difficult people

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so i'm doing research, but i'm not really learning anything, because whenever i ask this one person a question... (she's kind of like my advisor, except she only has a bachelors degree / 2 years older ) ...she b*tches at me and rolls her eyes like im dumb (my bio sci and physical sci grades are higher than hers...so i'm not totally stupid).
how am i suppose to learn if she's so moody? maybe some of the questions are stupid to her, but i feel like she expects me to be born with research knowledge (what the purpose of each lab technique is for, what each soln does, etc).

what should i do? i feel like im wasting my time.

 

[trypmo]

There have got to be other people around in the lab - grad students, postdocs, the professor? - who can be more sympathetic and helpful. Even other people (like other undergrads) in labs down the hall from yours who might be working on similar stuff.

If that fails (or even if not), I'd try pinning her down with a "well what material/book/articles can I read to help me get more familiar with this research area?" Maybe there are some resources she just assumes people know about right off the bat.

And in the interim, stick out your tongue at her behind her back.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

there has to be someone else you can talk to to get your questions adequately answered. that's crazy. and then i'd be honest and ask he rnicely if your questions are bothering her. Explain you are trying to learn but this is your first resaearch assignment so it's expected that you would have questions. Ask if there is someone else she wants you to be going to for your questions.

and doesn't she have a supervisor you can go to? She's probably jealous that you have higher grades than her. typical gunners 🙄

 

[ellehcim]

so i'm doing research, but i'm not really learning anything, because whenever i ask this one person a question... (she's kind of like my advisor, except she only has a bachelors degree / 2 years older ) ...she b*tches at me and rolls her eyes like im dumb (my bio sci and physical sci grades are higher than hers...so i'm not totally stupid).
how am i suppose to learn if she's so moody? maybe some of the questions are stupid to her, but i feel like she expects me to be born with research knowledge (what the purpose of each lab technique is for, what each soln does, etc).

what should i do? i feel like im wasting my time.

Maybe she doesn't know the answers 😛

Make friends with other students or even a lab assistant, they can clue you in on the basics of what sol'ns do and what each technique is for. Or just google it, I did a bit of that in my honours year to find out some basics without bothering other people (I was just a little embarrassed to admit to my brand new very excited PI that I didn't know how a Southern Blot worked. I mean, you know what it does, but HOW does it do it?)
Anyways, all is not lost, you just have to find the right people to talk to, and usually other students who have recently been in the same boat will be happy to help you out.

 

[the other Dr.]

so i'm doing research, but i'm not really learning anything, because whenever i ask this one person a question... (she's kind of like my advisor, except she only has a bachelors degree / 2 years older ) ...she b*tches at me and rolls her eyes like im dumb (my bio sci and physical sci grades are higher than hers...so i'm not totally stupid).
how am i suppose to learn if she's so moody? maybe some of the questions are stupid to her, but i feel like she expects me to be born with research knowledge (what the purpose of each lab technique is for, what each soln does, etc).

what should i do? i feel like im wasting my time.

If possible join a new lab. If there is no one else to work with, then she will ruin your impression of research. It only takes one person to ruin the lab dynamic and create a miserable environment. I had a similar experience in my first lab and swore that research sucked and that I would never go into it, but I switched labs the next year and had found it to be a much more cooperative enviroment where I could feel comfortable asking any questions.
Good Luck!