3 research labs

[aklvkk]

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[Petrichor1]

Wisdom from someone you hardly know: I would not share things I am not asked..Period.

 

[URHere]

The reason people advise against multiple labs is this: it is more important to have quality research experience than a large quantity of different experiences. 5-10 hours per week is honestly a laughable amount of time to spend in lab. What are you actually doing/accomplishing? Perhaps you're doing data analysis or preparing slides for someone else's project, but imagine this: if you devoted those 20-30 hours per week to a single lab, you could potentially run your own project. That is what will look good on a medical school app. That is what may get you published. That is real research.

If you want the summer position, take it but seriously consider committing to one lab and putting in real hours.

 

[aklvkk]

@URHere thank you. I've seen 20-30 hrs/wk as a good number of hours to put into a research lab in the forums, but I don't know if there's enough material to do that much research. I'd like to do that much research, but there just isn't enough material; since my college is not research-intensive (Liberal Arts College), there aren't that many projects to do in the lab. I'm doing my own independent projects right now and it hasn't gotten so intense such that it would require 15+ hours/wk. I'll look around and ask how many hours other people put into their labs to get a better idea/context.

Thank you for your advice. I guess it boils down to me being realistic with myself as well.

 

[EventualMD]

Hi all, (TLDR at bottom)

I've been presented with a happy problem of choosing between 3 research labs--or doing them all. I've looked through the forum and found that people strongly advised against doing even 2 labs (and just focusing on one). That said, I like all of them--they're all interesting, and I personally know all of the professors.

Currently I'm in a neuro lab that I started in last fall and a bio/neuro lab that I started this semester. The neuro lab requires 5~9 hrs/wk while the bio lab requires 4~6 hrs/wk. The professors in both labs do not know that I am working for the other (I think they're assuming I'm just in their one research lab). I didn't think it was that big of a deal until recently; here's where the third lab comes in.

My college has a summer research program, and one of the projects of interest stipulates that I'll have to participate in it for 1 year+ if I do choose it. I'll get into the program for sure if I choose this particular project because I know the professor and she has strongly hinted that she'll choose me if I select the project. That said, she knows my research advisor/PI from the neuro lab, and she stated that she's concerned that I'll have to choose between working in her lab or the neuro lab, expressing doubt that I'll be able to manage both.

Normally I'd turn down the third lab and focus on the other two, but joining the third lab would mean a summer research position. I currently am not in any summer research programs and the likelihood is very slim because I applied very late to all of them. I can't think of doing anything more productive over the summer than research... So I'd like to join this lab... but would it be worth it? I feel like even with an additional 6~10 hours tacked onto this lab I'd still only be involved 25~30* hours maximum a week, and next year I'll have a lighter courseload (less laboratory work). (*this is just the time I'm actually in the physical lab, excluding data analysis and journal reading I'll do in my own time)

Also should I tell my neuro and bio professors that I'm currently in two labs? I'm just afraid that they'll minimize my involvement and won't trust me. There haven't been any schedule conflicts so far and I've been pretty committed to both... but I feel like they still won't trust me afterwards.

TLDR;
1) Currently working in two professors' labs but I haven't told either that I'm working for the other; they think I'm just in their lab. Should I tell them?
2) Is getting into a summer research program worth it if it means increasing my commitment from two to three labs next year? Two labs have been very manageable so far.

I did 2 labs, i highly recommend only doing one if at all if youre premed. The most important things are your GPA and MCAT. If you dont want to do research you can just volunteer and it'll look better than research. Don't focus on getting a publication in undergrad. Too much stuff can happen.

 

[Nerdeka]

So I'm in 3 labs however they are all vastly different. In one, I get paid + I'm mostly the PI's bitch (paperwork/moving things/making slides). One is a wet lab and the other is clinical.

However, your case seems to be 3 bench work labs and I think that's dumb for multiple reasons. Devote more meaningful time to one.

 

[piii]

Incredibly naive to think quantity is best for you. Imagine one lab you could dedicate 15-25 hours a week instead of juggling 2 or 3? You'd be so much more productive and important to the one lab. Your work would be more meaningful. No ones going to look back and say, "oh wow you worked at so many labs!" They're going to ask what you did for each and what you got out of them, and the time you're dedicating to each right now is not enough.

 

[aklvkk]

thank you everyone! For clarification, I don't think working in 3 labs would be best for me, I just didn't know whether I wanted to turn down a summer research opportunity or not. Since it seems like the overwhelming response is to just focus on one lab, I guess that is what I'll do. I wouldn't consider it benchwork, considering that I am giving a poster presentation for my neuro lab at the end of this semester and I'm starting on data collection for an independent project for the bio lab. But I see that I might just be spreading myself too thin... Now the hard part is figuring which lab to drop....

Can someone who goes to an LAC (or other less research-heavy school) also chime in on the matter? I'm meeting with my neuro lab professor/advisor tomorrow and I'm going to ask him about the hours as well as for further involvement in his lab in the future, but 20-30 hours seem like a large amount of hours for my college; it's not that I don't want to work that much (I'd be happy to), I just don't know anyone who is working that much. I'll ask around though!

Edit: I've had a difficult time just trying to get into a lab that I found it overwhelming when professors were actually willing to accept me. I just ended up saying "yes" indiscriminately without thinking about the consequences.

 

[aklvkk]

Edit: I've talked with my neuro professor and he says that it would be best if I just chose one lab and stick with it. He says he encourages me choosing my own path, so I think I'm going to join the summer project and leave the labs I'm currently in. The summer project really is an invaluable opportunity, especially since I could continue working on it throughout the academic year. I'm sad about leaving my current labs but hopefully I'll get a chance to collaborate in the future.

Thank you everyone for your advice(s)!

Edit: Also the lab members I've talked to work ~15 hours/wk, and they're very involved with their independent projects. I guess it's just because we're not a research powerhouse school; I know a friend who's working 40 hours/wk, but she's at a larger private university that offers more research opportunities. Just an FYI for anyone who stumbles across this thread in a similar situation.

 

[NicMouse64]

Which lab has A. The best possibility to publish B. you learn the most and are trusted with research independence? C. Get paid D. Have a PI that could write you a good letter of recommendation (good relationship with PI). If you can get 3/4 of the aforementioned list then that's the lab you should do. Less emphasis on being paid if you don't need money obviously. Find a project that you can devote more time into as publishing, learning, and PI relationships will be better.

 

[JustAPhD]

Edit: I've talked with my neuro professor and he says that it would be best if I just chose one lab and stick with it. He says he encourages me choosing my own path, so I think I'm going to join the summer project and leave the labs I'm currently in. The summer project really is an invaluable opportunity, especially since I could continue working on it throughout the academic year. I'm sad about leaving my current labs but hopefully I'll get a chance to collaborate in the future.

Thank you everyone for your advice(s)!

Edit: Also the lab members I've talked to work ~15 hours/wk, and they're very involved with their independent projects. I guess it's just because we're not a research powerhouse school; I know a friend who's working 40 hours/wk, but she's at a larger private university that offers more research opportunities. Just an FYI for anyone who stumbles across this thread in a similar situation.

Smart guy. I know you've already made the right choice, but I'll add: I would pick the student who was in one lab over the one in three any day of the week.