Almost three months are over and I am still not able to decide whom to choose as my research guide. Today I talked to almost all faculties in Operations. Now, I have to give 3 names as my guide's preference and the final name will be decided by the HoD, which is usually the one whom you have given your first preference. According to S. E. Widnall, past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science - "The adviser is the primary gatekeeper for the professional self-esteem of the student, the rate of progress toward the degree, and access to future opportunities". Generally, the following points should be kept in mind while choosing a guide.
- What is your research area? Does it match with the research area of the professor? If there are more than one such professors, see who is having a well defined research problem. Because an already well defined research problem will save your time. - This should be the most important criteria.
- How are his past students performing? What is his expectations from his students in terms of no. of journal papers? How much time his past students have taken to graduate? Some professors have inherent tendency of delaying your degree irrespective of how good you are doing. It is always good to avoid such professors.
- Should you choose a senior professor or a very young assistant professor? - Now there is a trade-off. Young professors usually give more time to you, they will be helping a lot and be very friendly to you. Senior professors are so busy and inaccessible, that most of the time you will be feeling helpless. Depending upon their reputation, their research expectations from you will be very high and it further increases your pain. However, senior professors always have very good contacts and it will be very easy for you to get a good placement after graduation, which is a bit difficult in case of working with an young professor.
Now I think I have done enough research on this, it's time to finalize the names. I am going to submit the 3 names tomorrow in the HoD Office.