My summer internship PI is screwing me over

[Hopefulpremed123]

Hello Everyone,

So I am currently finishing up a paid summer research internship at a reputable university. In the beginning of the program, we were told that all of the interns would be giving poster presentations at the end of the program along with a powerpoint presentation on our research. So this is the last week and me and my mentor have finished editing our write up which includes the introduction, methods, and results. The only thing left to do is the analysis part. We were supposed to present our work at a national conference and the abstract for that is due on September 30th. Being this close to finishing everything, I thought everything was going great.

Well my mentor told me earlier this week that the Poster is optional and that she doesn't feel comfortable proceeding with the poster as she feels that I didn't do enough work even though I did everything she asked me to and we got all of the results and were pretty much done with the write up for the poster.

Firstly, the poster is not optional and throughout the program she's been condescending towards me and not allowing me to learn anything and just doing busy work like cleaning bottles all the time. If i was in an undergrad lab maybe i would understand, but not with a university funded summer internship. I was really looking forward to the poster because I thought that would be a great skill I can acquire and she literally ruined everything.

I will speak to my program director and coordinator, but its her work so I feel like I can't do much without her consent. However its mandatory that we give a powerpoint presentation this week on our results and findings. She essentially screwed me over and I really want to give a poster presentation even if its not at the national conference. I wanted to ask since we are presenting our findings can i write on my app that I made a poster ( which I'll do on my own and ask the director to edit for me as a learning experience) and presented my findings to the university staff and students which I am doing through the powerpoint. Im not gonna say that I presented at the national conference, cuz I'm sure thats illegal.

Please let me know what to do, I don't want my summer to be wasted.

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[NotASerialKiller]

Hello Everyone,

So I am currently finishing up a payed summer research internship at a reputable university. In the beginning of the program, we were told that all of the interns would be giving poster presentations at the end of the program along with a powerpoint presentation on our research. So this is the last week and me and my mentor have finished editing our write up which includes the introduction, methods, and results. The only thing left to do is the analysis part. We were supposed to present our work at a national conference and the abstract for that is due on September 30th. Being this close to finishing everything, I thought everything was going great.

Well my mentor told me earlier this week that the Poster is optional and that she doesn't feel comfortable proceeding with the poster as she feels that I didn't do enough work even though I did everything she asked me to and we got all of the results and were pretty much done with the write up for the poster.

Firstly, the poster is not optional and throughout the program she's been condescending towards me and not allowing me to learn anything and just doing busy work like cleaning bottles all the time. If i was in an undergrad lab maybe i would understand, but not with a university funded summer internship. I was really looking forward to the poster because I thought that would be a great skill I can acquire and she literally ruined everything.

I will speak to my program director and coordinator, but its her work so I feel like I can't do much without her consent. However its mandatory that we give a powerpoint presentation this week on our results and findings. She essentially screwed me over and I really want to give a poster presentation even if its not at the national conference. I wanted to ask since we are presenting our findings can i write on my app that I made a poster ( which I'll do on my own and ask the director to edit for me as a learning experience) and presented my findings to the university staff and students which I am doing through the powerpoint. Im not gonna say that I presented at the national conference, cuz I'm sure thats illegal.

Please let me know what to do, I don't want my summer to be wasted.

You got a summer of research experience while getting paid, I don't understand why you'd use words like "wasted" and "screwed" in describing that. No one can guarantee you a poster presentation or publication if the project/your role doesn't warrant it. It sounds like either you misunderstood or someone made a false promise about a national conference presentation being set in stone before you even started.

 

[cactusman]

Hello Everyone,

So I am currently finishing up a payed summer research internship at a reputable university. In the beginning of the program, we were told that all of the interns would be giving poster presentations at the end of the program along with a powerpoint presentation on our research. So this is the last week and me and my mentor have finished editing our write up which includes the introduction, methods, and results. The only thing left to do is the analysis part. We were supposed to present our work at a national conference and the abstract for that is due on September 30th. Being this close to finishing everything, I thought everything was going great.

