Disclaimer: Everything on this page is my (Prof. Armani’s) opinion. This information in no way guarantees admission to graduate school, success finding a faculty position, or success as a faculty member. However, I am asked for advice often enough that I have compiled the documents below. Even before my posting, some of these files have been circulated to others and re-posted on other websites. Therefore, I felt that I should take official ownership and post them on my own website. Additionally, not all of the advice below can be applied to other disciplines outside of engineering, such as Biology (or History).
I have tried to organize them into four categories: Undergraduate, Graduate, Faculty Search, and Asst Professor. However, there are overlaps between the categories. Specifically, if you are a graduate student looking for a faculty position, all information relating to faculty searches is listed under faculty search. Therefore, check the items in the other sections to make sure there isn’t anything helpful there as well.
Best of luck in whatever type of position you are pursuing and feel free to contact me for additional advice at any point.
Information (click on the folder to see a list of documents):
- 1. Undergraduate Students
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2. Graduate (PhD) Students
- PhD programs/advisors Questions
- Example individual meeting slides (pdf)
- Example individual meeting slides (ppt)
- Applying to PhD programs (slides)
- PhD program application process (checklist)
- Article from Science on Advisor-Advisee Relationship
- Article from EMBO on Authoring
- Checklist/Flow Chart for Choosing a School for a PhD
- How to choose a school (slides)
- Nature's guide for mentors
- PhD Process by D Callahan, IEEE
- How to write a useful peer-review
- Writing a Personal Statement
- 3. Faculty Search
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4. Asst. Professorhood
- Armani Lab Files
- GRExit_slides(pdf)
- GRExit_slides(ppt)
- Example individual meeting slides (pdf)
- Example individual meeting slides (ppt)
- Armani Lab Criteria for Authorship
- Faculty Application and Lab start-up process (presentation slides)
- Article from Science on Advisor-Advisee Relationship
- Article from EMBO on Authoring
- Grant proposal writing tips/hints
- Nature's guide for mentors
- How to write a useful peer-review
In addition, there are numerous videos on our YouTube channel (the workshops may be particularly helpful) discussing these points that you may find helpful. This channel includes videos from a Virtual PhD Workshop held in April 2020. The workshop included multiple panels of faculty and recent PhD graduates from across the US. There is also a Facebook Live video hosted by OSA (presentation starts around minute 23).
Armani Lab Protocols: The majority of Armani Lab protocols (taper pulling, resonant cavity fabrication) are posted on our YouTube Channel. If you have follow-up questions, please email.
Armani Lab Files: This zip folder contains several files that establish the culture and management of the Armani lab. In no specific order:
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Generic timeline for PhD Thesis and Defense: This reviews the timeline for writing and defending a thesis so that students start early enough and I don’t end up being handed a thesis to read in only 1 weekend. As indicated, this is a “generic” timeline. I meet with every student to customize the timeline for their thesis. We also adjust the order (and number) of chapters for their research. In some cases, appendices may also be added. Note: I do not read the acknowledgements section. I feel that this section should be the student’s words only.
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Volume I_undergrad and Volume I_grad: This is a guidebook which is given to all students (undergrads and grads) and post-docs when they enter the lab. It contains relevant information pertaining to research and lab management, purchasing/reimbursement procedures, manuscript preparation and authorship, graduation requirements, vacation/sick days, etc. Basically, everything a new student needs to know in one place, and it sets the policies in my lab.
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Plan_1: I ask students (especially new students) to write gant charts as an exercise in project management and strategic thinking. We have a template. This is an example of the template filled out.
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Entering undergrad and Entering grad students: These are on-boarding checklists to make sure that I don’t forget anything.
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External User Authorization: This is the authorization form for non-lab users to use our equipment. We have a similar form for lab users.
- Lab Evaluation and Self-Evaluation: We do annual evaluations that begin with the research group member performing a self-evaluation and end with a discussion based on my review of their self-eval and my evaluation.
- Lab survey: This annual anonymous survey performed by the group members is used to evaluate the culture and climate as well as the research facilities of the lab, the dept, and the school as well as my ability as a mentor and advisor. After the survey is completed, we dedicate a group meeting to discuss any issues that become apparent.
Additional Armani Lab files (that I didn’t include in the folder, but that have been subsequently requested):
- 2021 Lab survey: This is the 2021 lab survey that included extra questions to probe the climate in the lab during COVID-19. File in word or pdf.
In addition, Darren Lipomi has done a ton of interviews with faculty and students about grad school/faculty life and posted them on his YouTube channel. It is a great resource.