I've been working at my research lab for about 18 months (~480 hours since my Fall Sophomore year) and I used to do have things to do every week during the school year. I started out learning how to prepare samples for analysis in a Mass Spectrometer under the guidance of my mentor for all of Sophomore year. During the summer after my Sophomore year, I learned how to use the machine (not specifying it for privacy reasons) and analyze the data collected. I used to present my findings to the lab every week and felt like I was playing a huge role.
However, in late summer my mentor left the lab and I got a new mentor for a new project where progress went a bit slow. In Fall Junior year (last fall), I was needed less consistently in the lab. My role was relegated to loading the results of the experiment in a software program and the project was progressing slow as there were a lot of surprising results that confused the lab. I was then assigned a new project last December but we've been having difficulties with the machine and so I've been less needed in the lab. I haven't done a proper experiment for about a month and a half now and so I'm feeling a bit useless in the lab. I'm expecting to do a presentation at the research symposium in September, but not a publication.
I'm not sure how to feel about this situation. I feel like my research hasn't been worthwhile for the past six months ever since my mentor left and that something needs to change or else my experience will look bad.
However, in late summer my mentor left the lab and I got a new mentor for a new project where progress went a bit slow. In Fall Junior year (last fall), I was needed less consistently in the lab. My role was relegated to loading the results of the experiment in a software program and the project was progressing slow as there were a lot of surprising results that confused the lab. I was then assigned a new project last December but we've been having difficulties with the machine and so I've been less needed in the lab. I haven't done a proper experiment for about a month and a half now and so I'm feeling a bit useless in the lab. I'm expecting to do a presentation at the research symposium in September, but not a publication.
I'm not sure how to feel about this situation. I feel like my research hasn't been worthwhile for the past six months ever since my mentor left and that something needs to change or else my experience will look bad.
