How late are research labs open?

[binderpaper]

A PI asked me my availability/schedule for the summer, and I'm trying to schedule a couple different commitments. I don't want to list times that the lab would be closed. I imagine it would be open 9AM to 5 or 6PM??

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[FlavivirusProtease]

A PI asked me my availability/schedule for the summer, and I'm trying to schedule a couple different commitments. I don't want to list times that the lab would be closed. I imagine it would be open 9AM to 5 or 6PM??

When you start, it'll generally be whatever time your mentor will be there. So if your mentor is in lab from 9-5 your PI will want you in lab from 9-5.

Once you're finished training, some PIs will let you get a key to the lab facility. At that point, the research lab is open any time you're willing to be in it. Some days when I needed a reaction to work (especially before a presentation) I'd be in the lab as late as 2AM.

Overall, just tell him/her you're available whenever and he'll give you enough hours for you to succeed.

 

[raf1ki]

My lab on campus scans our student IDs for access to the building and labs, 24/7.

 

[binderpaper]

My lab on campus scans our student IDs for access to the building and labs, 24/7.

fancy

 

[Gilakend]

The buildings are 24/7 at my school with ID. Lab is dependent on who has a key and when they leave. Every PhD student in my lab has a key and some stay until the wee hours of the morning many nights. There's also days where it's 2 PM and the lab is locked because everyone is gone.

 

[Goro]

A PI asked me my availability/schedule for the summer, and I'm trying to schedule a couple different commitments. I don't want to list times that the lab would be closed. I imagine it would be open 9AM to 5 or 6PM??

They're open until the work is done

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

They're open until the work is done

gore, are you involved in research at your institution??

 

[boogiecousins94]

My building has security guards that check IDs 24/7 and on weekends. I've gone in at 3am on a Sunday and someone is there! Granted my building has 1000+ people who work in it. Mine doesn't have a key but every elevator, door and animal facility has ID card access

Are you a volunteer? That may shift expectations a bit. Where I am most people come between 9-10 and at least for me since it's a full time job I'm there 9-6:30 everyday. If you are paid I would expect 9-5 at the very least maybe weekends sometimes too (happens a lot in labs)

First summer lab I worked in I came 5 days a week but worked 10-3 as a volunteer

 

[Goro]

gore, are you involved in research at your institution??

Yup. I'm one of the more productive ones, actually. I've been VERY lucky to have good students in the lab!

 

[Microbug]

They never close

 

[kiwiprincess]

I'd have to agree with everyone else who say that the lab isn't closed until the work is done (which is really never). I like going into lab at odd hours so give your PI a general availability and then pop in whenever else you can.

 

[ChymeofPassion]

"Well it's 5pm! I have two hours left on my cells, but it's closing time! I guess I'll try again next time"

 

[ReapPremed]

Labs are open until the work is done. But 9-5 isn't a bad estimate, usually.

Keep in mind that when you're starting off they're going to want to supervise you. The grad-student or post-doc may not want to deal with you in off hours. A just-starting undergrad willing and eager to pop in on the weekends and late nights, enthusiastic as they may be, is kind of useless.

 

[Eleithyia]

My first day in my undergrad lab my PI handed me a key--we have to have them right away because one of our lab rooms has to be locked at any time that no one is inside (biosafety reasons), but we all need access to it regularly. After the initial training, I've gotten to set my own hours except for a standing weekly lab meeting and coming in during regular business hours to catch my PI to give updates and for input/protocol modifications/locations of rarely-used reagents.

 

[eteshoe]

Research labs are never closed

 

[binderpaper]

lol got the message thanks yall
meeting the PI tomorrow and I'm so in love w the topic of research his lab does I am very very excited c:

 

[Alejandro]

I definitely remember running PCRs at 3 am in the morning...with EDM music blasting in the background. As others have mentioned, while you have training wheels, you'll generally have the same hours as the rest. once you're off training wheels, you're on your own.

 

[HomeSkool]

They're open until the work is done

And the work is never done.

 

[Goro]

And the work is never done.

Well, while science can't be done on banker's hours, if you have to spend > 60 hrs in the lab/week, then something is wrong with your science!

 

[oldman]

There generally isn't a time for labs. I've slept in the lab when I had a project that required monitoring and where I had to be physically there for an extended period of time. When doing research on animals I had to go in on the weekends to check on them and give them medications or saline boluses if they were sick.

 

[drvaltrex]

It really depends on the lab work being done. Some research involves timed protocol steps at random times throughout the day and night

 

[Alejandro]

if you have to spend > 60 hrs in the lab/week, then something is wrong with your science!

@Goro, I can't help it if my cursed ecoli won't take in the plasmid! grrrrr MOAR SHOCK THERAPY! * ROAR * 😛

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

24/7, wherever I have access to a computer. Comp sci has it's benefits!