Got Kicked Out of Lab?

[lalex]

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Hey guys, I just got an email that I got kicked out of my lab for a complete misunderstanding.

I put my availability into a calendar, was emailed to come 2 of those days, got fired for not coming all my available days.

 

[piii]

Your writing is very confusing. I want to help you but I can't understand what you are trying to say

 

[bananafish94]

Did you not come for 2 out of your 3 available times for training, or did they just randomly preemptively fire you?

 

[lalex]

Your writing is very confusing. I want to help you but I can't understand what you are trying to say

I don't even understand what the heck happened. I signed up with my availability and was told to come two out of three of my available days. Then I got an email saying I'm kicked out because I did not come.

 

[lalex]

I'm literally begging now an it's not cute. But I didn't KNOW I did anything wrong which I'm still getting clarification on.

 

[el_duderino]

I don't even understand what the heck happened. I signed up with my availability and was told to come two out of three of my available days. Then I got an email saying I'm kicked out because I did not come.

.... Where's the confusion? You were told to come and you did not.

 

[Glazedonutlove]

I don't even understand what the heck happened. I signed up with my availability and was told to come two out of three of my available days. Then I got an email saying I'm kicked out because I did not come.

are you saying you did go 2/3 times and still got kicked out?

 

[lalex]

.... Where's the confusion? You were told to come and you did not.

Are you illiterate? I was told to come Wed/Fri (I put I could come Mon/Wed/Fri) and today is Tuesday buddy!

 

[lalex]

are you saying you did go 2/3 times and still got kicked out?

I'm saying I was going to go to 2/2 times they signed me up for,

 

[el_duderino]

Are you illiterate? I was told to come Wed/Fri (I put I could come Mon/Wed/Fri) and today is Tuesday buddy!

I think I'm getting a sense for why you were kicked out.

 

[Glazedonutlove]

Are you illiterate? I was told to come Wed/Fri (I put I could come Mon/Wed/Fri) and today is Tuesday buddy!

can't blame him--you are not very clear in your writing. maybe this was also a factor in your lab misunderstanding?

 

[ChrisMack390]

Are you illiterate? I was told to come Wed/Fri (I put I could come Mon/Wed/Fri) and today is Tuesday buddy!

This is a really great way to get advice, keep it up.

 

[lalex]

This is a really great way to get advice, keep it up.

That was rude. He's always rude. If I did not go to sessions I was signed up for, I would not see a reason to post this.

 

[piii]

Well clearly there was a miscommunication. Best to take responsibility and politely contact the PI to explain. See if you can have a face to face conversation, apologize for the error and try to correct it. This is adult life: things like this happen so collect yourself, take responsibility, communicate with the persons involved, then move on. You'll be able to find another lab.

 

[bananafish94]

That was rude. He's always rude. If I did not go to sessions I was signed up for, I would not see a reason to post this.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt even though you're being a bit of a tool to people trying to give you advice. Graduate students live in a world where time and logic work in very strange ways. Whenever I have had confusion in my lab, I've found it best to directly talk to people in person rather than wait for an email. Hopefully it's just a misunderstanding.

 

[Pete Clat]

That was rude. He's always rude. If I did not go to sessions I was signed up for, I would not see a reason to post this.

Here's a tip for your future, if someone is rude to you, it's a good idea to be level headed and respond calmly.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Agree with the above posts. See if you can touch base with the PI in person. If not, I would write a politely-worded email saying that you made a mistake and apologizing for the misunderstanding (even if it wasn't your mistake) and for any inconvenience you caused. And say something like, "I sincerely hope you'll reconsider." If they do give you another chance, try to make yourself available whenever they'd like you to show up. If not, simply apologize and leave it at that. It sucks but sometimes miscommunications happen. Hopefully, the PI will be forgiving!

 

[lalex]

can't blame him--you are not very clear in your writing. maybe this was also a factor in your lab misunderstanding?

