And consider that personality and work style conflicts are probably the most common reasons why students leave thesis labs, so choosing a PI and lab that are a good fit for you is essential. Ask both the PI and others involved in the lab. If they don t match be careful. Both have their pros and cons so try and understand the benefits and drawbacks of each. Will you be able to attend classes, seminars, etc.
Some labs are absolutely silent.
Some labs play music or the radio loudly. I m interested in blank aspect of the research in the lab. Of course this is not an exhaustive list of questions to ask. The first questions help you understand what the PI sees as his role and what he expects from his graduate students. If your views on topics differ greatly from what the PI expresses, then you should be very careful about choosing that lab as a thesis lab.