Well my mentor told me earlier this week that the Poster is optional and that she doesn't feel comfortable proceeding with the poster as she feels that I didn't do enough work even though I did everything she asked me to and we got all of the results and were pretty much done with the write up for the poster.

Firstly, the poster is not optional and throughout the program she's been condescending towards me and not allowing me to learn anything and just doing busy work like cleaning bottles all the time. If i was in an undergrad lab maybe i would understand, but not with a university funded summer internship. I was really looking forward to the poster because I thought that would be a great skill I can acquire and she literally ruined everything.

I will speak to my program director and coordinator, but its her work so I feel like I can't do much without her consent. However its mandatory that we give a powerpoint presentation this week on our results and findings. She essentially screwed me over and I really want to give a poster presentation even if its not at the national conference. I wanted to ask since we are presenting our findings can i write on my app that I made a poster ( which I'll do on my own and ask the director to edit for me as a learning experience) and presented my findings to the university staff and students which I am doing through the powerpoint. Im not gonna say that I presented at the national conference, cuz I'm sure thats illegal.

Please let me know what to do, I don't want my summer to be wasted.

Maybe your PI is being unfair, but this post made you sound very whiny and entitled in my eyes. If you come across this way in person your PI may not have found it easy to work with you and she may have a better reason to be disappointed with the experience.

I agree with NotASerialKiller that your summer was not wasted. You gained experience and probably thousands of dollars, and if you don't see that as a big positive then I suspect you really wanted the resumé boost of a national conference more than the experience. You were there for a couple months, depending on the project it's possible any amount of work done by a new undergrad intern in that short time span would not be presentable at a conference.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

You got a summer of research experience while getting paid, I don't understand why you'd use words like "wasted" and "screwed" in describing that. No one can guarantee you a poster presentation or publication if the project/your role doesn't warrant it. It sounds like either you misunderstood or someone made a false promise about a national conference presentation being set in stone before you even started.

The thing is, all of the other interns had independent projects they worked on but for me all I was told to do was to clean bottles and when it came time to do the analysis of the data they said we can't let you use the machines even though another intern was using the same machines. Im not trying to sound rude but I really feel like doing th poster was one of the most important aspects that I wanted to learn. I moved 100s of miles and cleaning bottles is not something I expected to do. I though I would learn things and my mentors didn't allow me to do anything. I was looking forward to the poster because I thought at least thats a skill i can take with me.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

Maybe your PI is being unfair, but this post made you sound very whiny and entitled in my eyes. If you come across this way in person your PI may not have found it easy to work with you and she may have a better reason to be disappointed with the experience.

I agree with NotASerialKiller that your summer was not wasted. You gained experience and probably thousands of dollars, and if you don't see that as a big positive then I suspect you really wanted the resumé boost of a national conference more than the experience. You were there for a couple months, depending on the project it's possible any amount of work done by a new undergrad intern in that short time span would not be presentable at a conference.

I did everything that was asked of me and she restricted me in so many ways, all she told me to do was clean bottles. I wanted to get the experience of making a poster and actually presenting. I don't mind even presenting at the school, Im not bummed about not doing it at the national conference; I'm bummed that I'm not doing a poster at all. We were told in the beginning that everyone would be giving a poster. Im really not trying to be whiny, but I'm sad because it does feel like I learned nothing and my summer was really wasted.

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

I can sympathize with you, OP. I too did a summer research internship this summer and I understand your frustration. I am also approaching the last week of my internship and I can say that me and my postdoc mentor did not meet eye to eye on many things. However, something to note is that medical schools don't really care what poster you did or did not present at your program. Medical schools care about what you learned from the program. You probably learned more than just cleaning bottles as you got to be in a laboratory environment.

As to your summer being wasted, I see your perspective. You moved 100 miles and you didn't get the experience you wanted. you could've used this time to study for the MCAt or do a different internship but you did learn something and I would stick to the positives and make sure you write about that when it comes time to talk about experiences in your medical app.