I understand how my writing was confusing, but I'm pretty sure a 20 something year old wouldn't bitch about not coming to sessions they were signed up for.

I emailed PI, emailed grad student begging like a dog, and now I'll wait.

 

[lalex]

Agree with the above posts. See if you can touch base with the PI in person. If not, I would write a politely-worded email saying that you made a mistake and apologizing for the misunderstanding (even if it wasn't your mistake) and for any inconvenience you caused. And say something like, "I sincerely hope you'll reconsider." If they do give you another chance, try to make yourself available whenever they'd like you to show up. If not, simply apologize and leave it at that. It sucks but sometimes miscommunications happen. Hopefully, the PI will be forgiving!

Thanks this is what I just did. I can understand he doesn't want to not have RAs with actual participants, but there were 4 other RAs with availability Monday so they chose another one?

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Be very careful in your communications with them. You came across as disorganized and rude here when asking for advice here. You don't want to come across that way when talking to the PI and assistants.

 

[lalex]

Be very careful in your communications with them. You came across as disorganized and rude here when asking for advice here. You don't want to come across that way when talking to the PI and assistants.

l didn't. I explained myself, but once he explained himself, I just took the blame.

 

[bananafish94]

I understand how my writing was confusing, but I'm pretty sure a 20 something year old wouldn't bitch about not coming to sessions they were signed up for.

I emailed PI, emailed grad student begging like a dog, and now I'll wait.

Please avoid sounding like a desperate pre-med student when communicating with Ph.D students. That's the kind of thing that makes undergraduates unpleasant to work with in the eyes of the rest of the lab. As professionally as possible, I would recommend sending an email asking for clarification as to what happened, and if you don't get a response try to meet with them in person.

 

[el_duderino]

Please avoid sounding like a desperate pre-med student when communicating with Ph.D students. That's the kind of thing that makes undergraduates unpleasant to work with in the eyes of the rest of the lab. As professionally as possible, I would recommend sending an email asking for clarification as to what happened, and if you don't get a response try to meet with them in person.

It sounds like she already did. There's not much to do now but wait to see if she gets a reply. I'm not sure what the point of the thread is, really. I understand she's in a mild panic, perhaps she just wants to vent?

 

[lalex]

Please avoid sounding like a desperate pre-med student when communicating with Ph.D students. That's the kind of thing that makes undergraduates unpleasant to work with in the eyes of the rest of the lab. As professionally as possible, I would recommend sending an email asking for clarification as to what happened, and if you don't get a response try to meet with them in person.

I think he wants me to beg and seem like it is the end of the world that they kicked me out.

 

[lalex]

It sounds like she already did. There's not much to do now but wait to see if she gets a reply. I'm not sure what the point of the thread is, really. I understand she's in a mild panic, perhaps she just wants to vent?

How do you know what I wrote in my email? You only know what I sound like here.

 

[lalex]

PI emailed me back saying he will talk to the grad student. But the grad student already replied to me with little budge.

 

[wagonwheel23]

Honestly, emailing the PI probably won't make a difference. You are not working with the PI. So, if the PhD student already doesn't like you enough to fire you, you probably don't want to continue working with them.

I'd walk away from this. Also, work on your written communication skills. Based on this thread, they appear to be a bit jumbled .

 

[lalex]

Honestly, emailing the PI probably won't make a difference. You are not working with the PI. So, if the PhD student already doesn't like you enough to fire you, you probably don't want to continue working with them.

I'd walk away from this. Also, work on your written communication skills. Based on this thread, they appear to be a bit jumbled .

If you were just fired, would you be calm and collected?

 

[mimelim]

#1 I can't really understand half of what you have written. This is a global problem that you need to work on. This is a communication issue. Based on available information here, most would suspect that you contributed at least partially to the issues at hand.
#2 This is a very simple situation. If this is a miscommunication issue, resolve it. Labs always need good students to help them. If you are a good fit and will help them, then you should talk with the grad student/PI in person to resolve these issues and get things taken care of.
#3 If the PI/grad student is not willing to work with you to resolve this, it is because of one of two issues. a) they are bad people and it isn't worth your time to bother with this lab in the first place or b) you have left such a poor impression in your limited interactions with them that they don't want to bother with you. In either case, it is a learning experience and you should simply move on.

