Thoughts on this idea / school recommendations...

[CallMeIshmael]

I graduate this year.

Eventually I want to get a phD in an evolutionary biology/ethology type area.

I plan to take two years off before I do this.


During that time, Id like to work with a couple professors for a relatively short period of time (like 4-6 months). From experience at my school, they seem to be fairly willing to take on assistants, and I hope this is universal.

Basically, this seems like a good idea to

a) get some experience in the field
b) help out with the resume\possible letters of rec
c) see cities I might not otherwise see


Does anyone have any thoughts on this idea? Good, bad?

Also, anyone want to tell me that spending a few months working on their campus is a good idea?



EDIT: to clarify, I dont plan to be working for pay. More along the lines of 15-20 hours per week of volunteering, and playing poker for income.

[Hobbs.]

This sounds like a fine idea and likely a good way to boost your resume.

I'm currently finishing my second year of a PhD at Harvard in atmospheric chemistry and we have had a couple of undergrads and recent grads working in our group since I’ve been here. One of them I believe was from Cornell, graduated a semester early, and was willing to work for 6 months (for free I believe). My guess is you should be able to get a job pretty much anywhere if you are willing to work for free. As long as the a gradate student/post doc thinks you could useful working alongside them, then there is pretty much no reason not to bring you on.

I'd suggest probably spending more than a couple of months at a place though. It would be awesome if you were able to put enough work into a project to warrant getting a publication out of it (which will do wonders for your application to grad school). I guess just find some places with a good program in your field, and in cities you'd be willing to spend more than 6 months in.

[disjunction]

Great idea. Amazing idea. Yes they are willing to take on assistants. Not all, but maybe half. I wish I were as smart as you when I graduated college.