I think I might get kicked out of my research lab...

[xcforever]

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[Yoseph101]

If they put you on probation then be worried. Yes you're making mistakes but everybody makes mistakes, like you said you had two great weeks right? Figure out what habits are keeping you from succeeding and change them. If you get kicked out, just find a new lab. Its not like they'll black list you or anything.

 

[kpcrew]

You could try carrying around a recorder. Update your lab notebook every day so you don't forget how to do things. Research isn't right for everyone, there's a lot of trial and error and you need to be patient.

 

[xcforever]

Thanks guys! I wouldn't say great weeks, but I didn't make any serious mistakes... but I will definitely look over my lab notebook this weekend.

 

[thesauce]

Sounds like typical issues for someone starting in a lab

 

[Doctor246853]

I feel you bro, research is hard...

 

[xxhopefulxx]

You are still adjusting...I started researching last semester. I made these same types of mistakes. It just takes time adjusting to the lab environment. Just keep working hard...you'll get the hang of it.

 

[JFK90787]

The first 1-2 weeks in the lab is always frustrating. If you get kicked out it's not your fault, you just have coworkers who like to conveniently forget a large part of their job is supposed to be teaching and nurturing othert scientists as well. You don't want to hang around people like that anyway. Just remember you are a smart, passionate, hard-working black woman who don't need no man 👍, things will turn out alright.

 

[skinnyDO]

In my masters program there were a bunch of protocols that I had to redo because they just ended up not working. And these were protocols that had been performed by the phd students before me for months and perfected. It's just the nature of research.


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[NewYorker9]

research isn't easy, I struggled with lab protocols in high school and that was one of the reasons I decided to do research in college - to improve! The first few weeks were difficult and of course I made mistakes but to correct them I worked even harder and developed such a fine attention for detail the incident went down. I'm still not perfect today. Sometimes the best experience one can get from conducting research is to realize it is not for them.

 

[soundnin]

sounds like you're being super hard on yourself. it's rare for an undergrad to get kicked out of a lab, unless you were stealing stuff or something!

anyway, the fact that you're so worried you're messing up is already a good indication that if you stick at it, things will start working out.

 

[Future MD DDubs]

Just remember you are a smart, passionate, hard-working black woman who don't need no man 👍, things will turn out alright.

Thank you.... Thank you so very much haha.

 

[Alejandro]

Get closer to your postdoc. and other grad students in the lab, if you have any. make friends, learn to make connections. Why? because then you can ask them for some advice on how to do things. This way you're learning not under the gun from your PI. Be assertive-don't wait for the PI to tell you that you don't know what's goin on. Wait too long, and she'll lose her trust in you. While asking for help from others, you may become involved in their projects as well, but again...its just more training and experience for you to pick up.

 

[physcigirl27]

i was let go from my lab but it wasn't the end of the world. I was there for around a month but it was miserable. I kept making mistakes because no one taught me anything even though it was my first lab job and whenever I asked questions about what to do, no one had a good explanation and shoo-ed me away.
Like some of the other people have said, some labs just have people that don't understand what it's like to start off in a lab. Try to be more proactive and keep trying your best.

 

[xcforever]

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[pasiley]

Wow, I was in two labs and both my PIs were awesome and really supportive. I don't think I ever made a big mistake, not because I was perfect but because they trained and taught me well before setting me loose in the lab. They took so much time out of their day at the beginning just to make sure I succeeded when I actually started my own research project.

Listening to your story reminds me how lucky I was. I 😍 my PIs.

Even if you are kicked out, don't stress about it. This doesn't sound like a lab that is very supportive. Find a PI who enjoys teaching AND research. Yours doesn't seem so keen on teaching, she seems to want someone who knows it all already. Learning is what undergrad research should be about, you shouldn't already be perfect at everything. As far as paying attention to detail part, that comes with practice. When something is new, everyone makes mistakes. The more often you do something, the more likely you are to notice when something is off or different. Your PI as a teacher should understand that. Has she had undergrads in her lab before?

 

[pasiley]

I am probably being a little too harsh on your PI. A lot of scientists lack people skills and she may just seem harsh but in reality she just wants you to succeed. maybe she is like this with all her students and doesn't realize it.

I had a friend who worked with a PI with a temper who would talk down to her but then when she needed something he always there for her and wrote her glowing references and found her job after graduation. She may be one of those.

 

[brandonh4]

Write down the background purpose of your experiment and the protocol, and ask to discuss it with your PI/postdoc/grad student. Point out parts they explained poorly or you don't understand. If you don't they're gonna assume you know it and may ask you questions.

But most importantly, realize you're in a lab, and THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE TO BLAME. Skillful blaming will get you places in life, I promise.

 

[Optimus Lime]

write down the background purpose of your experiment and the protocol, and ask to discuss it with your pi/postdoc/grad student. Point out parts they explained poorly or you don't understand. If you don't they're gonna assume you know it and may ask you questions.

But most importantly, realize you're in a lab, and there is always someone else to blame. Skillful blaming will get you places in life, i promise.

lol

 

[pasiley]

Write down the background purpose of your experiment and the protocol, and ask to discuss it with your PI/postdoc/grad student. Point out parts they explained poorly or you don't understand. If you don't they're gonna assume you know it and may ask you questions.

But most importantly, realize you're in a lab, and THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE TO BLAME. Skillful blaming will get you places in life, I promise.

I work with people like this and people who blame others for their mistakes are also the type to cover up mistakes. Don't do this, not only will you make enemies of otherwise nice/helpful people but sooner or later the truth comes out and the consequences are severe. Don't get into the habit now. You can't hide your mistakes as a doctor, that is fraud. You'll lose your license or worse yet harm a patient.

Find a PI who is more supportive. Try a smaller lab.

 

[MaenadsDance]

Write down the background purpose of your experiment and the protocol, and ask to discuss it with your PI/postdoc/grad student. Point out parts they explained poorly or you don't understand. If you don't they're gonna assume you know it and may ask you questions.

But most importantly, realize you're in a lab, and THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE TO BLAME. Skillful blaming will get you places in life, I promise.

I tried that **** when I was twelve years old, at my first job working at a riding stable. I told the barn manager I hadn't finished haying and watering the horses because of xyz, and I had to GO because my dad was here to pick me up!

And she told me that horses are living, breathing creatures and that if I didn't feed them and water them they would have no food and water.

It was a good lesson to learn... when I was twelve.

 

[brandonh4]

Some of you guys need to learn to recognize a joke when it slaps you on the head.

Like this guy:

lol

 

[pasiley]

Lol, you're right, I'm just jaded by some shady people I've come across in labs.