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I'm currently an undergrad, and our university has a research program that I'm taking part in. I was hoping to get the chance to work with a professor, but in reality I just worked with the professor's PhD student. In fact, throughout the whole semester, I've only met the professor once at the start of the semester. I have other friends who joined the same program under other professors, and they also shared the same experience.

Is this normal for undergrad research programs? I'm just concerned because for example if I need recommendation letters in the future, I don't think the professor knows me that well (and I don't think the PhD student is allowed to write one?)

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    One of several already answered: academia.stackexchange.com/q/123300/72855
    – Solar Mike
    Commented May 25, 2019 at 4:18
  • 4
    Does this answer your question? What does it mean to do research with a phd student?
    – David White
    Commented Apr 14 at 16:51
  • I flagged this as a duplicate. But, I will add that this kind of thing isn't normal but also isn't unheard of, as the other thread makes clear. PhD students certainly ARE allowed to write letters of recommendation. In fact, I did that for someone when I was a PhD student and he did get into the PhD program he applied for. That said, letters from professors are better as they are more able to reliably assess your research potential.
    – David White
    Commented Apr 14 at 16:53

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