Bad experiences with PIs

[biophysicianai]

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(Although not having a letter from a principal investigator with whom you spent a substantial amount of time in the recent past would raise a red flag.)

The above quote is from LizzyM in another thread. I've heard similar statements before, and have an issue that relates to it.

I've worked in 3 different research labs: one for about 9 months, one for a single semester, and one for 2.5 years. Each has been a completely different experience. I'm particularly concerned about the PI who I worked with for a single semester, because of the following:

I worked in his lab while I was abroad. It seemed like a great opportunity to do work relevant to my studies while being abroad. Unfortunately, the PI was not used to the idea of undergrads working in his lab part-time while being full-time students. I ended up working about 30 hours a week (which was very unfortunate, as it hurt my abroad experience) and I couldnt quit because I was doing the research for academic credit. The PI would constantly yell or belittle me, tell me that I was living my life the wrong way, that I doom was upon me, etc. etc.

What made matters worse was that most of his tirades had nothing to do with the lab work - he'd curse me out for being a Mac user instead of windows, for example. He was severely caustic and unpersonable. All I could do was bear it.

I endured this for the entire semester, and ended up writing the directors of my abroad program to tell them about my experience in detail, including specific remarks that the PI made. I also said that I would strongly discourage other science students who go abroad from working in this lab again. I had had a lot of contact with the directors, so they knew me well enough to trust me, and they were sympathetically shocked when I told them how I was treated. One of them ended up forwarding my letter to the PI and talking with him about it personally.

A good experience need not be an enjoyable one. Ultimately, I'd say that I learned a lot about how to deal with having a difficult superior, and with difficult people in general. I'd say that I've benefited from what I encountered, even if I hated it while it was happening.

Given the man's attitude toward me (and the rest of the world), as well as the fact that he read my critical assessment of my experience with him, I doubt that an LOR is an option.

How do I address this "red flag"?

 

[deleted280727]

One semester is not exactly a "substantial amount of time." You've had 3 PIs. I'm no admissions officer but I seriously doubt this would raise a red flag.