 

[Lawpy]

#1 I can't really understand half of what you have written. This is a global problem that you need to work on. This is a communication issue. Based on available information here, most would suspect that you contributed at least partially to the issues at hand.
#2 This is a very simple situation. If this is a miscommunication issue, resolve it. Labs always need good students to help them. If you are a good fit and will help them, then you should talk with the grad student/PI in person to resolve these issues and get things taken care of.
#3 If the PI/grad student is not willing to work with you to resolve this, it is because of one of two issues. a) they are bad people and it isn't worth your time to bother with this lab in the first place or b) you have left such a poor impression in your limited interactions with them that they don't want to bother with you. In either case, it is a learning experience and you should simply move on.

Sound advice as always. Combining this with the following:

Are you illiterate? I was told to come Wed/Fri (I put I could come Mon/Wed/Fri) and today is Tuesday buddy!

I think I'm getting a sense for why you were kicked out.

Makes the situation quite clear

 

[bananafish94]

I think he wants me to beg and seem like it is the end of the world that they kicked me out.

I disagree. Researchers like careful and methodical people, not erratic people. If you haven't already, I would strongly urge you not to "beg." It is rarely looked upon favorably in research or in life.

 

[el_duderino]

How do you know what I wrote in my email? You only know what I sound like here.

You told us that you emailed the grad student and PI "begging like a dog."

What advice do you hope to get?

 

[lalex]

#1 I can't really understand half of what you have written. This is a global problem that you need to work on. This is a communication issue. Based on available information here, most would suspect that you contributed at least partially to the issues at hand.
#2 This is a very simple situation. If this is a miscommunication issue, resolve it. Labs always need good students to help them. If you are a good fit and will help them, then you should talk with the grad student/PI in person to resolve these issues and get things taken care of.
#3 If the PI/grad student is not willing to work with you to resolve this, it is because of one of two issues. a) they are bad people and it isn't worth your time to bother with this lab in the first place or b) you have left such a poor impression in your limited interactions with them that they don't want to bother with you. In either case, it is a learning experience and you should simply move on.

Thanks, when I wrote this post I did not even know what happened. The writing makes sense to me but that is because I know the situation and what I was supposed to do.

Whatever, they lost a good person. I could have been there everyday if that is what they wanted.

 

[bananafish94]

How do you know what I wrote in my email? You only know what I sound like here.

So what did you say in the email?

 

[lalex]

You told us that you emailed the grad student and PI "begging like a dog."

What advice do you hope to get?

Right? Along the lines of professionally saying I could be there for all the sessions for the rest of the week (ones I was not signed up for) in order to observe since I was still training.

 

[bananafish94]

Thanks, when I wrote this post I did not even know what happened. The writing makes sense to me but that is because I know the situation and what I was supposed to do.

Whatever, they lost a good person. I could have been there everyday if that is what they wanted.

Is it possible to work with a different grad student?

 

[lalex]

So what did you say in the email?

"I am so sorry for not being there during the session I was signed up for. If you could please give me another chance, I am willing to be there for any XXXXX sessions this week along with any training I wasn't originally signed up for. My availability is so open I could be there everyday after my last class. I really want to be a part of this lab and am sorry for any problems I have caused."

 

[lalex]

Is it possible to work with a different grad student?

I don't know if there is another one, but I'll talk to PI. Grad student told me lab manager emailed me explaining the calendar when she only emailed me t put my availability.. I don't know, once the grad student emailed me what days to come, I didn't look at the calendar again.

 

[bananafish94]

"I am so sorry for not being there during the session I was signed up for. If you could please give me another chance, I am willing to be there for any XXXXX sessions this week along with any training I wasn't originally signed up for. My availability is so open I could be there everyday after my last class. I really want to be a part of this lab and am sorry for any problems I have caused."

