PPC – Norms and Expectations*

The Particle Physics Collaboration’s purpose is to enhance the fundamental understanding and the properties of the world around us, the universe. In the process, we are also developing the next generation of researchers, educators, and leaders in experimental high energy physics and strive to do so in an engaging, productive, and collaborative working environment with the goal to spark new ideas and make important discoveries. We had an active part in the development of the Department’s Physics Values Statement and we anticipate that new members of the group will read and adopt it. Students hold a special role in our research group, because they learn how to advance the frontiers of human knowledge and graduate students are expected to make their own individual contributions to this quest. 

The expectations in the PPC directly flow from this sense of purpose. Generally, advisors individually set workplace norms and expectations based on the specific environment they wish to create for their own set of people, but we offer some general guidelines.

Work hours
While a lot of work in experimental physics can be done from anywhere, collaborations are an essential ingredient to high energy physics since a long time. Key benefits of larger groups like the PPC and locations like either MIT or CERN are that they bring people together in person. Being in the same space creates spontaneous interactions that often lead to new ideas and collaborations, and create a dynamic working environment. These connections are often an important part of a successful Ph.D. and an academic career. Thus, while working hours are flexible, it is important that students, postdocs, and researchers to be present in the group’s offices at MIT or at CERN for a non-negligible fraction of standard business hours to facilitate impromptu discussions, work on shared projects, as well as attending meetings and seminars. It is clear that presence in the office is not possible 100% of the time (e.g. for childcare, daytime medical appointments, religious holidays, etc.). In general with all of these things you should talk about expectations with your advisor.  In addition, if you have some ongoing extenuating circumstances that change your work patterns, your advisor will generally be happy to accommodate you — please do not hesitate to ask. And please do not come in when you are sick!

Graduate students should understand that a Ph.D. program is a full-time commitment.  Students are expected to devote 40 hours/week to their academic, teaching, and research program. Some people may find that certain commitments (e.g. homework, exams, giving a talk) lead these hours to fluctuate. In addition, many physicists feel passionate about their research topics and/or have specific career goals, and may choose to devote substantially more hours than this. An academic career, starting with a Ph.D., requires making personal choices about work-life balance, and we strive to support students in finding ways to be productive and fulfilled.  You should plan on regularly talking with your research advisor about progress and expectations. The Physics Values Committee has developed a set of worksheets to help facilitate such conversations.

What counts as academics and work?
Postdocs and students engage in a wide variety of different physics-related activities, including but not limited to: research activities, required classes and exam preparation, physics seminars and socials (Department colloquium cookies, etc), attending conferences and schools, serving on committees, auditing extra classes relevant to a research project, professional development, teaching assistantships, and mentoring junior physicists. 

Colloquia and Seminars
Colloquia and seminars are highly valuable: you can hear about a wide range of physics topics, learn by example how to give talks, and meet people whom you may consider working with one day. Faculty members in the PPC have a wide range of expectations for which seminars and group meetings their trainees should attend: it is important to ask your research advisor when you join a group. First-year students are encouraged to attend seminars such as the Monday LNS nuclear and particle physics colloquia, the Tuesday LNS lunch seminars, and the Thursday department colloquia, if they do not overlap with classes. Anyone in the PPC may sign up for any seminar mailing list; first-years especially may find this useful in exploring their research interests.

Vacation
It is important for your mental health to take breaks from physics; you will be more productive in the long run! MIT has stringent policies on the number of vacation days allotted to Postdocs and Grad students.  Students and postdocs with fellowships may have different rules from their funding agency. Note that graduate school is different from undergraduate studies, graduate students do not have the summer off. Summer is typically core research time.

Please ask your advisor for approval before booking travel for personal vacation. Note that many advisors prefer that their trainees do not take personal vacation during term time (though some do not mind). We also remark that it is common for physicists to add a vacation onto the end of a conference trip, but you must personally pay any difference in travel costs out of pocket. You should ask your advisor to tell you what conferences and/or summer schools would be beneficial for you to attend.

Research advising
The PPC holds a one hour meeting per week (Fridays) to discuss all detector and analysis research projects in terms of a short summary, and another one hour meeting (Wednesdays) on selected detailed analysis reports. Our meeting schedules may differ from what you were used to at your previous institution. Just as you are engaged in a wide variety of physics activities, so too are faculty. Faculty members often have tight schedules, but truly care about the group members. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need something. Be sure to ask your advisor about their preferred method of communication (email, skype, Slack, phone, etc.), and please send reminders if a message gets lost! Other places to catch up informally include colloquia, seminars, informal lunches, walks to the CERN cafeteria, the LNS coffee machine, or at the local espresso machine on the 4th floor in building 24. 

It is important to cultivate a wide network of many mentors to help guide you, including other students and postdocs. At this point in your career, it begins to fall on you, the mentee, to proactively seek out and conscientiously cultivate mentoring relationships, and build a large support network that can provide you advice and help propel you towards your personal goals. In turn, you can pay it forward by providing your own advice to the next crop of students and postdocs.