As for what to do, there's not much you can do to be honest. We're undergrads who are just dipping our toes into research while your PI or mentor have been doing it for years. If they feel you are not ready, then just nod your head and agree. Maybe they think you're not ready, not because you didn't do enough work, but because you didn't get enough results which is fine. A lot of research come out to failure as that is what research is. Keep your head up, OP. Your internship is over and while you feel that you wasted it or it was a waste, try to stick to the positives and note what you learned.

 

[ciestar]

Only in the pre-med world a summer is wasted while you got PAID.

It still counts as research. Sure, you didn't get the experience you had hoped and have every right to be disappointed by that. However, your summer was in no way wasted.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

Well, I do agree with where the OP is coming from. He was promised a poster presentation and he is saying that they got the results they were looking for and he's done with his write up. It sounds like the mentor doesnt want OP to have a poster for whatever reason, which I do think is a really bad thing. I think you should understand what exactly you did, and I think you mentioned that the director is editing your poster that you are making; who cares if you are not presenting at some national conference. I think you can say in your resume that you DID make a poster and presented your results to the people, which you are doing through the presentation for the results. I don't know if @Catalystik @Goro can vouch for this, but I think that's fine

 

[Nathan17182]

I completely understand where you're coming from OP.

I participated in a research program with a very prestigious university and it did not go the way I planned at all. The project I was suppose to work on the whole summer was not even past the methods portion and the first 3 weeks of my 8 weeks was spent making a table for a project that hadn't even been completed yet. I then spent the rest of the summer working on a paper. We had lots of ups and downs with the paper and after a rejection of a journal it was eventually scrapped. With a week left of the summer, I was given a random article to create a poster out of and then suppose to present that at a regional conference. In the end, myself and two others did not have a poster and did not present at the conference when everyone else did.

But I still wrote about this experience on my app. Not every research experience results in a poster and you can say on your application that at the end you presented your findings to university staff (if you actually do). I assume the program is nearing its end, but if you have time you should talk with your PI and ask if anything can be done to present a poster.

You should also take a minute to think about the positives from the program. Like others have said, it is not a wasted summer (You have ~320 of research regardless if its basic bench work). When you write about it on your AMCAS app it can't be all negatives.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

I can sympathize with you, OP. I too did a summer research internship this summer and I understand your frustration. I am also approaching the last week of my internship and I can say that me and my postdoc mentor did not meet eye to eye on many things. However, something to note is that medical schools don't really care what poster you did or did not present at your program. Medical schools care about what you learned from the program. You probably learned more than just cleaning bottles as you got to be in a laboratory environment.

As to your summer being wasted, I see your perspective. You moved 100 miles and you didn't get the experience you wanted. you could've used this time to study for the MCAt or do a different internship but you did learn something and I would stick to the positives and make sure you write about that when it comes time to talk about experiences in your medical app.

As for what to do, there's not much you can do to be honest. We're undergrads who are just dipping our toes into research while your PI or mentor have been doing it for years. If they feel you are not ready, then just nod your head and agree. Maybe they think you're not ready, not because you didn't do enough work, but because you didn't get enough results which is fine. A lot of research come out to failure as that is what research is. Keep your head up, OP. Your internship is over and while you feel that you wasted it or it was a waste, try to stick to the positives and note what you learned.

Thanks so much for understanding. Can I keep on my app that I did make a poster and presented my findings to the university staff and students and faculty?

 

[Nathan17182]

Thanks so much for understanding. Can I keep on my app that I did make a poster and presented my findings to the university staff and students and faculty?

If the director of the program says you are able to make a poster and you actually present your findings then yes. But I imagine your director will probably talk with your PI. So, I encourage you sit down and talk (or email if the program has ended) with your PI so you two can get on the same page. Again regardless of if you present or not, be able to speak about what else you learned during the summer.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

Only in the pre-med world a summer is wasted while you got PAID.

