Going Out on a Limb Posted on March 19, 2007 Maria Elena Torre (bio) advises other graduate students not to simply follow their advisors' research agendas.

I guess the other thing is is that this sounds somewhat naive, but I really feel like it's really important just to follow your passion and what really drives you. That going out on the limb to do that rather than answering the question that your advisor is really interested in is really important.

I've watched folks steer their careers based around the research agendas of their faculty and at times, I know there's not, there isn't even the question of whether or not you're allowed to do this or not allowed to do this, but in any cracks in the sidewalk that appear or try to align yourself with someone whose research agenda mirrors very much what you believe in or where you have passion, and I feel like that's the more that you can do that, the smoother path, if there's a smooth path in graduate school, it's in that direction.

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