab will be relatively intensive, and I want to confirm that my efforts won't be for naught. If it isn't too intrusive to ask, what would be the safest way to word these questions?

An assistant professor is a tenure track position. Receiving tenure is a long process that involves producing research, teaching classes, student and faculty evaluations, etc. competition for tenure track positions is pretty fierce so many folks don’t leave unless a better offer comes along (tenure or more institutional support). If your professor is getting a lab up in running that is an indication that they are progressing through the process and have some funding available to take these initial steps.

Asking those questions, IMO, would be too intrusive and I would highly encourage you against doing so. If you did ask, it is unlikely that the professor would share their plans, even if they were considering leaving, and funding is always a question as it largely depends on grants and receiving them every year/few years. Take the lab gig, gain the experience. Worst thing that happens is your PI leaves in a year and you ask them for a recommendation to get a position in a different lab.

 

[Tenk]

If they are opening a lab ofc they plan to stay there. Learn to read between the lines.

 

[longhaul3]

If the lab is NIH funded you can probably find information about the grant online.

grantome.com

 

[deleted972488]

It is fairly common for PIs to change institutions. However, this is usually done after they are established, around 10 or so years after they start the lab. In my opinion, it isn't taboo to ask about the lab's funding, but it's also not really something you should be concerned about as an undergraduate.