Is a "grunt work" research position still meaningful?

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Targaryens

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I have recently been offered a lab position at a well-ranked, reputable, and research-heavy school (incidentally, it is a med school I'd really like to go to in the future). My job mainly entails making solutions, sterilizing workspaces and equipment, etc. with some potential to shadow the grad students in the lab. After having worked here for several months, there is a chance for me to work more actively on a project with a grad student. My would-be PI has enticed me with the potential for a letter of rec from him; he said that since the school's name carries a lot of weight, the prospective letter alone should make the position worthwhile. I have had productive research experiences and have led my own research projects in the past.

My question is, is it going to look "bad" for me to go from doing independent research to doing grunt work at a well-ranked medical school? Will this experience still count for something when I apply to med school, even though I will not have much of a hands-on role?

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If you're not getting paid don't waste your time. What is he gonna say in the letter? You washed dishes superbly? Sounds like they're taking advantage of you. It shouldn't take several months of cleaning dishes to get a chance to work on a project, especially if you already have meaningful experiences.

Now if you need money and they're paying then might as well do it if you can't find a more worthwhile position.
 
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