What are the recommended approaches in selecting students to work on research projects?
Our department has a policy of matching students and faculty. The faculty write up a brief description of the project they want to pursue. The PhD coordinator meets with students to assess their skill sets and top choices for projects and a match is made. We also have a policy of switching advisers after the first year. Good collaborations usually go on past this year, others have a way of dying out. However, our department is rather small--usually between 10-15 grad students at a time.