This is one of the most important decisions of a student's graduate career. The advisor shapes the direction of the student's career and provides the environment in which the student carries out their Ph.D. research. Each advisor has a unique approach to the training of Ph.D. students and it is the student's responsibility to discover the advisor's philosophy of mentorship during each research rotation. One way to obtain information about the advisor is to contact the previous students and postdoctoral fellows. Do not rely on the opinions of a single person since one viewpoint may not accurately reflect an advisor's mentorship abilities. The advisor must have extramural funding sufficient to support the student's research supplies as well as the student's GRA position. Select a research advisor.