Do PIs hate it when we travel for interviews?

[nemo123]

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I'm starting my lab job in two weeks for my gap year before I leave for medical school (hopefully!), and I have a couple interview invites right now. I told my PI that I would be applying to medical schools this year, and so I'm sure he's aware that I'll be leaving for interviews, but I feel uncomfortable taking all this time off to attend interviews.

Do PIs hate this, or are they used to this/don't care too much because of previous lab techs who also went on to grad school/med school and did interviews while being in their labs? Or do some of you make up some of that lost time doing interviews on the weekends/working longer hours during the week?

 

[SN12357]

I'm starting my lab job in two weeks for my gap year before I leave for medical school (hopefully!), and I have a couple interview invites right now. I told my PI that I would be applying to medical schools this year, and so I'm sure he's aware that I'll be leaving for interviews, but I feel uncomfortable taking all this time off to attend interviews.

Do PIs hate this, or are they used to this/don't care too much because of previous lab techs who also went on to grad school/med school and did interviews while being in their labs? Or do some of you make up some of that lost time doing interviews on the weekends/working longer hours during the week?

This is entirely dependent on the PI. If you have a reasonable one it isn't an issue, especially if you can make up the time on weekends or late nights. They should be used to it. Just be reliable, communicate clearly, and get your work done.

 

[milkphlegm]

This is entirely dependent on the PI. If you have a reasonable one it isn't an issue, especially if you can make up the time on weekends or late nights. They should be used to it. Just be reliable, communicate clearly, and get your work done.

+1

Hopefully, they will be supportive and excited for you. But like SN12357 said, you should make it clear you don't want your work to suffer and that you will work extra or longer days. I'm sure all PI's are different, but mine was always flexible with my schedule and very supportive of my other obligations.

 

[chillaxbro]

It's probably more okay in an academic laboratory

If you work for a biotech company, then I would think it should be treated more like a real job. But if you're only staying for the year, just don't get fired. Who cares

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

It's expected that lab techs/research assistants will continue on to grad school at some point, and PIs know that means lots of interviews. Academic labs are usually pretty understanding about interviewing as a result. In the case of my lab my PI has known since before I was hired that I would need to take time for interviewing and is totally fine with me being in and out of the lab this cycle as long as I don't schedule any interviews the week I'm supposed to be presenting at a conference (not that I would even consider doing that in the first place).

You'll find that labs are usually the most understanding about the whole graduate/professional school admissions process and will make the most concessions. If you were working a job in "the real world" you would encounter much more difficulty. Most bosses would balk at the idea of letting an employee take that much time off, especially bosses in industries that typically don't have employees interested in grad school much less college.

 

[phunky]

Depends on your lab/PI. Pretty much everyone in my lab goes to medical school after, so our PI is very supportive, offers advice, and does everything possible to make our lives easy. Doesn't hurt that he is an MD, adcom and interviewer for a med school. A PhD might be a bit less understanding

 

[Planes2Doc]

I hope they knew what they were getting into when they hired a pre-med. If the pre-med makes it through the process to the interview stage, then of course they should respect it as it was expected. Pre-meds that are weeded out would likely quit research, making this a non-issue.

 

[nemo123]

Yeah, it actually turns out that the tech I'm replacing is going to med school, so hopefully, my PI is very understanding and knows what the process is like. I was just a little nervous because it seems that most labs take on techs that can make a 2 year minimum commitment, and so by the time they do start getting interviews, they would have been in the lab at least one year and would know the ropes very well.

The other thing is, it turns out that my new boss was a grad student in one of my previous PI's labs, and I feel like I just got the position because of this connection.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Depends on your PI, as others have said. I've had PIs that encourage any professional development of their techs. I've had others that despise med school and treat those students more harshly than students pursuing a research career.

If it's only for a year, **** him, do what's best for you.

 

[nemo123]

... So it's been about a month since I've started working in this lab, and I gave my PI the list of dates I'm going to be out to do interviews... And he asked me if I'm going to be traveling to even more interviews than I currently am. I told him that I probably would, and he looked unhappy. Then he went to the person who's training me right now and asked her to teach as much as possible/keep me busy/give me more projects to do, so that I can become independent more quickly (so I can come to lab by myself on weekends to make up the time and do the projects without her).

Ugh I just hope my PI doesn't fire me. I literally do two hours worth of experiments a day because the person who's training me doesn't have anything to do either and I sit in front of my laptop for the other six hours I'm in lab. And all of sudden my PI is on my tail and her tail, asking her to give me more stuff to do when there doesn't seem to be much to do... Ugh I don't know what to do.

 

[SN12357]

... So it's been about a month since I've started working in this lab, and I gave my PI the list of dates I'm going to be out to do interviews... And he asked me if I'm going to be traveling to even more interviews than I currently am. I told him that I probably would, and he looked unhappy. Then he went to the person who's training me right now and asked her to teach as much as possible/keep me busy/give me more projects to do, so that I can become independent more quickly (so I can come to lab by myself on weekends to make up the time and do the projects without her).

Ugh I just hope my PI doesn't fire me. I literally do two hours worth of experiments a day because the person who's training me doesn't have anything to do either and I sit in front of my laptop for the other six hours I'm in lab. And all of sudden my PI is on my tail and her tail, asking her to give me more stuff to do when there doesn't seem to be much to do... Ugh I don't know what to do.

11 interview invites already? I wouldn't sweat it too much, lol. Unless you think your relationship with your PI is going to be hugely important down the line (extremely unlikely unless you're planning on continuing that exact line of research), your interviews are more important. Stay professional and enjoy your success, I'm sure your acceptances will start rolling in in Oct.

 

[nemo123]

11 interview invites already? I wouldn't sweat it too much, lol. Unless you think your relationship with your PI is going to be hugely important down the line (extremely unlikely unless you're planning on continuing that exact line of research), your interviews are more important. Stay professional and enjoy your success, I'm sure your acceptances will start rolling in in Oct.

Lol thanks! It's just I feel guilty leaving work all the time for interviews, and my PI looks like he's getting annoyed about all of this. And on top of that, work is slow, so it's not like I've shown him that I can carry my own weight and can balance all of my projects well.

 

[Aerus]

Some do. My PI is an MD/PhD, so he definitely understands. =P

 

[kyamh]

Lol thanks! It's just I feel guilty leaving work all the time for interviews, and my PI looks like he's getting annoyed about all of this. And on top of that, work is slow, so it's not like I've shown him that I can carry my own weight and can balance all of my projects well.

👍 Congratulations on all your interviews!

I am totally with you about feeling guilty - I can't boast the same issue with many interviews, but I'm currently seriously considering rescheduling an interview because my absence on the day I was assigned would completely throw off the experiment we had planned for that week 🙁

I wish all interviews were on a set two days of the week so that I could just re-schedule my weekends around those days.