Lor from lab

[MEDHEAD2024]

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[WRL]

When professor says he/she can write a positive LOR, it will serve your application well to take professor up on his/her offer

 

[lalalallala]

Hello,

I would be grateful for your advice. After working in a lab for several years, my pi asked me to leave the lab due to a lack of progress .

They mentioned that they can still provide me with a positive lor ( the pi offered) talking about my diligence,hard work, etc and that I worked in a volunteer capacity for 20+ hours a week.

Should I still get this LOR from them? They mentioned that they will not talk about the negative aspects of the experience ( failed experiments/etc) but that the issue was technically related ( we collab with other labs and they also slowed the progress)?

The pi also mentioned that I would still be listed as an author given the amount of analysis I’ve done.

I was upset but also understood their decision. This pi is known for being intense.

I would be grateful for your insight and help as I want to apply to research intense top schools and am concerned/don’t know what to do.

I think it depends on your app. You worked there for several years. If you are applying soon for example, that would seem like a red flag if I were reading your app if you didn't have a LOR from the PI. If you have time to start a new research project, and could get a research LOR that way then I think it would make sense to not use the PI you mention's LOR. If it were me, I would have them write it and then I would decide later if I was going to use it depending on the other letters I received

 

[Rachapkis]

You will never know whether negativity will spill into the PI's recommendation letter--either intentionally or unintentionally. Given the risks involved and the negative consequences of a meh or poor letter in your file, I would shy away from a recommendation letter in this instance.

 

[965978]

Which do believe actions or words?
Professor asked student to leave due to lack of progress but promises to write positive letter? Even if well intentioned, the professor could quite easily and accidentally give essentially negative statements. “Despite his lack of progress on the project, Applicant John Smith was a hard, diligent worker who spend many hours in lab at the bench” To me, that is code meaning applicant is incompetent in lab and even with many hours cant accomplish any progress

getting this letter is a risk that is wholly under your control. Avoid the risk; dont get the letter

But if OP has been in the lab for several years and doesn’t get an LOR, isn’t that a major red flag?

 

[ndafife]

But if OP has been in the lab for several years and doesn’t get an LOR, isn’t that a major red flag?

A bad LOR is a much bigger red flag than not having one

 

[Goro]

When professor says he/she can write a positive LOR, it will serve your application well to take professor up on his/her offer

my pi asked me to leave the lab due to a lack of progress .

Right there is enough evidence as to why the OP should NOT ask for an LOR from the PI.

 

[_TheStruggl3_]

I agree with Goro that there's a lot of red flags here from this PI. If you got asked to leave when you're a volunteer and free labor, I don't think their LOR will be glowing or even that positive. Similar experience happened to a girl in my undergrad lab - she got asked to leave when she was just an undergrad volunteer like me. She still asked for a LOR and though my PI isn't mean (she's just a strict woman) and also offered the LOR to be nice, but she got pissed about being asked to write this LOR and complained a lot to me lmao. I don't think that girl got into any med schools since (2 cycles passed), so I think a non-stellar/negative LOR could really kill an app. :/