Do you find research to be difficult?

[slinquii]

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[sliceofbread136]

No one really expects much from you, you are there to learn. Give it some time, it will start coming together after awhile

 

[Happy Thoughts]

Biggest thing in lab is to ask a lot of questions so you learn. If the person in charge of the lab gives you a hard time for asking questions then he or she is an dingus and not worth working for.

 

[Happy Thoughts]

Biggest thing in lab is to ask a lot of questions so you learn. If the person in charge of the lab gives you a hard time for asking questions then he or she is an dingus and not worth working for.

Apparently curse words get auto corrected here. Had more flowery language for that type of person.

 

[NYCdude]

It sounds like you're not understanding the science. If you haven't taken a course on genetics, things won't just click automatically by reading articles and studies, etc.

 

[referee3]

I had an undergrad similar to you. If you are having trouble grasping new concepts that is ok and will get better with time and as you learn more. If you are having trouble with the same topics over and over again (as my student did) than you are in trouble and should consider moving on to something else so you stop wasting everyone's time.

 

[bee17]

I felt like a complete idiot the first month or two of my first research experience. It will get better! If your professor thinks you are doing a great job, then you have nothing to worry about. Just keep putting in effort, asking questions, and trying to understand. You probably won't have a "click" moment where you suddenly understand everything, but you will slowly get a better grasp on the concepts. If you haven't yet taken genetics, then filling that gap in your knowledge may help. Even if you have taken genetics, your professor's research is likely above and beyond the scope of an undergrad class, so it is normal to feel overwhelmed.

 

[Long Way to Go]

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[lifetothefullest]

There's a difference between understanding the conceptual goal of what you're trying to do and the science behind that versus understanding how to do it. If you understand the former, you're in good shape. It takes a lot of time to understand how all the instruments you're using work and that's is definitely something you should aim for, but you don't need to know how it works to know what it does. For example, you don't initially need to understand exactly how a PCR machine works or how to prepare a sample for it, just that it amplifies your DNA sequence.

 

[Lucca]

This is totally normal. Other posters have offered good advice. My advice: Ask grad students questions about what is going on. Find a paper from the lab that is representative of the work and when you can understand precisely what it's saying and what the figures show you have a good grasp on the science.

As time goes on you can hopefully develop a relationship with your PI where they are more of a mentor guiding your own work (if you decide to stick with research).

I felt pretty lost for a while, but eventually experience kicks in. If you enjoy it and it keeps you curious then you'll figure it out.

 

[slinquii]

Thanks guys. I guess patience is the key. I really WANT to know how all the details work now now now, but I guess I'll just have to give it time and trust the process. My professor is so great and I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn. I will keep doing my best!

 

[Goro]

You should, at least, be writing down some sort of check list or protocol (a recipe, if you will), step by step. Do one thing, and do it well. No one will pick it up on the first try. We'll it's a very rare student who can...I've been lucky enough to have two in a row who can do that.

Anyway, everyone has a learning curve. It sounds like you're doing fine, from your PI, so work on the self-esteem.

You should leave the leave eventually understanding what you did and why you did it. We don't expect a Cell paper, just that you understand the scientific method.

I am in my second semester of researching with a professor in a genomics laboratory. I had no previous lab experience. I consider myself of average intelligence, but a very hard worker and with that I've kept a 4.0. I am, however, wondering if it is "normal" to feel pretty darn lost in the lab. I won't give any details on the specific research on here. Anyways...I was never given an "orientation" but instead, every time I go into the lab I am basically just told what to do while the professor stands by and watches. She explains everything to me but it almost sounds Chinese. I try to write things down but when I go home, I can't interpret it. When I try to research it on my own at home, I find that there is too much information on the internet to figure it out that way. I ask so many questions, sometimes the same ones over and over, and still can't get it. It feels like I have a puzzle in my mind with a million pieces and I am fighting tooth and nail to put the damn puzzle together! Is this normal?????????? If it is, I'll keep truckin' along and maybe one day it will click! P.S. I ask the professor all the time "How am I doing?" "How can I improve?" "Am I doing what is expected of me?" and I always get "Yes! You're doing great!" Well than why do I feel like an imbecile??? LOL but no lol