Accepted - is it worth staying on as a research assistant for potential pubs?

[seryner]

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Since September 2019, I've been working full-time as an unpaid research assistant in a lab at a major "prestigious/influential" academic medical institution.

I'm incredibly fortunate to be in the position where I don't really need to worry too much about money at the moment, so I started out unpaid because I had zero medical/basic science research experience and I was scrambling to find a lab due to a last minute change in my gap year plans. The PI and I discussed the potential of a stipend down the road but it's looking like that won't happen due to a supposed lack of funding.

I was accepted to medical school a few months back and now I'm wondering if it's worth it to stay in the lab for another three months. Currently, I don't have any publications and staying on an extra 3 months could net me 1 or 2 co-authorships. If I leave now, it's unlikely I would get any publications from my time in this lab. However, I don't think I want to go into this field and I've heard that residency directors only care about research in that specific field. But maybe the publications would help me when I apply for competitive research spots as a medical student? Plus, I know the higher-ups in my lab have some influence when it comes to residency/fellowship matching. Would the co-authorships help me in the long run or should I cut my losses and enjoy the time off?

 

[DNAJB6]

I would stay for the publications. It's only three months. Even research in an unrelated field can be viewed positively when it comes time to match although obviously research in the field that you want to match in will be more important.

 

[kritten]

Just want to clarify how you know you’ll get 1 or 2 in 3 months?

 

[seryner]

Just want to clarify how you know you’ll get 1 or 2 in 3 months?

I don't know for sure, which is why I said potential pubs! My PI has said that if I do X amount of work over the next 3 months, my name would be put on the papers coming out of those projects.

 

[Moko]

I don't know for sure, which is why I said potential pubs! My PI has said that if I do X amount of work over the next 3 months, my name would be put on the papers coming out of those projects.

PI's are known to be pathologically optimistic and say many things to get free labor. Case in point:

The PI and I discussed the potential of a stipend down the road but it's looking like that won't happen due to a supposed lack of funding.

Some additional thoughts:
- There is a limit as to what can be reasonably accomplished in a few months time. Even if these projects come to fruition, I would question what kind of authorship will come out of it (e.g 1st vs nth author, etc)
- If you stayed on for the next few months (read: last few months of free time you'll have in a while) and did not get your name on any paper, would you regret your decision to stay on?
The answer to these two questions should help answer your question. Personally, I would spend these next few months relaxing. You've earned the rest. Just my thoughts

 

[deleted972488]

unpaid

Run.

 

[hellothere69420]

If you're not getting paid, then you shouldn't keep working. Working as a volunteer when you start out makes sense, since you're honestly draining some grad student or postdoc's time. When you're actually contributing though (eg, when you're doing enough to be an author on a paper) you ought to be paid.

 

[kritten]

PI's are known to be pathologically optimistic and say many things to get free labor. Case in point:

Some additional thoughts:
- There is a limit as to what can be reasonably accomplished in a few months time. Even if these projects come to fruition, I would question what kind of authorship will come out of it (e.g 1st vs nth author, etc)
- If you stayed on for the next few months (read: last few months of free time you'll have in a while) and did not get your name on any paper, would you regret your decision to stay on?
The answer to these two questions should help answer your question. Personally, I would spend these next few months relaxing. You've earned the rest. Just my thoughts

was going to say just this unless a paper is already drafted or nearly there. People really don’t understand how long it takes and PIs usually forget or make promises they don’t keep when other investigators are competing against staff/interns. Tbh it sounds like you’ve been free labor and a PI wouldn’t be that motivated to include you

 

[seryner]

Really appreciate everyones' input!

(Acknowledging the extreme privilege here) the pay isn't really the issue for me - if staying on would help my chances for competitive research internships or residency in the future, I'd probably think it worth it. I felt my lack of publications def hurt my chances at more competitive schools this app cycle.

AFAIK, one of the projects is very close to submission and I would probably be listed last. The other project is just getting started and I'm not sure if anything will come out of it.

I will say that this PI is known for being pretty good about including students' names (ex. students who have left 3 years ago are still being listed on recent papers). But if I don't end up getting any publications I would 100% regret staying on.

 

[Kamill]

I don't know for sure, which is why I said potential pubs! My PI has said that if I do X amount of work over the next 3 months, my name would be put on the papers coming out of those projects.

I was promised this many times and my PI took out my name from a pub. They decided to add someone who recently joined the lab instead because they wanted to.

Just something you want to think about. I’d just quit and enjoy life for a bit. Get some rest and energize yourself.



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[seryner]

I was promised this many times and my PI took out my name from a pub. They decided to add someone who recently joined the lab instead because they wanted to.

Just something you want to think about. I’d just quit and enjoy life for a bit. Get some rest and energize yourself.

Ugh that sucks, sorry that happened to you 😢