Gifts to professors

[mhazelm]

So I want to buy my research advisor a nice gift after I graduate to say thanks - he's not only given me my best ever research experience, but has been available for questions on many, many topics (quantum, thermo, relativity, anything physics), has helped me immensely in graduate school applications, has written dozens of letters of recommendation, offered encouragement and advice, etc. He's done a LOT for me academically.

He really likes scotch so I was thinking about buying him a really good bottle of scotch, but what do you guys think? Is that tacky? What else could I buy? Have you ever bought your advisor a thank you gift, and if so, what did you buy?

[abeboparebop]

I think a nice bottle of scotch is classy.

If you'd like to thank me for this advice, my address is...

[twistor]

Yes, it's a good idea and a nice thing to do.

[secander2!]

The scotch is a great idea! I did this for my advisor last fall and he loved it

[evilclaw2321]

I wanted to buy something for my advisor/letter writer, but she didn't drink, so I just got her a real nice harry and david gift basket . She seemed to really like and appreciate it.

[HappyQuark]

I realize I'm late to the conversation, but oh well.

My undergrad physics professor, the very professor who I ended up taking probably 95% of all my physics classes with, used to constantly joke in class that the only thing he could be bribed with was single malt scotch. This specific professors was one of those who legitimately cared for his students and would spend absurd amounts of hours just helping students. Needless to say, he was everyones favorite and so all of the physics majors would talk about how we wanted to get him a gift for being such a great professor but, alas, we were all so very poor. After I graduated and got my current job, which pays exceptionally well for a physics related, right out of college job, I decided to get him that bottle of single malt scotch, more specifically a 16 year old Lagavulin single malt scotch. He loved it and it turned out to be a really good gift.

[Quantum Triviality]

I have given a couple of gifts for non-drinkers. Chocolates work well for me.