Guidelines and Expectations for Graduate Students

Research Program of Dr. Qianwen Guo

Welcome to Florida State University's graduate school! I am delighted that you have
chosen to work with me as your collaborator and advisor during your graduate studies. I
eagerly anticipate a productive and rewarding advisor-student relationship with you. My
sincere hope is to assist you in achieving your career goals. As your advisor, I intend to
treat you as a junior colleague, fostering an environment of collaboration and growth.

This document is designed to provide you with essential guidelines for navigating your
graduate school journey and conducting research within my program. It aims to facilitate
your progression toward becoming an independent and accomplished scientist.

1. Research Philosophy and Attitude

Research demands both creative thinking and the bravery to venture into uncharted
territories. Through your research endeavors, you will uncover numerous facets of
science independently, a journey that will yield substantial rewards and equip you with
invaluable skills. These skills encompass professionalism, adeptness in technical writing
and presentation, fearlessness in addressing technical challenges, and an overarching
capacity for innovative thinking.

As a newly admitted graduate student, it is paramount that you actively engage in the
exploration of research ideas. I do not anticipate you to assume a passive role,
expecting knowledge to be bestowed upon you. Science is an exhilarating expedition,
one that thrives on the excitement of unraveling mysteries. Embracing the multitude of
"whys" should form an integral part of your personal research philosophy and attitude.

2. Navigating Time Management and Work Commitments

Mastering time management is an essential skill to cultivate in the upcoming months,
particularly if you've faced personal challenges in this area before. I'm quite flexible
when it comes to allowing you to choose your own working hours, but I do have a strong
expectation that deadlines will be met without exception. Consequently, some of you
may find yourselves working late into the night to accomplish a task, while others might
complete the same task within a few hours. Your commitments to your research
projects should be treated with utmost seriousness and managed responsibly and
promptly. Additionally, there should be no heavy reliance on supervision.

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In the initial stages of your graduate studies, you'll all encounter a steep learning curve
that may demand more time than anticipated. However, once you establish a regular
schedule, you'll discover that tasks can be efficiently completed. Graduate school
doesn't conform to a standard 9am-to-5pm workday; instead, it necessitates a flexible,
need-based approach to scheduling and dedicated effort.

Begin by discussing your overarching research goals with me. Then, create a task
outline detailing the steps necessary to achieve those objectives. Estimate the time
required for each task and establish your own personal deadlines. These deadlines
should be treated with the utmost seriousness and adhered to diligently. I've assisted
previous students in designing their schedules, and I'm more than willing to offer
guidance and support if you need assistance.

I expect you to treat graduate school with the commitment equivalent to a full-time job.
Depending on your appointment, if you have a 49% Graduate Research Assistantship
(GRA), you are required to dedicate 20 hours per week to research. For those with a
25% GRA, the commitment is 10 hours per week. However, it's crucial to understand
that dedicating only 20 hours per week to research might not be sufficient, and it could
lead to inefficiencies in completing research tasks.

Drawing from my personal experience and that of my fellow graduate students, it's not
uncommon to invest approximately 60 hours per week in research, particularly during
the initial two years of graduate studies. Even with such a significant time commitment,
there may still be a sense that it's insufficient to accomplish all research tasks. It's worth
noting that these hours do not include time allocated for classes or homework, as they
are separate from your research responsibilities.

Unless you undertake a project with exceptionally demanding time commitments, I

encourage you to allocate some personal time off within the year, totaling approximately
two weeks, for travel, family visits, or relaxation. Additionally, you may schedule time off
during religious holidays or other university-designated breaks. However, if you intend
to take time off during spring break and/or fall breaks, please include them within your
two-week vacation allowance. I anticipate that research activities will continue smoothly
throughout the rest of the year.

In unique circumstances where you may require additional time off, I am open to
discussing such arrangements. It is essential that you communicate your plans for

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vacations or time off with me as early as possible to ensure proper coordination and
minimize disruptions to research activities.

3. Authorship Determination
The determination of authorship for collaborative papers should be approached with
careful consideration and fairness. When you are the primary author of a manuscript
you write, you will rightfully be credited as the first author of the paper. However, if you
do not produce a publishable manuscript before graduation, and I am required to
transform your research into a manuscript, you will be attributed as the second author.

