<p>Wow, I’m really glad I’ve found this site. I’ve soaked up a lot of information on applying to grad school that I really had no idea about. I have a question that I couldn’t find an answer for with search, so I thought I’d go ahead and give it a go with a post.</p>
<p>I’ll be applying to Mathematics PhD programs next year. To be brief, I’m very interested in a couple of schools due to their proximity to a non-profit organization with a research position I would be very interested in and might qualify for.</p>
<p>Given that my program would be funded, I’m not sure what the ethics would be regarding this situation. I know that people–somebody, the government, I’m not sure–would be essentially paying me to research/study. Is this an exclusive arrangement? Additionally, would I likely have the flexibility to integrate my PhD program with the research I’d be pursuing through the organization?</p>
<p>Thanks for reading this, and for your help.</p>
<p>This is a question that is probably best addressed to individual programs, as different programs may have different rules about outside work.</p>
<p>It’s possible that you could arrange your math PhD thesis research essentially be the research at the non-profit – my fiance, for example, will complete his master’s by working on a thesis project at his office, but will receive his degree and take classes at the school next door. This program is already set up, though, and he didn’t have to orchestrate the partnership between the company and the school.</p>
<p>If you mean that you want to do the PhD program and the outside research concurrently, I wouldn’t be surprised if the school objects. Many graduate programs have rules about outside work, as they expect the program to be your (more than) full-time job.</p>
<p>to add on to mollies statement, the ‘outside employment’ question is usually addressed in a universitys graduate school catalog.</p>
<p>my school, for example, does not prohibit graduate students from maintaining outside jobs, but it certainly is frowned upon at the departmental level. in fact, outside employment is specifically exempted from the non-discrimination statement on the awarding of assistantships, meaning you can be denied an assistantship simply for holding another (non-university) job. as such, if you do decide to go this route, make your intentions clear from the beginning.</p>
<p>the other issue, of course, is the absolutely INSANE amount of work you would be undertaking by holding a research position at a non-profit in addition to fulfilling the initial requirements of a graduate mathematics program (attaining candidacy). unless youre ready to pass your exams now, watch out. i started full-fledged graduate duties a few weeks ago and can say that this is the first free time ive had all week. of course, im too tired to do anything other than sit in my comfy computer chair and stare at my computer screen, but it feels good nonetheless.</p>
<p>Well, like moths unto the flame, I guess, I’m looking forward to it.</p>
<p>So it sounds like I might be best off just talking to them in the hopes of finding a place for some of their concerns in my research, rather than actually seeking a position. They’re a fairly small outfit, might be able to make something like that work.</p>