It still counts as research. Sure, you didn't get the experience you had hoped and have every right to be disappointed by that. However, your summer was in no way wasted.

I understand its research but I think learning how to make a poster and getting a poster out of the entire internship will be a great experience and will validate my internship. I'll feel like I got something out of it.

If the director of the program says you are able to make a poster and you actually present your findings then yes. But I imagine your director will probably talk with your PI. So, I encourage you sit down and talk (or email if the program has ended) with your PI so you two can get on the same page. Again regardless of if you present or not, be able to speak about what else you learned during the summer.

I will definitely talk with her and try to get on the same page. But I don't think she'll really understand, but i'll give it a shot. So here a clarification of what's happenign:

So basically, the internship originally requires that we are supposed to make a poster and present at a national conference. Apart from this we are also required to give a powerpoint presentation on our research that we did, which my write up is on as well, to the university faculty and students. I did all of the writeup for it, with my mentor but she's basically saying no she doesn't want to follow through with the poster and only do the powerpoint.

What i'm saying is, can i make a poster myself since i basically did all of the write up and since I am presenting the work in the form of a powerpoint presentation to the university, put on my resume.."Created a poster and presented my findings to ---Blank---- university staff and students. I am not going to say that I presented at the national conference.

 

[blackroses]

I understand its research but I think

Well I will make a poster, which the director said he will edit and i am giving a powerpoint presentation of the results. So thats why I was asking.

Wait, I'm confused. Are you presenting this poster to anyone? Or are you literally just making a poster for yourself?

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

Wait, I'm confused. Are you presenting this poster to anyone? Or are you literally just making a poster for yourself?

Okay so basically, originally we were supposed to make a poster and present at a national conference. Apart from this we are also required to give a powerpoint presentation on our research that we did, which my write up is on as well, to the university faculty and students. I did all of the writeup for it with my mentor but she's basically saying no she doesn't want to follow through with the poster and only do the powerpoint.

What i'm saying is, can i make a poster myself since i basically did all of the write up and since I am presenting this in the form of a powerpoint presentation to the university, put on my resume.."Created a poster and presented my findings to ---Blank---- university staff and students. I am not going to say that I presented at the national conference.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

If the director of the program says you are able to make a poster and you actually present your findings then yes. But I imagine your director will probably talk with your PI. So, I encourage you sit down and talk (or email if the program has ended) with your PI so you two can get on the same page. Again regardless of if you present or not, be able to speak about what else you learned during the summer.

Okay so basically, originally we were supposed to make a poster and present at a national conference. Apart from this we are also required to give a powerpoint presentation on our research that we did, which my write up is on as well, to the university faculty and students. I did all of the writeup for it with my mentor but she's basically saying no she doesn't want to follow through with the poster and only do the powerpoint.

What i'm saying is, can i make a poster myself since i basically did all of the write up and since I am presenting this in the form of a powerpoint presentation to the university, put on my resume.."Created a poster and presented my findings to ---Blank---- university staff and students. I am not going to say that I presented at the national conference.

 

[blackroses]

Okay so basically, originally we were supposed to make a poster and present at a national conference. Apart from this we are also required to give a powerpoint presentation on our research that we did, which my write up is on as well, to the university faculty and students. I did all of the writeup for it with my mentor but she's basically saying no she doesn't want to follow through with the poster and only do the powerpoint.

What i'm saying is, can i make a poster myself since i basically did all of the write up and since I am presenting this in the form of a powerpoint presentation to the university, put on my resume.."Created a poster and presented my findings to ---Blank---- university staff and students. I am not going to say that I presented at the national conference.

That still doesn't answer my question. Would you be presenting the poster to anyone?

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

That still doesn't answer my question. Would you be presenting the poster to anyone?

It depends if my mentor has a change of heart and she allows me to do it at a conference. But as of right now i'll only be presenting my research in a powerpoint presentation to the university faculty and students. I just really want to get a poster out of this because thats what we were guaranteed and assigned frankly.

