How many hours/week for summer research?

[grindtime1]

Typically how many hours a week do kids work for summer research? I heard it was 40 hours, but my question is CAN IT BE LESS THAN THAT? Can people do 30 hrs/week?

last question, does 1 summer of research count as a half year or full year?

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[YouNeverKnow22]

no idea. I probably work on research 6-7 hrs a week, but then I again I do clinical research and it's on my own time

 

[TooMuchResearch]

The number of hours will vary by program. I was paid for 40 hours per week but probably averaged around 45. One summer is neither a half nor a full year. It's one summer.

 

[virusgirl]

Your summer research can be whatever you and your PI want it to be. There is no hard-and-fast rule dictating how much time people spend on labwork. Just make sure that you and your advisor are on the same page in figuring out what your schedule should look like.

For your second question, I wouldn't try to figure out what 1 summer of research "counts" as. Try to think of research in terms of the amount of time you need to get a meaningful amount of work done. You don't necessarily need to get a publication, but it is nice to be able to show that you planned and executed a series of experiments in a logical sequence to answer some interesting questions. You can do that in a summer of full-time work, you can also do it in a semester or year of part-time work while you're in class. It all depends upon the nature of your project and how efficient you are with the time you have.

 

[grindtime1]

Hi. Thanks for all the responses.

One more question: does everyone get paid or can you take it as a credit that counts towards your GPA without getting paid?

 

[shishka32]

Hi. Thanks for all the responses.

One more question: does everyone get paid or can you take it as a credit that counts towards your GPA without getting paid?

Depends. Both happen.

 

[grindtime1]

Another question, 40 hours/week is obviously a lot of time.

Does this mean nearly 6 hours every single day? Or could it be 5 days a week 8 hours each day (which adds up to 40 hours/week)?

That's a lot of time.

 

[JJMrK]

These questions are things that you should speak to your PI about, as they will vary from place to place and person to person.

Many/most students that do summer research get paid.

One summer of research counts as one summer of research.

40 hours/week is generally considered full time. Most full time jobs are ~8 hours/day 5 days/week.

 

[justdoit31]

I am a medical student but my summer research position is very flexbile- I research maybe 20-25 hours a week and then attend 1-2 half days of clinic in the specialty my research is in. I am currently not getting paid but I will get a stipend if I get a national grant I applied for (they are currently about 6 weeks late announcing award recipients).

 

[dr zaius]

Typically you can work whenever you want so long as you complete your tasks on time. Some PIs may want you in the lab when they are present to make sure you aren't wrecking everything. It depends on the level of freedom you are given, the specific project you are working on (if you're assisting with animal procedures the hours you work will likely be strict), and how comfortable you are with the protocols you're using.

 

[Dannyw]

I'm doing 16-20 hours a week

 

[Kaustikos]

Typically how many hours a week do kids work for summer research? I heard it was 40 hours, but my question is CAN IT BE LESS THAN THAT? Can people do 30 hrs/week?

last question, does 1 summer of research count as a half year or full year?

I'm currently teaching/mentoring 5 summer interns with some other guys. They work 3 days a week, about 8 hours each day. That's all that we require.

How many hours they've actually done? I'd say 35-40 easily, but that's because I like to make them troubleshoot their own problems before coming to me

Not that they mind.

 

[Espadaleader]

I'm a undergrad, and I spend 20-30 hours a week in the lab. You have to have at least 20 to get things done. 40 is crazy. For a undergrad at least...

 

[waterpolooza]

40 is definitely doable as long as that's all you're doing (no summer school). i worked in my lab for 40 hrs/wk for 10 weeks last summer and even though it was a lot of time, it was definitely worth it

 

[whimsical]

For all of my summer research internships, I have been paid for 40 hours a week with a stipend/grant. So I come in pretty much that amount. My schedule is fairly flexible, though. Sometimes I come in at 10 and can still leave by 3:30, 4. Other days I come at 8 and don't leave until 5:30, 6.

I think it depends on what you're doing, what the program is set up like, and whether it's the only thing you're doing or you're also in class.

 

[studmuffin]

Usuallly if you are doing summer research it's a full time job, but at least for me there aren't set times when I'm at the lab. My PI just encourages me to get involved in the project, and not think of it so much like a "job". You should do it because you enjoy it. Just as TooMuchResearch said, 1 summer =1 summer.

 

[soundnin]

when i was interviewing for my summer research position, the PI said "i expect you to work very hard for me". i stared at her blankly and said matter of factly "okay". she paused for a second, with an inquisitive face and asked "you're not scared?". hahaha. i worked about 50 hours a week for her (which is NOTHING compared to my postgraduate research position), and squeezed 2 publications out of 1 summer experience. really depends on what you want to make of it, and how involved the PI is in your development.

 

[glasshalfMD]

I once had a summer job (when I was 18) during which I worked an average of 60-65 hours per week. So, my current 40ish hour per week research gig is like a cakewalk. It's all in the eye of the beholder and whatever you feel comfortable committing.

 

[Spindrift11B4]

I'm working about 40 hours during summer, but only 15ish during the school year. It is a pretty lax lab though and I can easily get more or less hours as needed.