Having an excellent mentor is crucial to optimizing your doctoral program. In addition to your course work a significant amount of learning occurs in interaction within laboratory and research settings with your mentor. This one-on-one interaction is best when the mentor and student have a compatible personality and similar interests. To pick a mentor first look for someone with a similar interest by looking through the faculty profiles; then read their papers. Once you have found someone who looks compatible, call that person and discuss your interest in the Ph.D. program. Finally, visit the program so you can get to know them and other faculty members as well as the general program facilities and environment. If you do not have a firm research goal, and many new students do not, talk to several individuals on the faculty and we can help you focus your interest areas. The person you choose as a mentor is important as he/she will help guide your application through the system.

If you would like more information about our Ph.D. program, contact:
Kim Oller, Ph.D.
901-678-5800
koller@memphis.edu