 

[blackroses]

It depends if my mentor has a change of heart and she allows me to do it at a conference. But as of right now i'll only be presenting my research in a powerpoint presentation to the university faculty and students. I just really want to get a poster out of this because thats what we were guaranteed and assigned frankly.

A talk is much more valuable than a poster.

Please don't list a poster that you made and didn't present (or even submit). That's weird.

 

[enchantediris]

Okay so basically, originally we were supposed to make a poster and present at a national conference. Apart from this we are also required to give a powerpoint presentation on our research that we did, which my write up is on as well, to the university faculty and students. I did all of the writeup for it with my mentor but she's basically saying no she doesn't want to follow through with the poster and only do the powerpoint.

What i'm saying is, can i make a poster myself since i basically did all of the write up and since I am presenting this in the form of a powerpoint presentation to the university, put on my resume.."Created a poster and presented my findings to ---Blank---- university staff and students. I am not going to say that I presented at the national conference.

It sounds like your PI doesn't think the project and/or results are worth presenting at the national conference -- you have to keep in mind that her name will be going on the poster as well, and she may not think that your summer project is up to her usual standards. This is not a dig at you, as some experiments just don't work out as expected. I don't think there is a big difference from a resume perspective between presenting your results in a poster vs. powerpoint format, especially if the poster isn't part of a larger conference. To be honest, I don't think it would mean much to "present" a poster to the other faculty/students in your program. Hopefully if you're still interested in research, you will have more opportunities in the future to present your results 🙂

 

[candbgirl]

You keep replying with the same answer and you are not really answering the questions. It seems that you have only done the PowerPoint. Have you presented the PowerPoint to anyone?

You haven't done a poster so you haven't presented it, right? You are trying to hatch a plan to do a poster yourself, have the Director edit it and then maybe present it along with the PowerPoint . Is that right? Has the Director agreed to edit it? Have you received approval to do this poster?

This whole situation is so convoluted that I think you should do the PowerPoint presentation and be done with it. You asked if you could sort of "double dip" (my words) and say you "created a poster and presented my findings to ---Blank---/ etc." because you are presenting the work in the form of a PowerPoint presentation to the university. I wouldn't put that on my resume. You didn't do the poster etc etc etc.!


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[WingedOx]

Only in the pre-med world a summer is wasted while you got PAID.

It still counts as research. Sure, you didn't get the experience you had hoped and have every right to be disappointed by that. However, your summer was in no way wasted.

this.

 

[blackroses]

You keep replying with the same answer and you are not really answering the questions.

Amen. I still can't really figure out what's going on... Is OP trying to meet with the director to create a poster that won't be shown to anyone? Trying to meet with the director to make a poster that will be submitted without the approval of the PI? Trying to make a poster for the group presentations instead of a talk?

 

[candbgirl]

I think he will just do a poster and hope the director will edit it. But I don't think it has been approved or anything official. That's why I asked if he "hatched" this plan..,


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[Hopefulpremed123]

You keep replying with the same answer and you are not really answering the questions. It seems that you have only done the PowerPoint. Have you presented the PowerPoint to anyone?

You haven't done a poster so you haven't presented it, right? You are trying to hatch a plan to do a poster yourself, have the Director edit it and then maybe present it along with the PowerPoint . Is that right? Has the Director agreed to edit it? Have you received approval to do this poster?

This whole situation is so convoluted that I think you should do the PowerPoint presentation and be done with it. You asked if you could sort of "double dip" (my words) and say you "created a poster and presented my findings to ---Blank---/ etc." because you are presenting the work in the form of a PowerPoint presentation to the university. I wouldn't put that on my resume. You didn't do the poster etc etc etc.!


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Yes I will only do the powerpoint and I am presenting the powerpoint to all of the university's faculty and staff. I am doing the poster for my own purpose because I want to actually get something out of the internship and the write up fro the poster has already been edited by the PI! . The director has agreed to edit it too, but its up to my PI whether I can present it at any conference. As of right now she didn't say anything. What I am saying is since I am giving the PPT presentation based on the same data that I will make the poster with, even though I WONT BE PRESENTING THE POSTER, can i put on my resume that I made the poster and presented my findings to the the people. Does this make sense?

