Guiding Questions for Lab Rotations

Use these questions as a guide to get the most out of your lab rotation. You can choose to explicitly ask lab members these questions, or use them a guide as you observe the lab environment during your rotation. You will likely discover the answers to many of these questions without explicitly asking. Again, this is not meant to stress anyone out, but meant to get you thinking about how to find the lab that’s the best fit for you!

  • Where do most people end up after graduating from this lab? (academia, industry, government, etc.)
  • Do people from this lab get “good” jobs/post doc positions? Are there opportunities for networking with alumni?
  • Does the PI have connections (in academia, industry, etc.) that could help in the future?
  • How does project development work? Are you given a project or do you help develop your project?
  • What projects are currently available to work on?
  • Typically, how much time do you spend in lab (wet lab) vs. out of lab (literature review, data analysis, etc.)?
  • Any lab specific graduation requirements (papers, years, etc.)?
  • Is there an expectation on how many hours you should be spending in lab each week? Are there set times you need to be in lab? Or is it task based?
  • Is there a lab vacation policy that is separate from the Graduate School? How many days off do you get a year? How do you communicate this with your PI?
  • How often do you have one on one meetings with PI?
  • How available is your PI? Are they easy to contact/meet with if needed?
  • What do group meetings look like in your lab?
  • Are there other meetings in addition to formal group meetings?
  • Are there formal write-ups and how often?
  • How do you feel after meeting with your PI (confused, inspired, neutral, etc.)?
  • Is there physical space in the lab for me (ex. hood space, bench space, a desk)? If not, are any students close to graduation? How would the lab adjust to accommodate new students?
  • Is there funding available for me?
  • Is the lab well-funded? Do members typically have to TA beyond first year?
  • Is the PI more hands-off or hands-on?
  • What is the PI’s communication style? How are expectations communicated by PI? How is feedback given by the PI?
  • What is the lab culture? How do the students typically interact with each other?
  • How do you learn things in the lab? From PI or older graduate students? What does mentorship look like in this lab (older graduate student with newer grad student)?
  • What made you choose this lab?
  • What is your favorite part about being in your lab?
  • If you could change anything about your lab, what would you change?
  • Are there group jobs in your lab (ordering, safety, party planning) ? How are these assigned?
  • Are there opportunities for undergraduate mentorship in your lab?
  • How are preliminary/ propositional exams (department requirements) handled in this lab? Do students feel supported by their PI?
  • What does the first semester after affiliation look like? Will I be expected to make research progress while I am still in classes and TAing?
  • What classes does the PI like their students to take?
  • Does the PI allow/encourage students to participate in different certificate programs (Pharmacological Training Program, Nanoscience Certificate Program, Certificate in College Teaching, etc.) or concurrent degrees?
  • Does the lab have a history of students getting certain fellowships? (NSF GRFP, NDSEG, etc.) How hands-on is the PI during the application process?