I have done a full year of research including the summer and I enjoyed my time there, but it's not something I am very interested in pursuing any further. I am just not too passionate about the research I was doing and would like to get some clinical experience instead. However, my PI loved having me in the lab and wants to keep me until I graduate. Is there a polite way to tell my PI that I would rather do something else other than the research? I also would like to eventually get a LOR from the PI, but I don't want to screw it up by leaving on a bad note. Or do you guys think I should just stay in the lab?
Polite way to decline PI's offer?
- Thread starter frodo25
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- Mar 27, 2013
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Just tell them that you don't have time to work in their lab anymore because you have other commitments (in your case, clinical activities). They may want to keep you bad enough that they cut down your hours, offer to pay you, etc. Otherwise, this isn't indentured servitude, you are free to leave if you aren't satisfied with your current set up. I don't think many PIs would be so vindictive about losing an undergrad that they would try to hurt your chances at medical school.