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

Amen. I still can't really figure out what's going on... Is OP trying to meet with the director to create a poster that won't be shown to anyone? Trying to meet with the director to make a poster that will be submitted without the approval of the PI? Trying to make a poster for the group presentations instead of a talk?

Yes I will only do the powerpoint and I am presenting the powerpoint to all of the university's faculty and staff. I am doing the poster for my own purpose because I want to actually get something out of the internship and the write up fro the poster has already been edited by the PI! . The director has agreed to edit it too, but its up to my PI whether I can present it at any conference. As of right now she didn't say anything. What I am saying is since I am giving the PPT presentation based on the same data that I will make the poster with, even though I WONT BE PRESENTING THE POSTER, can i put on my resume that I made the poster and presented my findings to the the people. Does this make sense?

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

Amen. I still can't really figure out what's going on... Is OP trying to meet with the director to create a poster that won't be shown to anyone? Trying to meet with the director to make a poster that will be submitted without the approval of the PI? Trying to make a poster for the group presentations instead of a talk?

I think he will just do a poster and hope the director will edit it. But I don't think it has been approved or anything official. That's why I asked if he "hatched" this plan..,

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Guys I think what's happening here is: OP wants to get a poster out of the internship to make the entire thing worthwhile, cuz according to him, they made him clean stuff all day and didn't really teach him or allow him to do much. So I think he wants to be able to put a poster on his resume, cuz then it will mean something. So what im taking from his responses is that, he will only be giving a powerpoint presentation of the research he did this summer. But coming back to how he wants a poster, he wants to make a poster, assuming he wants to get that experience, and have his higher ups edit it even if he wont actually present that poster. So I guess he's asking us if it's alright if he states on his resume that, I made a poster and presented my results to the people. Personally, i dont think theres anything wrong per se in saying this cuz you are presenting you results but through a ppt and you are making a poster but your not really presenting that exact thing, but you are presenting your findings with the powerpoint. I feel for OP because the program guaranteed him a poster and his PI is restricting him.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

It sounds like your PI doesn't think the project and/or results are worth presenting at the national conference -- you have to keep in mind that her name will be going on the poster as well, and she may not think that your summer project is up to her usual standards. This is not a dig at you, as some experiments just don't work out as expected. I don't think there is a big difference from a resume perspective between presenting your results in a poster vs. powerpoint format, especially if the poster isn't part of a larger conference. To be honest, I don't think it would mean much to "present" a poster to the other faculty/students in your program. Hopefully if you're still interested in research, you will have more opportunities in the future to present your results 🙂

I always thought that giving a poster was second to a publication. TBH i think a ppt is kinda useless...

 

[pugsessed]

As mentioned above, an oral presentation is much more valuable than a poster. Presenting your findings in this way is a way bigger deal. DO NOT include that you did a poster if you did not do a poster. Do not make a poster if you are not presenting a poster. What you would write is that you gave an oral presentation at the end of your internship to faculty and students. (this is more impressive than a poster)

 

[pugsessed]

PS- in research if you are giving an oral presentation (which is normally in a powerpoint) it is a WAY BIGGER DEAL than a poster at conferences

 

[enchantediris]

I always thought that giving a poster was second to a publication. TBH i think a ppt is kinda useless...

Posters are great because they are tangible results of your research efforts! In general, I would consider an oral presentation (usually accompanied by powerpoint) a little higher than a regular poster presentation because oral presentations generally last longer and everyone's attention is pointed at you. However, you also have to consider the level at which these presentations are given: local/university level < regional < national < international. Within these levels, an open conference (with grad students, PIs, etc.) > undergrad-only conference.

