The Unofficial Guide to BME Rotations

A compilation of student experiences brought to you by the GSC

General Format
  • Students are expected to do 3 rotations (4 if in QBP), usually 1 in the Fall semester and 2 in the Spring.
  • The duration of the rotation varies, but is typically 6-8 weeks. It can be flexible to your schedule/project so discuss expected timelines with the professor.
What to Expect
  • It is on you as the individual to make the most of your rotations — this is where you need to take all the initiative and create rotations that are productive and fruitful for you.
  • You may not get to rotate with the people you initially wanted to rotate with, and even if you do you might not join their lab in the end. There may not be enough funding, the lab may not have been a good fit, or you may have found another lab that was a better fit.
  • Depending on the lab, you may or may not have a “mentor” (current grad student or post-doc) who works with you. If you think you’ll need guidance on a project, make sure to ask about this upfront when you initially meet with the professor.
Rotation Purposes
  • The main point of rotations is to find a lab that is the best fit for you. This means you find a research group that aligns with your research interests and has the lab culture that works best for you.
    • Do you want your PI to be very hands-on, very hands-off, or somewhere in between?
    • Are you able to communicate with your PI? This is key, and if you don’t feel comfortable addressing problems in your rotation, you won’t be able to address problems later.
    • Do you prefer a larger lab or smaller lab? This may influence lab dynamic, lab/personnel resources, and how often you interact with your PI.
    • Do you like the people you will be working with? It is often easier to change a project than your lab environment.
  • If you already have a lab that you know you’re going to join, you can use rotations as a way to gain new research skills and learn new research techniques. You can also use rotations as a way to build up collaborations and/or relationships with faculty that you may want to be on your thesis committee.
How to Find Professors/Labs
  • Reach out to professors to schedule a meeting to discuss starting a rotation.
  • Look on the BU BME website and check out lab websites to get an idea of what labs are working on. However, note that research projects on websites may not always be up to date.
  • Talk to older grad students about their experiences and projects. Come to the BME Student Seminars to hear about current student work.
  • Attend BE 791 to hear from professors about their on-going projects.
What to Talk About When Looking for Rotations
  • Ask if the PI is looking to take on new PhD students during the upcoming year. This should be a yes or no (no funding, other circumstances), but an unclear answer might be a warning sign.
  • Funding – Discuss funding frequently. PI’s are generally upfront about the funding situation in their labs. Unless you have your own, this essentially makes or breaks whether or not you can join a lab if they are rotating people; explore all possible avenues of funding. Apply for external fellowships (e.g. NSF GRFP) and internal fellowships (check BU Fellowships and ENG Fellowships) during your rotation; it’s okay to ask for their help. Also remember that grants get funded throughout the year, so check back with professors often to see if there is any change in status that will enable them to take on another student.
  • Expectations – Clarify the expectations of your rotation. Different professors have different thoughts on what a rotation should be. It is in your best interest to get an understanding of what they are looking for up front, especially if it’s one of your top-choice labs. This can include:
    • Timelines: how many weeks is the rotation?
    • Projects: is there a particular experimental goal, or are you just shadowing a grad student?
    • Will you have a presentation at the end?
    • How many times during your rotation will you meet with the professor?
  • Collaborations – if there is an existing collaboration, professors will recruit for it, but if you’re interested in making a new collaboration, it might take some convincing, so bring it up early!
Other Advice
  • Be sure to attend social events hosted by the BME department, the BME GSC, SAGE, and GWISE so that you can get to know older grad students and learn from them. This informal mentorship can be very useful as you start the program.
  • If you find yourself frustrated or needing more support/mentorship, don’t be afraid to ask. The whole point of a rotation is to give you and the lab an idea if you’re a good fit, so communication is key. Make sure to reach out to other grad students or the PI if you need help.
  • Talk to as many older grad students in the lab as possible to get a sense of the lab culture and whether it works for you. This will be your work family for the next several years, so make sure it’s a good fit.
  • Don’t forget to wrap up each rotation by talking with the PI about your potential interest (or lack of) in joining the lab and next steps. While professors may not be able to commit to anything until May, it doesn’t hurt to indicate your enthusiasm; make sure to follow up towards the end of the year. You might want to tap on these professors to be on your thesis committee down the road, so it doesn’t hurt to build the connection early.
  • Branch out! Rotations are a great way to get some experience that is different from your previous research, and you might end up really liking it.