PI has unrealistic expectations

[BubbaGump15]

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Hello,

I am graduating this semester and am about to begin finals. I have already made a deposit at my state medical school. I have devoted a lot of time to my research lab throughout college and my PI asked me to complete a project by next week, the week before finals. I have multiple exams and presentations next week, and then finals the week after. I asked for an extension but my PI declined and stated my research should be the same priority as my grades.

That said, and perhaps this is over-neurotic, if I did not complete the project, could my PI say anything to my medical school? I got a letter of recommendation from my PI but would hate for my PI to send something to them. I already feel over-stretched with classwork that I can not envision completing this project.

Thanks

 

[elderberrypie]

How many hours a week did you commit to when you started your research? I think that having a PI with unrealistic expectations is more common than not, once you get a real research position; I work about 15 hours a week and I feel constantly involved in everything, even the days I'm not there. It's hard, but there are many people who wish they were working in research and getting publications in undergrad.
That being said, what did you actually agree on when you first started working in research? If completing a project is more than you ever talked about, then tell your PI that this is not what the agreement was and that you have other commitments (i.e., finals). If it's what you agreed on, then just treat it like your job that you have to get done, and study during evenings/weekends. Which is what I do and it's hard, but from what I've seen that's the reality of working in a busy lab.

 

[Goro]

Hello,

I am graduating this semester and am about to begin finals. I have already made a deposit at my state medical school. I have devoted a lot of time to my research lab throughout college and my PI asked me to complete a project by next week, the week before finals. I have multiple exams and presentations next week, and then finals the week after. I asked for an extension but my PI declined and stated my research should be the same priority as my grades.

That said, and perhaps this is over-neurotic, if I did not complete the project, could my PI say anything to my medical school? I got a letter of recommendation from my PI but would hate for my PI to send something to them. I already feel over-stretched with classwork that I can not envision completing this project.

Thanks

Any letter of complaint from your P I would be promptly ignored.

 

[BubbaGump15]

@elderberrypie

I aim for 10 hours a week and usually hit that on a normal week, however my PI usually is very understanding about finals which is why I’m confused they are suddenly not. This project did not have a complete end goal, in fact we discussed I may not finish and rather pass it down to another lab member.

I actually offered to complete it after I graduate and classes are finished - so I’m not trying to blow it off, I just can’t see next week realistically happening.

 

[BubbaGump15]

Any letter of complaint from your P I would be promptly ignored.

Thank you!

 

[eteshoe]

Focus on keeping your grades up so you finish well. Research can always be done later. Unless it's critical data for a grant/grant renewal, I would advice you stay focused on your studies.

 

[931408]

Your priority is also not the same as the PI's. S/he is focused on grants, pubs, and in general research productivity, while you are a student, not even a graduate student but an undergraduate student. Focus on your grades, mental health, and sleep.

Your PI saying that research is the same priority as grades is ridiculous. Nobody should expect that out of you. I'd recommend you scheduling a meeting with him/her and discussing that your emphasis needs to be your courses right now. See if you can help with a smaller portion of the project in the meantime or so.

 

[ChymeofPassion]

Whenever I'd finish the week with a lot of hours put into a project, my PI would always make sure that I was doing well in my classes and not forfeiting studying time for research, which is something I really appreciated and respected about him. Your PI sounds like a self-serving tool.

 

[Pharaoh95]

Have a one-on-one with your PI and explain your circumstances like you did in this post. If you two aren't on the same page, send a nice email withdrawing yourself from the lab and project. Don't stress yourself out before med school and focus on keeping your grades up.

 

[BubbaGump15]

Thank you all for the advice - I appreciate it. I will do as all suggested and not over-extend myself at the end of this semester.

 

[bahdahboom]

Hello,

I am graduating this semester and am about to begin finals. I have already made a deposit at my state medical school. I have devoted a lot of time to my research lab throughout college and my PI asked me to complete a project by next week, the week before finals. I have multiple exams and presentations next week, and then finals the week after. I asked for an extension but my PI declined and stated my research should be the same priority as my grades.

That said, and perhaps this is over-neurotic, if I did not complete the project, could my PI say anything to my medical school? I got a letter of recommendation from my PI but would hate for my PI to send something to them. I already feel over-stretched with classwork that I can not envision completing this project.

Thanks

My PI was slightly neurotic and threatened to not release my bachelors degree when I graduated. We basically came to an agreement and I continued working in his lab for a few weeks. The same obstacles I encountered before came back up again and i dipped out of his lab after graduating.

I was nervous he was gonna send a bad letter to one of the Med schools I was applying to, he used to work there, but long story short I stopped caring. Some PIs are a little full of themselves and feel they can swing an admissions committee’s opinion. Unless they are on the admissions board or formerly on the board for a school you’re applying to, I wouldn’t stress about it.

 

[Isabel96]

Yup, tell me about it. My PI kicked me out of the lab (after being there for 2 years) when I asked him for a letter of rec for med school. He said I wasn't interested enough in the lab research. He later wrote me a letter which my premed advisor told me not to use (I figured lol). Very few of them actually take the role of mentoring students seriously. If they don't care about your future, why should you ruin your grades and mental health to please them especially when you wont get much out of it?

Concur with others, offer to complete it after finals if you can, or work something out. Don't burn bridges, and don't stress yourself out.

 

[BubbaGump15]

Yup, tell me about it. My PI kicked me out of the lab (after being there for 2 years) when I asked him for a letter of rec for med school. He said I wasn't interested enough in the lab research. He later wrote me a letter which my premed advisor told me not to use (I figured lol). Very few of them actually take the role of mentoring students seriously. If they don't care about your future, why should you ruin your grades and mental health to please them especially when you wont get much out of it?

Concur with others, offer to complete it after finals if you can, or work something out. Don't burn bridges, and don't stress yourself out.

Wow that’s something else that your PI kicked you out. It’s a relatively minor project and I’ve worked hard on our lab’s major projects so I agree with what you’re saying. Thanks! I appreciate it.

 

[DokterMom]

@elderberrypie

I aim for 10 hours a week and usually hit that on a normal week, however my PI usually is very understanding about finals which is why I’m confused they are suddenly not. This project did not have a complete end goal, in fact we discussed I may not finish and rather pass it down to another lab member.

I actually offered to complete it after I graduate and classes are finished - so I’m not trying to blow it off, I just can’t see next week realistically happening.

Find out if there is a deadline your PI needs to meet, and if there isn't, don't ask. Tell. You need a reasonably strong finish to your academic career and that should be your priority.

I'm wondering if your PI thinks you're going to bail the second you graduate? Any reason s/he might think that?

 

[BubbaGump15]

Find out if there is a deadline your PI needs to meet, and if there isn't, don't ask. Tell. You need a reasonably strong finish to your academic career and that should be your priority.

I'm wondering if your PI thinks you're going to bail the second you graduate? Any reason s/he might think that?

There is no set deadline! We actually have discussed previously that I would begin the project and pass it down. No reason my PI would think I would bail the second I graduate, I have always been very responsible about work in the lab and meeting deadlines.

 

[DokterMom]

There is no set deadline! We actually have discussed previously that I would begin the project and pass it down. No reason my PI would think I would bail the second I graduate, I have always been very responsible about work in the lab and meeting deadlines.

Then simply reiterate that point and your commitment to honoring your obligations in the same email where you state that you'll only be able to give X hours per week between this date and that date in order to satisfy your academic responsibilities.

 

[JeSuisUnDoc]

Crazy PIs do get salty when they lose you for med school or even when you mention med school


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