I think many students with research experience will have local posters and/or oral presentations. It is rarer for students to have regional/national/international poster presentations at conferences. I would think that the vast majority of students will not have oral presentations at the national/international level conferences, because usually one is invited to give talks at these conferences and it would most likely be the PI presenting.

 

[blackroses]

Yes I will only do the powerpoint and I am presenting the powerpoint to all of the university's faculty and staff. I am doing the poster for my own purpose because I want to actually get something out of the internship and the write up fro the poster has already been edited by the PI! . The director has agreed to edit it too, but its up to my PI whether I can present it at any conference. As of right now she didn't say anything. What I am saying is since I am giving the PPT presentation based on the same data that I will make the poster with, even though I WONT BE PRESENTING THE POSTER, can i put on my resume that I made the poster and presented my findings to the the people. Does this make sense?

Giving an oral presentation (aka powerpoint) is head and shoulders above giving a poster presentation, so I can't imagine why you would want to make it sound as if you did a poster instead of an oral presentation.

On your resume, list that you gave an oral presentation. Do not list a poster that you made but didn't didn't present. That's weird.

As for making the poster for ****s and giggles and not presenting it anywhere, I'm sure you can find a better use of your time.

 

[candbgirl]

I'm not sure why OP is so hung up on doing a poster. OP read responses 28&29. Do not say you did a poster and presented it based on presenting the PowerPoint. You didn't do a poster and you didn't present it. If you have a chance to evaluate the internship let them know your issues.


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[Nave]

As mentioned above, an oral presentation is much more valuable than a poster. Presenting your findings in this way is a way bigger deal. DO NOT include that you did a poster if you did not do a poster. Do not make a poster if you are not presenting a poster. What you would write is that you gave an oral presentation at the end of your internship to faculty and students. (this is more impressive than a poster)

This. OP, this isn't that difficult.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

Giving an oral presentation (aka powerpoint) is head and shoulders above giving a poster presentation, so I can't imagine why you would want to make it sound as if you did a poster instead of an oral presentation.

On your resume, list that you gave an oral presentation. Do not list a poster that you made but didn't didn't present. That's weird.

As for making the poster for ****s and giggles and not presenting it anywhere, I'm sure you can find a better use of your time.

I thought that posters were on par with publications. I never heard of anyone putting oral presentation on their amcas and so I really thought that posters are better. I just really want to do the best that I can, sorry if I came off the wrong way.


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[blackroses]

I thought that posters were on par with publications. I never heard of anyone putting oral presentation on their amcas and so I really thought that posters are better. I just really want to do the best that I can, sorry if I came off the wrong way.


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Nothing is on par with publications. Oral presentations should absolutely be listed on resumes/CVs/AMCAS. Order of importance: poster<oral presentation<publication

 

[Nathan17182]

I completely agree with everyone above. Just do the an oral presentation. There's no point in saying you made a poster when you won't present it anywhere. It might seem like you got shafted, but in the end you had a full summer of PAID research and its another program you can add to your resume. If you have another summer to do an internship, take what you've learned and apply it to that. Good luck!

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

Even if it was suggested that you would get to present your poster at a national conference, that's not something that your research program actually can guarantee. An abstract submission does not guarantee a spot at a conference, there is usually a review committee and a selection process that goes into it (I've been on such a review committee.) Some conferences are more selective than others, but your mentor may not feel that your poster would be up to the level of work that she feels comfortable having her name on in public. And that may be her fault for not giving you work, or it may just be the way that research goes sometimes.

As far as prestige: national conference presentation > national conference poster > internal presentation >>> poster that never actually gets presented to anyone.

 

[Lifeblood_20]

OP, nothing in research is guaranteed -- projects fail, papers get rejected, labs don't get grants, all the time. No matter how hard PIs or staff scientists or Phd students try, those things just happen. As undergrads we are at the lowest possible end of the spectrum and just gotta accept that many, many things are out of our control. We can only make the best of what we get.
You still get to present; it doesn't matter how! Kill that presentation and be proud of what you've done this summer! 🙂