Research LOR Question

[nystargate]

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I'm wondering if I should get 2 LOR's from the lab I currently am doing research in. Here's the situation - I've been in this lab for two years now. First year, did a project with person X and got published. Person X received their PhD after that project was complete. Now I'm working on a completely different project (went from atmospheric to biophysical chemistry) with person Y. For this project, I wrote a proposal and was awarded a fellowship through the school.

Would it be good/bad/doesn't matter to get a letter from person X and the PI? I was planning on asking the PI to focus on what I'm doing now, the fellowship, the new results, etc. so that the two letter's don't sound redundant. What do the mudphuds think?

Also, what's the typical number of LOR's schools are looking for? Like 2 research, 2 professor, 1 non-science?

Much obliged.

 

[Ariodant]

LORs from graduate students don't weigh as much as ones from professors. If you professor doesn't mind, I'd ask him/her to write a long letter including both projects. You can let person X and Y do the drafts on each project, and your PI only needs to write a little additional general praises and sign it off.

 

[ecoli]

I've only had one PI who knows me well enough to write about my research experience. Some schools (AECOM, for example) requires 2 research LORs. My grad student mentor is now a post-doc at columbia... I'm hoping that schools consider this sufficient.

 

[blazinfury]

Just as a side-question, we only need 3 LORs for MD/PhD, correct? If so, is it beneficial to have 2 of them from two separate PIs so that they can attest to the student's knowledge and experience? I ask because I only work with 1 PI. Should I also try to diversify my interests and attempt to maybe collaborate my projects with PIs from other labs so that they can also write me an LOR?

 

[ecoli]

Just as a side-question, we only need 3 LORs for MD/PhD, correct? If so, is it beneficial to have 2 of them from two separate PIs so that they can attest to the student's knowledge and experience? I ask because I only work with 1 PI. Should I also try to diversify my interests and attempt to maybe collaborate my projects with PIs from other labs so that they can also write me an LOR?

alternatively, you can try to get to know your department head/chairperson. If they know about your research, that would probably would be good enough for a second letter (especially if you like your current lab). This is something I regret not donig.

 

[Neuronix]

If you've only worked in 1 lab with 1 PI you can often get this requirement waived. Contact that schools that say you must have 2 PI letters and let us know what they say. In past years this seems to work itself out.