Bad Luck with Research - Lost and Looking for Help

[Doctor Salt]

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This is my first post on this site, so if I've broken any major rules, please let me know.

With that out of the way, please allow me to explain my situation. I am currently a sophomore about to go into my fourth semester at university, and I have had two research opportunities that both went sour in different ways. The first one was 110% my own fault. I had a great opportunity to work in a molecular bio lab my second semester of freshman year, but I treated it too apathetically and even sometimes skipped out on going to the lab, so the PI understandably kicked me out.

After getting kicked out, I redoubled my efforts to look for another lab to work in and vowed to give it my all so that things don't end up like last time. I did end up finding a neuroscience lab in my first semester of sophomore year that seemed absolutely perfect on paper (they were doing some cool work in depression and Alzheimer's). However, when I started working there, I quickly found out that the PI was abusive. He would frequently not tell me what I needed to do/train me on basic procedures, yell at me when I subsequently messed up, and badmouthed me to others working in the lab. I knew it was bad but I beared with it for the rest of the semester because I didn't want to get kicked out.

It was when I continued coming into the lab for winter break that things really hit the fan. The first day I walked in, the lab was completely empty except for me and a postdoc, and all of my PI's old papers, protocols, reagents, etc were missing. The postdoc then tells me that my PI is currently under investigation for research fraud as well as unethical workplace conduct (using excessive profanity, explosive fits of rage, being racist behind other people's backs in emails and more), and the reason everything was missing was because the university police came in the day before and performed a raid on the lab. Knowing what I now do, continuing in that lab seems illogical.

The thing is though, this leaves me at a loss. I've had two short research experiences and both of them have ended terribly. Sure I've learned some valuable skills from both labs, but that doesn't change the fact that it doesn't look good for me. Even beyond med school, finding another lab to work in feels next to impossible since I have not one but two black marks against me. How do you guys think I should proceed from here?

 

[HomeSkool]

First, if that's your real picture, you should change it to protect your privacy. (That was a joke.)

Second, you don't have two black marks against you. You have, like, a third of a single black mark. Let me break it down for you.

1. Freshmen are knuckleheads. It's true, there are no exceptions, and we were all that way. Indiscretions at age 18 are a lot more forgivable than they would be at 22. So you screwed around as a freshman and got booted out of a lab. So what? You learned your lesson -- maybe even a bit too well, judging from the abuse you tolerated last semester -- and came out of it a better man. Good on you, mate.​

2. Having a PI so abusive that the COPS GOT INVOLVED is not a black mark on you. Don't blame yourself here, dude. It sounds like that PI was a real grade A piece of work who will soon be holding a sign reading, "Will write IRB proposals for food."​

So if I were you, I'd go to my faculty advisor (or, lacking one, a professor whom I trust) and say, "I've had some rotten experiences here, I learned valuable lessons from both, and I want to be a valuable contributor to a productive lab." And it's their job to help you with that -- that's part of the responsibility they accepted when they decided to become educators instead of working in industry. You can also leverage your personal network -- if your buddy is in a good lab, hit him/her up about helping you get in. Maybe reach out to the postdoc from the Hell Lab -- s/he may have some ideas.

Don't get discouraged, don't get down on yourself, don't look at this as a series of failures. You goofed up as a kid -- and who hasn't? -- and then got into an abusive relationship from which the police have liberated you. That's not the kind of stuff that will derail your career. Buck up and reach out to folks like I said above, and this is all going to work out.

 

[longhaul3]

Don't sound the alarm yet. I would be surprised if anyone cares about either one of those, especially the second. It's not like you have to pass a rigorous selection process to volunteer in a lab.

Not to mention that you already have more research experience than many, if not most, premeds.

 

[FroYoOreo]

I did research in 3 labs throughout college, no.1 did not work out because some upperclass badmouthed me to the PI, no.2 did not work out because the PI accepted a job in another state, no.3 was okay but the PI is a new hire and everything is kinda disorganized. The point I am trying to make is that I cherish all these experiences because I get a multidisciplinary picture of the science field. By the time I am in my third lab, I already built connections to people from other department and can combine research idea from different departments. I believe it is helpful for your future career.
Good luck!

 

[MonkeyArrow]

I find it highly, highly unlikely based on the information presented here, the campus police will perform a raid of your lab and take papers and reagents. Something is not adding up.