This document is meant explain how I approach mentorship and what members of my group can expect from me, and vice-versa.

My Mentorship Philosophy

I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to advising. My goal is to meet students where they are at — I recognize that every person arrives with a different background, set of strengths, and way of working. What I care most about is helping those that work with me become independent, critical thinkers of the world. I want students to leave my group not just with a degree, but with the ability to ask interesting questions about the world and pursue them rigorously. I am not focused on maximizing publication count. I want students to do work that they are genuinely proud of.

What Students Will Learn

By the end of a students’ time in my group, my aim is for them to have mastered the full arc of scientific research: how to identify a compelling and tractable question, how to design and carry out a project to address it, and how to see that project through to completion — including learning the technical skills required along the way. These are the foundations for a successful research career, whether in academia, industry, government, or elsewhere.

The PhD Timeline at Cornell

The Cornell EAS PhD program is structured around three major milestones, and it is important to understand the requirements and goals of each one.

The first year is primarily devoted to coursework. Students will take classes that build the broad foundation they need, and the year culminates in the Qualifying Exam (Q Exam), which assesses a students’ general scientific preparation and allows for their committee to create a plan that sets the student up for success.

The next two years shift toward research. The student will spend this time developing ideas and performing research, and this period ends with the A Exam (Admission to Candidacy), which evaluates the students’ research ability and formally advances them to doctoral candidacy.

The final stage of a students’ PhD closes with the B Exam, the Final Examination for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, or the dissertation defense.

Financial support is generally provided for five years, contingent on satisfactory progress.

My Expectations

I expect all members of my group to engage actively with me about their research, to communicate openly with me about challenges, and to be a constructive member of the group. In return, I do my best to provide guidance that is centered on what I believe is best for each student. This means that sometimes I may give a student the space to develop their own scientific voice.