pay vs volunteer?

[tiedyeddog]

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I have a month coming up inbetween classes. I need some opinions on volunteer work in the lab vs paid work? I hate being unoccupied so I want to work full time in the lab for that month. It's summer quarter and most of my friends are home for the summer.

Is that stupid if I'm not getting paid? Should I just pursue a lab tech job and get paid for working the 40 hours? Anyone "volunteer" 40 hours a week in the lab?

 

[ecoli]

I've gotten paid for research, volunteered and have gotten class credit. It's definitely sweet to get paid, but I don't even mind... I would do research for free.

I think it comes down to whether or not you need the money (and if your boss is willing to pay you!)

 

[tiedyeddog]

I think it comes down to whether or not you need the money (and if your boss is willing to pay you!)

My boss is not willing to pay me. 🙁 I guess I'll be doing it for free.

 

[ecoli]

see if you can get some class credit then? Maybe you're boss will cover the cost of the credits?

BTW - the good thing about volunteering is that you don't have to feel like you have to work a 40hr week, so if you want to chill with your friends you can get plenty of relaxation in.

 

[RxnMan]

I have a month coming up inbetween classes. I need some opinions on volunteer work in the lab vs paid work? I hate being unoccupied so I want to work full time in the lab for that month. It's summer quarter and most of my friends are home for the summer.

Is that stupid if I'm not getting paid? Should I just pursue a lab tech job and get paid for working the 40 hours? Anyone "volunteer" 40 hours a week in the lab?

Paid. Get yourself that xbox 360. Volunteer work would be worth it if you got some great pub/experience, but that's an unlikely event made more unlikely by the very short time-frame.

 

[GWD]

Good luck finding someone to pay you for only a month's worth of work.

They couldn't even train you in that amount of time.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Good luck finding someone to pay you for only a month's worth of work.

They couldn't even train you in that amount of time.

I didn't even think about that, eh. Well, thanks for bringing that to attention. I don't think I'll even waste the time to look.

 

[RxnMan]

I didn't even think about that, eh. Well, thanks for bringing that to attention. I don't think I'll even waste the time to look.

I assumed that you had some experience in that lab already, or a related one. Otherwise, don't bother.

 

[mudphudwannabe]

You might want to make sure that "volunteering" is an option. I know at my school it's against the rules to have anyone working in your lab who isn't either being paid or working for credit. Volunteering just isn't a possibility. I would try to do it for credit, if you can, but as others have said, you'll probably have a hard time getting someone to take you for only a month even if you aren't getting paid. Will you have any time to work in the lab after that month? If you could continue, even only for a few hours a week, it might work out.

Aside from this 1-month only business, I would in general recommend working for credit rather than getting paid. If you're working for credit, you're more likely to find profs who are willing to give you an independent project, whereas student hourly type positions tend to be more grunt work (making buffers, etc). You can even find small grants to apply for so you could get credit and also get a stipend, and the process of writing up a grant proposal (even a "little" one) is a very good experience.

 

[ecoli]

You might want to make sure that "volunteering" is an option. I know at my school it's against the rules to have anyone working in your lab who isn't either being paid or working for credit. Volunteering just isn't a possibility.

At my school, you can volunteer by signing up for zero credits. That way you're in the system, but don't have to pay for your work.
If the school has a winter session, this shouldn't be a problem.

 

[tiedyeddog]

You might want to make sure that "volunteering" is an option. I know at my school it's against the rules to have anyone working in your lab who isn't either being paid or working for credit. Volunteering just isn't a possibility. I would try to do it for credit, if you can, but as others have said, you'll probably have a hard time getting someone to take you for only a month even if you aren't getting paid. Will you have any time to work in the lab after that month? If you could continue, even only for a few hours a week, it might work out.

Eh, I'll just give some background if anyone else wants to give me some advice.
- I've been allowed to volunteer 35-40 hours a week for a month in the same lab I've been working in for about 6 months now. So, I'm trained, I guess.
-I've taken all the credits my school allows me to that will count towards a degree.
-There is a good chance I will get published as a 2nd author(probably in a low impact journal....) so I guess I'll just stick it out and see if my PI will pay me beginning next quarter? Maybe my dedication will count for something...

Thanks for everyone's reply. This was probably a dumb question to begin with.