Question on Rotations

[bahraini]

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Here is a question: I guess its more suited for current MSTPs

>> In general, what are the goals of an MSTP rotation? That is, how did you know that you had rotated in a lab for long enough to get a good feel?
>> How long are they expected to last?
>> How often do MSTPs do rotations during the school year (during M1, M2)

Anybody going to Southwestern? I need a roommate.

bahraini

 

[Neuronix]

The goals of a rotation are for you to learn a technique or two and get a feel for whether or not this is the lab in which you want to do your thesis. Even if you have decided where you want to do your thesis, a rotation helps you to learn more techniques that may be outside your lab and get a broader viewpoint on science. Publications during rotations are rare. They happen, but it is not a normal goal.

The expectations for rotations vary widely by program. Some require 2 rotations, while others require 3. They are usually expected to last 4 - 6 weeks full-time, but some extend that out to 8 weeks. It totally depends on how much time you have to dedicate to the rotation and the policy of the school.

Rotations during the school year are frowned upon by most programs because most programs agree that part-time rotations are bad due to daily time constraints. If you are really serious about doing things during the M1/M2 year, many programs will allow you to take graduate school classes or work in the lab you rotated in before M1.