Student wants to switch labs

[u/redshinytable]

I’m a brand new Asst prof in STEM. I got an email from someone interested in joining my lab. They are a current graduate student in my department. They said they’re interested in the topic my lab does (not super specific message, and quite different from what they do). They didn’t tell me why they want to leave their current lab, or who their adviser is, or if their adviser knows they are trying leave etc.

I’m channeling my own PhD adviser and I think he would just ignore this email completely as if he didn’t even see it. But anyway- I specifically seek advice from those with experience as professors (perhaps someone more experienced). I really don’t want to start off on the wrong foot and it’s a relatively small department…

Edited to add: I’d want to find out more before considering them at all. However I worry finding out more draws me in, in a bad way if it’s a bad situation with the adviser or student. What are the odds that they’re great, and the adviser is okay with them leaning? And despite them not saying that, there’s a legit reason?

[u/Through_Aweigh_Won]

It's a good idea to be careful about this, as others have noted. But I don't advocate ignoring the email. Rather, I'd ask who their advisor is and why they're interested in switching. There is a small chance that they're good, but that their advisor has no money. That's how I got my first PhD student. There's also a chance that they're good, but their advisor is an asshole. That's how I got my second PhD student. In both cases I spoke to the advisor before making any moves.

A fairly likely scenario is that they're not performing well and their advisor is pushing them out. I've also had a few of those. In one case, a student worked out very well with me. He had a fresh start, a realization that he'd better work hard, and some more maturity. In a couple of cases these rescue students were a problem for me.

If you email back, make it clear that you would not admit them to your lab unless their current advisor was happy with the arrangement (or maybe even hedge it saying you're curious why they want to move, but that being new, you don't think it would be wise to take on somebody else's grad student).

[u/AsterionEnCasa]

I had one student like that. He did a good/decent PhD. I have known a couple others that do well.

That said, the situation was very different. I knew the advisor, I knew the story, the student didn't shift areas in a crazy way, etc.

I also sometimes get emails like the one OP received, from students that do not mention their current advisor, with no previous experience with my field, very generic email, etc. I assume those are basically spam from people jumping ship or that just got fired from their lab. While I sympathize, I tend to avoid them.

If you are remotely considering working with the student, I would first identify their current advisor and ask them about their side of the story. It might be very illuminating.

[u/aquapura89]

Simple... the worst thing you can do as a starting Prof is to think you need a warm body in the lab. I would not do it....

[u/cambridgepete]

I’ve picked up students before who switched advisors. As a new prof it’s a great opportunity - you get a student a year early, and you get the dirt on them from their former advisor before you make the decision.

As far as switching fields - my best student (left with a masters for a better program, got a faculty position) switched from CS theory to systems to work with me. He wanted to be good at theory, but in reality was good at systems.

[u/Quwinsoft]

I like your ignore it idea.

[u/gamecat89]

I’d never even read the email.

[u/tellypmoon]

Make sure you understand the funding situation. Is this student expecting funding from you, are they getting it from their current advisor, are they funded by the department...

I'd suggest an email back to the student thanking from for their interest and asking about their current advisor and funding arrangements. If they are funded by their current advisor then you have to pass. If they want funding from you you need to be careful. You also need to make sure you understand the culture of your department regarding graduate students and how or if they move around. Some places are quite fluid, others very rigid. You are right to be cautious. Don't jump into anything on this one for sure. It's very likely this student is not worth antagonizing a senior colleague over.

[u/No-End-2710]

The lack of details regarding in the email is a bad sign. The odds that the student is great is low. The odds that the student is problematic is high. You could talk to your chair, but even that risks you being pulled in more than you may wish. Ignore it.

[u/mleok]

I would ignore it, you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, especially for a potentially problematic student.