Comment by joeberon
4 years ago
It really depends on the person, but yes you have to get to know them to know how they will react. I find that this is more of a problem in the US, where tenured professors often develop these vast impenetrable egos, while in other countries, such as in the UK or Germany, they are more pragmatic. That said it is still entirely individual, and I knew who to avoid when I had certain ideas in my PhD.
Also, our German group leader asked me to take a feature from my software package because he was worried that the Americans would get upset at an early PhD student showing them up.
Actually I add something extra: I actually know an Indian professor who has become quite senior in the US, and is a more "famous" member of our collaboration, and he actually enjoys a "Guru figure" like perception when he returns to India. He says that literally people treat him like he is a lord or guru. Very strange