How many hours do u spend in lab?

[Neuronette]

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I am looking to do bench research at labs and I would like to know how much time is usually required weekly (by the PI) for lab research. How many hours do u spend in lab and would something like 8-10 hrs a week with a full courseload be too much?

 

[goodkarma]

I am looking to do bench research at labs and I would like to know how much time is usually required weekly (by the PI) for lab research. How many hours do u spend in lab and would something like 8-10 hrs a week with a full courseload be too much?

When I was doing research for credit, my PI wanted me there 5-6 hours a week per credit, so minimally I spent 12 hours a week in lab with a full courseload and 2 research credits. 12 was also the minimum requirement for an academic year fellowship I had. Realistically though, I could spend upwards of 20 to 25 some weeks. I'd say it depends a lot on whether your doing scut work or an actual project and on what your PI/mentors expect of you. Be upfront with the PI and ask in the beginning. It doesn't hurt to send your mentor your class schedule so they know when to expect you, too. Honestly, coupled with ECs, it definitely took time away from my studies, especially the weeks I had a lot to do around the lab, but I made the choice to take on that much. I'd say 10-12 hours/week is normal at my undergrad uni and people handle it pretty well.

 

[Bangersandmash]

It is dependent on the PI. Some want 20 hours a week. Some are fine with 10. Most people don't do under 10 per week for research. I've done ten hours per week in a clinical research lab since the second semester of my freshman year and I've never had time management problems. I could imagine 20 hours per week though wiping out most of my free time.

 

[La Presse]

~12.

 

[latebutterflu]

10-30 sophomore/junior year (avg ~20)
20-50 during senior year (writing thesis; avg ~35 hours)

However, that was because I *wanted* to be there and had my own project. I'm sure I could have done less had I wanted to. It's very dependent on the PI.

It didn't really interfere with classes; I would study in lab during downtime while waiting on experiments.

 

[Doctor246853]

15hr/week
Today, about 34mins....my PI is out of town....

 

[deleted393595]

i am looking to do bench research at labs and i would like to know how much time is usually required weekly (by the pi) for lab research. How many hours do u spend in lab and would something like 8-10 hrs a week with a full courseload be too much?

4-30+

 

[Josh7]

Last semester I was volunteering so anywhere from 8-12 hrs/week. This semester I'm doing it for credit so I'll be doing 12-15 hrs/week

 

[Eon]

Last semester I was volunteering so anywhere from 8-12 hrs/week. This semester I'm doing it for credit so I'll be doing 12-15 hrs/week

Is taking a lab class for credit = doing research for med schools and to the adcoms? Or do med schools expect research out of the uni, for non-credit?

 

[Josh7]

Is taking a lab class for credit = doing research for med schools and to the adcoms? Or do med schools expect research out of the uni, for non-credit?

It's still considered doing research. If there wasn't credit offered doing a senior thesis would be an insane time commitment

 

[TheShaker]

I do roughly 20-25 hours per week in my lab but that's because I choose to put in more work. I know some people in my lab do around 10-15 hours but it's unacceptable to the PI if you go beneath 10.

 

[neurotroph]

Since I'm getting paid I try to do at least 10 because that's more money in my pocket. But a lot of the time there isn't that much to do in the lab. 8-10 hours with a full courseload isn't too much, though I cut the lab time down around midterms and finals.

 

[magicm]

As pointed out by many it depends a lot on your PI but generally I find most PIs don't care about how many hours you are spending as long as you are productive and generating data.

In my Sr. year I had a full course load and spent 30-50 hours/week (split in two different labs where I had two different projects). I also know people who spent significantly less time in the lab but they didn't continue in research after.

 

[thehappydoctor]

Well i usually work 9-5 so thats 8 hours but i suppose if your work is less time consuming you could get away with less

 

[dannybht]

Doing ~12 hours right now. 15-20 when there is a deadline. 8-10 hours is not really time consuming, even if you have a full courseload like ~16 credit hours.

I was like you OP when I started out looking for research. Worst interview ever.. Funny story...I went to discuss with a PI, looking for a position my freshmen year (not my current lab) :

PI: Looks like you have a 3.6 gpa...so what do you want to do after undergrad...

Me: umm...I would like to go to medical school..

PI: You know that you its strongly recommended that you need a 3.8 gpa right...

Me: 🙁 (this guy is killing my hopes...)

PI: I just want to let you know I don't write LORs anymore since I have had too many premed students who don't spend enough time in lab..

Me:😕

PI: Anyway why are you interested in this lab...

Me: Because nanomedicine really interests me...I actually did a research paper on it back in my gen. chem class😎

PI: Oh so what did talk about in your paper...

Me: ummm....(me rambling bs) stuttering...

PI: (He then proceeds to ask me a question on the structure of carbon nanotubes..)

Me: (long silence, felt like a lifetime)

PI: Its okay if you don't know the answer...you should have just asked me

Me: sorry...my paper was mostly on the ethics of nanomedicine 🙁

.....After some more talking

PI: So this lab is going to require a lot of work (emphasized a lot on the intensity of the work), at least 10 hours...Here is the lab manual..and before you join the lab, you should meet all the coworkers and ask about their projects to get to know them and get ideas for your own project.

