Okay to refer to professor by first name?

[TooMuchResearch]

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I am talking about my research project in some secondary essays. Is it okay to refer to my professor/research advisor by her first name, or do I need to use Professor So-and-So? She is the type of professor who, in person, definitely prefers to be addressed by her first name.

 

[DrYoda]

I am talking about my research project in some secondary essays. Is it okay to refer to my professor/research advisor by her first name, or do I need to use Professor So-and-So? She is the type of professor who, in person, definitely prefers to be addressed by her first name.

Since your secondary readers won't know this I would use "Dr. So-and-so"

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Since your secondary readers won't know this I would use "Dr. So-and-so"

Alright, but only because I believe in DrYoda. Just don't tell Dr. So-and-So.

 

[DrYoda]

Alright, but only because I believe in DrYoda. Just don't tell Dr. So-and-So.

 

[Maxx4]

Use her title. Professor or Dr. So and So.

 

[Omni]

I'd have my students refer to me as "Mr. Dr. Prof. Sir Omni"

 

[ILikeDrugs]

If she wants to be called by her first name, you should call her by her first name. To not do so would be rude and probably annoying to her. I really don't like the idea of someone calling me by a title followed by my last name. I just want to be called by my first name. Everywhere. I'll also allow people to call me Master. 😎

 

[shemarty]

Call your PI by her first name when you're talking to her. Refer to her as Dr. ___ when you're writing about her in your med school application.

 

[schrizto]

Yeah, refer to your PI as Professor or Dr. ______. It sounds more professional.

 

[amph119]

I called my PI by his first name all of the time. However, not only does calling them Prof/Dr ____ sound more professional, calling them by their first name in an application sounds unprofessional.

 

[QofQuimica]

Call your PI by her first name when you're talking to her. Refer to her as Dr. ___ when you're writing about her in your med school application.

Agree. I did the exact same thing with my PI.

OP, there are lots of situations like this where it's fine to call someone by their first name in a casual context, but not in a professional one. For example, I call some of my attendings and all of my residents by their first names when we're talking amongst ourselves. But when I'm talking to them in front of patients, I always call them Dr. ___. I've even seen some of the attendings address the residents and each other as Dr. ___ in front of patients or students. Similarly, I don't call the admissions dean by first name in front of the interviewing students, even though we're on a first name basis otherwise. You catch the drift.

 

[URHere]

I would agree that the formal title is the best way to go on this one. First of all, it sounds more professional. Secondly, it is very unusual for students to call their superiors by their first names in some parts of the country, and it could draw some attention that you don't want. Where I grew up and worked, it was a huge no-no...and I still have trouble calling my PIs and professors by their first names.

Play it safe.

 

[MasonPrehealth]

 

[schrizto]

haha, I've seen that one before! PhD comics rocks!

 

[Disinence2]

You can just say "PI" a name is pretty irrelevant in your personal statment