Expectations for Research Students

Some topics for expectations

• Time (yours and theirs)
• Authorship
• Equipment and safety
• Level of professionalism: dress code and more

General consensus about expectations

• Faculty need to think through and articulate expectations
• Need to make expectations clear to students
• One way to do that is to make an agreement that every incoming research student signs
• Expectations can be communicated orally or in writing
• Expectations may need to be revisited at some time
• High variability of specific expectations
• Many students don't understand that a product is required in exchange for salary
• Undergraduates may not realize how much time they are expected to commit and how much time research requires

Specific ideas participants may try

• Weekly meetings with students
• Put a price tag on every piece of equipment
• Before advisor signs off on dissertation, students need to let him/her know where data are stored