Wait...I thought that the session hadn't happened yet? The email seeks to inducate that you did indeed miss the training you were supposed to go to.

 

[wagonwheel23]

@lalex I am trying to help you. There was no malice in my previous post. And based on your response, I'll stop the advice giving. Best of luck.

 

[lalex]

Wait...I thought that the session hadn't happened yet? The email seeks to inducate that you did indeed miss the training you were supposed to go to.

No the two I am signed up for are tomorrow + Friday. Apparently I didn't go to one on Monday which is what I'm referring to in the email.

 

[wonko]

Why would you go mailing the PI instead of just writing back "to my knowledge I was scheduled Wed and Fri"?

 

[baratheonfire]

Hey guys, I just got an email that I got kicked out of my lab for a complete misunderstanding.

I'm still new and don't know how any of this works. But I was supposed to put my availability in a calendar, which I did. Then I got an email from the grad student to come 2/3 of my available times for training. However, yesterday, I got an email saying I'm kicked out because I did not come (my last availability). I still don't know what the confusion was. If I was supposed to run an actual participant without training just to see/observe. I'm still waiting for an email.

I did email the PI, but am I completely in the wrong here?

I was in a similar boat this year. I'd been working in my first lab for 3 weeks, in the summer, and I thought I'd gotten to the point where I could casually disagree with my grad student supervisor's daily extreme left wing rants. Turns out, I couldn't, so I got put on probation (really stupid, I was neither paid nor given credit).
So I just left and luckily found another lab to work in within 2 or 3 days. I've been there for 6 months and actually get paid now, (also I love their research). I'm not even going to list that other lab on my resume.

I'd advise you to do the same. If someone was willing to kick you out, there's no reason to try to stay.

 

[lalex]

Why would you go mailing the PI instead of just writing back "to my knowledge I was scheduled Wed and Fri"?

I did both because the grad student said he talked to PI and they both decided to let me go. I look like a tool who didn't care about then. Which hurts me more than being dropped.

 

[lalex]

I was in a similar boat in the summer. I'd been working in my first lab for 3 weeks in the summer, and I thought I'd gotten to the point where I could casually disagree with my grad student supervisor's daily extreme left wing rants. Turns out, I couldn't, so I got put on probation (really stupid, I was neither paid nor given credit).
So I just left and luckily found another lab to work in within 2 or 3 days. I've been there for 6 months and actually get paid now, (also I love their research). I'm not even going to list that other lab on my resume.

I'd advise you to do the same. If someone was willing to kick you out, there's no reason to try to stay.

I already am in another wet lab but this lab was so cool and the PI loves me (letter!). 🙁 Oh well, I'll try to find another psych lab, they seem to be easier to get into than wet labs.

 

[baratheonfire]

I did both because the grad student he talked to PI and they both decided to let me go. I look like a tool who didn't care about then. Which hurts me more than being dropped.

It's not worth it. Something better will UNDOUBTEDLY come up. How long had you been working there for?

 

[wonko]

Theres something really fishy about that story. If I was the grad student, you'd have disqualified yourself by mailing the PI instead of reaching out to me.

 

[lalex]

Theres something really fishy about that story. If I was the grad student, you'd have disqualified yourself by mailing the PI instead of reaching out to me.

I emailed both. I emailed the grad student more than the PI.

 

[baratheonfire]

I already am in another wet lab but this lab was so cool and the PI loves me (letter!). 🙁 Oh well, I'll try to find another psych lab, they seem to be easier to get into than wet labs.

Why do you want to work in two labs? There's not that much reason to work in more than one lab, especially a wet lab. I switched from a molec bio based lab to a BME lab, and love it though.

Also, no more letter, dude.

 

[lalex]

The last email I m going to send is to take me off the listserv because I'm still getting emails about putting my availability lol