Me: okay...

Conclusion: I never joined the lab, even though the research was really interesting. I was too intimidated by the end of that interview...I think he just doesn't like premeds in his lab..haha

 

[sunflower18]

I am doing psychology research, and the time commitment is very minimal, like 2-5 hours a week. I wish I was doing more, but it's clinical-esque, and so at least two research assistants have to be there at a time. When there are only 5 people involved in the lab and they all are super busy with other things, not much gets done... It's a bummer. As a general rule, is bench research more reliably busy than clinical / dry labs? My experiences indicate yes, but I've only worked in one lab of each variety.

 

[chillaxbro]

I do 15 hours a week for 3 credits with a full courseload during the school year
During winter/summer breaks, I do like 55 hours a week for no credit (no point in paying tuition to do research)

Guys be careful when asking your PI for a LOR. If they like you in their lab, they'll purposely write you a bad LOR so you don't get into medical school so you can be with them forever 😉

 

[deleted393595]

Doing ~12 hours right now. 15-20 when there is a deadline. 8-10 hours is not really time consuming, even if you have a full courseload like ~16 credit hours.

I was like you OP when I started out looking for research. Worst interview ever.. Funny story...I went to discuss with a PI, looking for a position my freshmen year (not my current lab) :

PI: Looks like you have a 3.6 gpa...so what do you want to do after undergrad...

Me: umm...I would like to go to medical school..

PI: You know that you its strongly recommended that you need a 3.8 gpa right...

Me: 🙁 (this guy is killing my hopes...)

PI: I just want to let you know I don't write LORs anymore since I have had too many premed students who don't spend enough time in lab..

Me:😕

PI: Anyway why are you interested in this lab...

Me: Because nanomedicine really interests me...I actually did a research paper on it back in my gen. chem class😎

PI: Oh so what did talk about in your paper...

Me: ummm....(me rambling bs) stuttering...

PI: (He then proceeds to ask me a question on the structure of carbon nanotubes..)

Me: (long silence, felt like a lifetime)

PI: Its okay if you don't know the answer...you should have just asked me

Me: sorry...my paper was mostly on the ethics of nanomedicine 🙁

.....After some more talking

PI: So this lab is going to require a lot of work (emphasized a lot on the intensity of the work), at least 10 hours...Here is the lab manual..and before you join the lab, you should meet all the coworkers and ask about their projects to get to know them and get ideas for your own project.

Me: okay...

Conclusion: I never joined the lab, even though the research was really interesting. I was too intimidated by the end of that interview...I think he just doesn't like premeds in his lab..haha

Sounds like a normal interview. What was so intimidating about it?

 

[Si Se Puede]

Usually 20-25 hours during the semester on top of what usually turns out to be a really heavy courseload. I usually spend nights and weekends since my day/afternoon is just filled with classes and other committments.

During the breaks, I sleep on a cot in the lab. Jking, but you get the idea 😀

 

[dannybht]

Sounds like a normal interview. What was so intimidating about it?

Maybe I felt overwhlemed because it was my first real interview as well. Plus he was was tall. lol

 

[deleted393595]

Maybe I felt overwhlemed because it was my first real interview as well. Plus he was was tall. lol

👍 1st one is always tough

 

[diamondgal1337]

Roughly 30 or more most of the time..

But I study in the lab too 😛 I'm in charge of a huge project that requires a lot of work.

 

[Bangersandmash]

Guys be careful when asking your PI for a LOR. If they like you in their lab, they'll purposely write you a bad LOR so you don't get into medical school so you can be with them forever 😉

I hope you are kidding. Some PIs may do that, but I don't think it's the norm. My PI wrote me a great letter, even though he said he wished I was staying longer. But I think he also knew that if I figured out that he wrote me a bad letter, I would leave anyway.

I am doing psychology research, and the time commitment is very minimal, like 2-5 hours a week. I wish I was doing more, but it's clinical-esque, and so at least two research assistants have to be there at a time. When there are only 5 people involved in the lab and they all are super busy with other things, not much gets done... It's a bummer. As a general rule, is bench research more reliably busy than clinical / dry labs? My experiences indicate yes, but I've only worked in one lab of each variety.

Bench labs do usually require more time. However, I know many people in bench labs who spend months on projects, only to have them fail and not even produce a poster. Clinical work seems to be a little more reliable in the productivity department.

 

[Neuronette]

I do 15 hours a week for 3 credits with a full courseload during the school year
During winter/summer breaks, I do like 55 hours a week for no credit (no point in paying tuition to do research)

Guys be careful when asking your PI for a LOR. If they like you in their lab, they'll purposely write you a bad LOR so you don't get into medical school so you can be with them forever 😉

....I highly doubt that. Unless they are just cruel people, I would think that they would tell you up front that they wouldnt be able to write one...rather than going thru the trouble of actually writing one that is bad. Im sure those ppl have enough things to do with their time.