PI leaving lab - letter of rec?

[ttt92]

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Hey all,

My PI is leaving the lab that I've been working in for two years now. It's a clinical lab, and I've mainly been assisting her. She's extremely friendly and sweet, and it's sad for me to see her go. I am applying next year to med school and am unsure of what to do about the letter of recommendation.

My only hesitation is that I am started to work on actual lab projects next year when she won't be here. So far, I haven't done any substantial work except data entry, coding, etc. There is also a lead doctor but she's never around and I feel doesn't know me as well.

What do you all think?

Thanks!

 

[CyberMaxx]

Others who have more experience will, I'm sure, be able to offer better advice, but here is my take. If you do stay in the lab and work on more substantial projects successfully, the letter of recommendation you get from your new mentor will likely be more valuable. That being said, your current mentor can still make an informed statement on many things which schools will likely be interested in such as reliability, intellectual curiosity, work ethic, etc. If you're very unsure, one option is to open an Interfolio account now (or some other application service) and ask your current mentor for a letter which she will mail or upload to Interfolio. You can keep this letter on file till you apply and choose to send it then if you want.

 

[slz1900]

It couldn't hurt to get a letter and upload it to interfolio now. 2 years is a long time to be in a lab and not get a letter. If circumstances change and you find someone who can speak to your involvement in research, then you can submit that instead.

 

[NYPreMed88]

Does she know and like you? Can she say good things about how you're creative, smart, and hard-working?

 

[La Presse]

Get her new contact details perhaps.

 

[dudewheresmymd]

Yes, do obtain her contact info and stay in touch... so in the future if you do get a rec. letter from the lead doctor she can perhaps contribute a paragraph or two from her time with you in the lab.