Lab Problems...

[TheRealBatmanMD]

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Just to start off, I am currently a third year undergraduate. I have been working in a laboratory for the last 1.5 years, dedicating a significant amount of time. My PI told me directly that out of all of the undergraduates he has trained (around 30 or so), I was the best he has ever worked with. However, I learned recently that the data for the project I am working on won't published (most likely Nature Neuroscience) for another two years. By this time, I would have already graduated and started applying for medical schools. What also sucks is that my post-doc is leaving the laboratory along with all the graduate students graduating this year which is going to delay the project even further. Therefore, I'm not sure if I should switch labs and try to publish elsewhere. I have spoken to another PI recently and he told me that if I join his lab, I can publish a paper within 6 months. However, if I join his lab, I might be jeopardizing my letter of recommendation with my current PI.

Overall, I've just been extremely frustrated recently as I worked extremely hard in this laboratory, dedicating all of my previous summers just to publish a paper that took me 3.5-4 years, which won't even matter once i'm in medical school. If anyone has been in a similar situation before, please comment. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[ardeidae]

I know that it is frustrating, but you will be fine. I have worked in the same lab for over three years now (one full-time summer included) and will have no publication to show for it for at least another year. The good news though? I applied to 16 MD-PhD programs with that, and have received 11 interviews, 9 of which were at top 20 schools (including Harvard), and so far have one acceptance at a top 20. I've had maybe four interviewers ask me about publications, not in a "Why don't you have any?" accusing kind of way, more in surprise and curiosity. They all prefaced it with "This doesn't matter." All they really cared about was the energy and enthusiasm I had for my work, even though it is not the research I want to do in my future career and even though I have no publications. The fact that I stayed in a lab for three years, really love what I do, and can explain it with an obvious understanding is much more important.

So, my advice: Do not leave your lab just for the reasons of publishing. A strong LOR from your PI is of much greater importance in my opinion, and your interviewers will love your dedication. Unless you have a very strong reasoning for going to this other lab beyond publications, and you can ensure that your relationship with your current PI does not suffer, I don't think it is worth it. Also, consider MD-PhD if you love research! Feel free to PM me if you have questions about the MD-PhD path.

 

[aldol16]

A strong letter from your current PI would tell med schools everything about the project they would want to know. What they're interested in is your ability to do research and your aptitude for scientific thinking. Publications are icing on the cake at your level. And if it's close to completion by the time you apply, your PI would very likely mention it in his letter.

 

[Goro]

I see that you're unaware that in basic science research, there is considerable lag time between the work you do and the publication of your results assuming you get publishable data. It's hard enough for grad students and post docs to get publications. It takes me two years on avg to get a paper out.

Med schools aren't looking for grad students, they're looking for people who understand something about the scientific method.

A publication that comes from this while you're in med school will still count for when you're looking for a residency.

Do NOT think that just because you go to a new lab, that a paper will be ready by the time you apply. Take that new PI's word with a large bag of salt.

Just to start off, I am currently a third year undergraduate. I have been working in a laboratory for the last 1.5 years, dedicating a significant amount of time. My PI told me directly that out of all of the undergraduates he has trained (around 30 or so), I was the best he has ever worked with. However, I learned recently that the data for the project I am working on won't published (most likely Nature Neuroscience) for another two years. By this time, I would have already graduated and started applying for medical schools. What also sucks is that my post-doc is leaving the laboratory along with all the graduate students graduating this year which is going to delay the project even further. Therefore, I'm not sure if I should switch labs and try to publish elsewhere. I have spoken to another PI recently and he told me that if I join his lab, I can publish a paper within 6 months. However, if I join his lab, I might be jeopardizing my letter of recommendation with my current PI.

Overall, I've just been extremely frustrated recently as I worked extremely hard in this laboratory, dedicating all of my previous summers just to publish a paper that took me 3.5-4 years, which won't even matter once i'm in medical school. If anyone has been in a similar situation before, please comment. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.