<p>does it make a difference to do research with a professor vs a Ph.D candidate?</p>
<p>research is research, and what matters most is what you get out of it. the only reason the credentials of your research mentor might count is with LORs.</p>
<p>If you’re asking whether it’s better to have your own project or work with a PhD candidate, then it’s probably better to have your own project.</p>
<p>Everyone technically does research with a professor since they’re the PI’s.</p>
<p>The credentials of your research mentor would really matter only in a very research-heavy school that was specifically interested in your future career as a researcher. This would matter only in two situations, basically: (1) an MSTP application, or (2) a situation where you were clearly aiming for a career that was dominantly research-based.</p>