Everyone in grad school has taken on the task of picking the perfect research group at some point. Then some among us had the dubious distinction of choosing the perfect research group twice. Luckily for me, a year of grad research taught me a lot and I found myself asking group members and PIs (primary investigators) very different questions. And luckily for you, I wrote these questions down to share with future generations. My background as an experimental applied physicist showed through initially, so I got Shaun Maguire and Spiros Michalakis to help make it applicable for theorists too, and most of them should be useful outside physics as well.
Questions to break that silence when your potential advisor asks “So, do you have any questions for me?”
– 2a. if yes: How many are you looking to take?
– 2b. if no: Ask them about the department or other professors. They’ve been there long enough to have opinions. Alternatively, ask what kinds of questions they would suggest you ask other PIs
8. How much would you like students to prepare for them?
10. What makes someone a good fit for this group?
And then for the high bandwidth information transfer. Grill the group members themselves, and try to ask more than one group member if you can.
1. How much do you prepare for meetings with PI?
2. How long until people lead their own project? – Equivalently, who’s working on what projects.
3. How much do people on different projects communicate? (only group meeting or every day)
4. Is the PI hands on (how often PI wants to meet with you)?
5. Is the PI accessible (how easily can you meet with the PI if you want to)?
6. What is the average time to graduation? (if it’s important to you personally)
7. Does the group/subgroup have any bonding activities?
8. Do you think I should join this group?
9. What are people’s backgrounds?
10. What makes someone a good fit for this group?
Hope that helps. If you have any other suggested questions, be sure to leave them in the comments.