In cases where you hold the first author position, typically, your advisor assumes the
role of the second author unless the manuscript was crafted through collaborative
efforts with other individuals (e.g., manuscripts stemming from class projects that do not
pertain to your ongoing research or do not involve significant input from your advisor,
etc.). Additional authors, beyond the first two, should only be included if they have
actively participated in completing your research tasks or have made notable
contributions to the innovation in your research.

Acknowledgments should consistently recognize funding agencies for their support. As

your advisor, I will assume the responsibility of being the corresponding author for your
manuscripts to ensure timely submission, review, and publication. However, I expect
your full engagement in responding to inquiries posed by reviewers during the
publication process.

Whenever you intend to include additional authors in the submission of your work to a
journal or any publisher, it is imperative that you seek prior approval. Submitting a
manuscript without the consent of your advisor and other co-authors is not permissible.

4. Expectations Based on Your Degree Pursuit

If your goal is to attain a Master's degree, I anticipate you will engage in innovative, high-
quality research leading to a minimum of one peer-reviewed journal manuscript and one
conference manuscript/abstract. It is highly recommended that Master's students strive for
two journal manuscripts.

For those pursuing a doctoral degree, my expectation is the production of a minimum of one
peer-reviewed journal manuscript annually, in addition to presenting two conference

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abstracts/manuscripts each year (approximately one manuscript per semester). If your aim
is to pursue an academic career, such as becoming a professor or research scientist, I
strongly advise aiming for a total of seven to eight journal manuscripts and multiple
conference abstracts/manuscripts before your graduation.

5. Review and Submission Protocol

Prior to submitting or delivering any abstract, paper, thesis, report, or presentation, it must
first undergo my review. Please ensure you provide me with sufficient advance notice for
reviewing your work before the submission deadline. Adequate time is necessary for me to
provide feedback, and you will require time to implement corrections. For abstracts and
presentations, I expect at least one week's notice. Theses, reports, and papers should be
submitted in sections to facilitate my review, allowing me to provide comments while you
continue working on other sections. Once I have completed my review of your thesis, you
may submit a clean version to your committee. In cases where substantial editing
challenges are encountered, particularly for non-native English speakers, consider utilizing
professional editing services to enhance your document.

6. Group Meetings and Research Updates

Weekly group and individual meetings will be scheduled, unless canceled or postponed by
me. During these meetings, you are expected to report your weekly accomplishments and
provide status updates on your research. Group meetings serve as valuable platforms for
addressing any research-related challenges you may be facing and for receiving feedback
from your peers, aiding in problem-solving. Depending on your research progress, you will
also be expected to present your research at least once per semester. As a presenter,
utilize these opportunities to enhance your presentation skills and build confidence when
delivering in front of a discerning audience.

7. Office Hours and Communication

I am typically available in my office and am open to addressing your questions or discussing

problems as they arise. While appointments are convenient, I prefer dealing with questions
in real-time. However, it's essential to recognize that every interruption, no matter how
minor, consumes a minimum of 5 minutes, often more, as I refocus on my tasks. Therefore,
please consider whether a specific question warrants an interruption or if it can wait for a
more suitable time, potentially alongside a series of other questions. Additionally, we will
meet weekly for up to one hour to discuss the progress of your research.

8. Evaluation for Each Semester

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In order to monitor your research progress (excluding coursework), an evaluation will be
conducted at the conclusion of each semester. Both you and I will independently complete
an assessment form pertaining to your research performance. Subsequently, we will
compare these evaluations and engage in a discussion regarding your research progress,
identifying areas for enhancement.

If your research progress does not meet the expected standards by the end of the academic
year, there may be a possibility that financial support for the following academic year will not
be available.

To acknowledge and confirm your understanding of these guidelines, please sign below and
return a copy to me. This confirms that you have carefully reviewed and comprehended
your responsibilities and expectations. Furthermore, if you have any suggestions or wish to
propose any additions to this document, please do not hesitate to share your input.

Print Name:

Student Signature:

Date:

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