switching departments in grad school?

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@Oyama

If you’re that flustered, I don’t think it’s time to start applying to Ph.D. programs just yet

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<p>After doing a few internships, I’ve decided that I definitely want a career in research</p>

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@cosmicfish

First of all, actually switching from one department to another in grad school is exceedingly difficult - you often need to apply all over again, and this time they will be prejudiced against you! </p>

<p>Secondly, it is not at all uncommon to have an advisor in a different department. A lot of grad study is interdisciplinary, and some areas can be approached from multiple directions. The advice I was given is that your “home” department should describe at least half of what you are doing, as well as the direction of your research. </p>

<p>For example, if you are looking at computational physics as a physics PhD-candidate you will be focusing on the physics side of things, using the computational science to answer physics questions, and those questions will really be the core of your research while the program is just the tool. Conversely, looking at the same issue as a CompSci candidate you will focus on the process and the algorithms.

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<p>Yes, I want to focus more on the physics side of things (as I really liked Quantum mechanics, especially all the linear algebra. But I didn’t really like E&M) and just use computational science/applied math to answer the physics questions. But I don’t have a specific interest in physics. It ranges from solid-state to lasers to CFD. But CFD is a research area in applied math and AE departments, not physics. But CFD is used in plasma physics. But I’ve seen some applied math/computational science departments that have research in all those areas above because they have profs from AE, materials, physics, and other departments. So thats why I thought applying to those applied math programs were the best fit</p>

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@momwaitingfornew

To elaborate on what cosmicfish has said: generally, your advisor is in your home department, but you may add another professor, in a different department, as a secondary advisor. The role of the primary/departmental advisor is to make sure you answer important questions in the program’s field, even if your research is interdisciplinary. For example, you can’t get a PhD in Physics if your work is of primary interest to computer scientists – or vice versa.

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<p>What if an prof is part of an AE department but is also listed in an applied math dept? His webpage mentions that he is just part of the AE department?</p>

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@momwaitingfornew

For this reason, you should consider the direction of your career. Chances are, you are going to branch out from your dissertation work into related areas of your field. Your colleagues and graduate students will be in that field. Do you want that basis to be physics, math, computer science, or engineering? Your broad interests will serve you well when approaching research since often scientists have to draw on other knowledge sets to arrive at innovative approaches; however, you need to decide where you want the depth.

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<p>I’d like my basis to be in physics or engineering, but if I had to choose, then probably physics as its more theoretical. If chances are that I’m going to branch out from my dissertation work, then I guess AE isn’t the right choice for me as the only area of research there that interests me is CFD and maybe propulsion</p>