This is a question that I frequently get from students. I start by labeling: Graduate school is as much about making discoveries in science, as it is a process of discovery about self. Discovery of your working patterns, interests, etc. I advice being purposeful in both. How? 1/ https://twitter.com/PaolaVFigueroa/status/1312414607902793728

To learn about your interest, apply what I call "Spotify process". How do programs like Pandora or Spotify know what music you like? Because it tracks your preferences. Be your own "Spotify". After you go to talks, be mindful about what you liked or not, and track it 2/

Everyone can tell what they like, but few people can label why. If you systematically track & label what "your gut" tells you, you will see patterns and will be able to predict what experiences you would like before having to live through them.Easier to make purposeful choices 3/

That process of being mindful--when you read papers, when you go to talks, etc--helps to identify scientific interests. Other big part of the equation, as big as the scientific interest, is the mentor. How to pick a good mentor? How to know? Start by knowing yourself first 4/

Learn first your working patterns. Define your interests and values. Be mindful of who you are and how you work. Because no mentor, can help you get to your goals any more than a gym person can exercise for you. Help you ID them? Yes. But "help": you need to ID your own goals 5/

It is also important to recognize there is no "perfect" mentor, any more than there is a "perfect" color. A good mentors for certain people will be a bad mentor for others (simplifying here and excluding toxic people). So find the right mentor for you and your goals. How 6/

After you know your goals and work style, find a person that will help you get there. IMO you should not look for a friend that will tell you everything is ok: look for a person to make you better so that you can achieve your goals, respects your goals and aligns w them 7/

Lastly, recognize that no mentor will have all answers, particularly if your interests change. Develop other relationships. Much has been written about picking mentors so I will stop here, but my general advice: start by knowing yourself by being mindful in self-discovery /fin