How students can find professors and labs
A department network is not a ranking of labs. It is a map of recent publication relationships that can help you ask better questions before applying, rotating, or requesting a meeting.
Build the right first query
Start with the institution, the formal department name, and a broad enough year range to show current lab activity. The default 2015-2026 range can reveal long-running groups, while a shorter recent window can show who is currently publishing in the department.
You can run a query from the homepage. If you need examples, browse popular networks first.
What to read in the graph
Large nodes
Larger PI nodes usually mean more weighted senior-author publications in the selected window. This can indicate an active publishing group, but it does not measure mentoring quality or lab culture.
Strong edges
Thicker lines show shared publications between visible PIs. They can identify connected lab clusters and co-mentoring possibilities.
Research directions
PI details include top OpenAlex topic signals from first or corresponding-author work. Use them as a reading prompt, then confirm with recent papers and lab pages.
Isolated nodes
A less connected PI is not necessarily a weak fit. They may work in a specialized area, collaborate outside the department, or publish in patterns that are not captured by this department-level view.
Use Trend Mode for timing
A trend report splits the publication window into periods and compares networks over time. For students, it is useful for spotting rising topics, growing collaboration clusters, and departments whose current activity fits your intended research direction. Build Trend Mode from the homepage form.
Turn the graph into an application checklist
- Shortlist PIs whose node details match your research interests.
- Read recent papers from the PI and adjacent connected groups.
- Check whether possible co-advisers or committee members appear in the same cluster.
- Use the graph to prepare specific questions for interviews or rotation meetings.