Possibly going to get fired tomorrow...need advice.

[andybshaker]

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I've been working as an unpaid research assistant in a lab this summer (since the end of May.) I was assigned by the PI to specifically help one graduate student with her work, which I have been doing. It is a fairly unstructured program that I have enjoyed so far--I run experiments and contribute data as well as help out with anything that needs to be done in a given day (i.e. RNA purification, etc.) A few days ago, before the Fourth of July break, she texted me that she was running preliminary tests and that she would let me know if she needed more help with future experiments. Today, she said that tomorrow we could have a "talk about general plans." I don't know what this means, but it scares the bejesus out of me. I'm not grossly incompetent, although I did make one mistake with a PCR experiment. Also, they did spend time training me and I'm not asking for money. But assuming that I do get fired tomorrow, what is my recourse with regard to AMCAS? Would one list an experience that resulted in termination? If I do, it could obviously raise red flags with admissions committees. If I don't, it leaves me with a summer where I did nothing but volunteer at a hospital and study for the MCAT--as well as a lack of research experience. Does anyone have advice? I'm going to be a junior in the fall, if that makes any difference.

EDIT for posterity: The meeting ended up being for a good thing (a publication!) Leaving the original post in case any other neurotic people like me over-think something in the future.

 

[Shjanzey]

lol, relax man. You can't fire a volunteer. Even if they tell you not to come back, you aren't getting fired. Just make a record of your experience and use that experience to find another research position. Also since you are a volunteer they don't have to give you a reason if they don't want you to come back.

Most likely you are overthinking it.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Well, it doesn't sound like you will be getting fired. At worst, she may no longer have a need for a research assistant, which certainly won't be held against you. Relax.

 

[allantois]

As the first person to reply said, you can't be fired unless you were employed.

 

[andybshaker]

Okay, perhaps "fired" is not the correct terminology. But it's the intent behind it that worries me. Basically, I am curious to know if it will help me or hinder to put this experience on my AMCAS.

 

[cs24]

Okay, perhaps "fired" is not the correct terminology. But it's the intent behind it that worries me. Basically, I am curious to know if it will help me or hinder to put this experience on my AMCAS.

Put it on AMCAS unless you have 15 other killer activities to take it's place. A month of research is better than nothing.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Don't be too scared... haha, I had to have lots of meetings like this with undergrads when I was a staff researcher. Sometimes it's hard for a grad student to think of enough work for multiple people to do... especially near the end of a project.

Do you have any ideas for a project of your own? Assuming you're not incompetent, as you say, go in to your meeting showing interest and initiative. Data collection isn't the only part of research -- perhaps there's more that you can help with in another regard as well.

If you can't get more work with this specific student, go back to the PI and have a chat. You're a trained part of the lab and potentially helpful to others. Again, showing initiative and interest is important.

The way you describe this is a bit fishy, though. Have you been a good help? Been prompt and dependable? Worked assigned hours? Sure you can count it as an experience if it ends on good terms... are there reasons why the grad student or PI couldn't be a reference?

 

[andybshaker]

Yes, I like to believe I have been a good help. Obviously I've been very professional--I haven't shown up late or anything like that. I've always done what I am asked and I try to make sure that I see everything through successfully. Because I am volunteering and I am not an economic concern, I think that I have been a net positive. I don't see any reason that it would end on bad terms. Thanks!

 

[SN12357]

I've been working as an unpaid research assistant in a lab this summer (since the end of May.) I was assigned by the PI to specifically help one graduate student with her work, which I have been doing. It is a fairly unstructured program that I have enjoyed so far--I run experiments and contribute data as well as help out with anything that needs to be done in a given day (i.e. RNA purification, etc.) A few days ago, before the Fourth of July break, she texted me that she was running preliminary tests and that she would let me know if she needed more help with future experiments. Today, she said that tomorrow we could have a "talk about general plans." I don't know what this means, but it scares the bejesus out of me. I'm not grossly incompetent, although I did make one mistake with a PCR experiment. Also, they did spend time training me and I'm not asking for money. But assuming that I do get fired tomorrow, what is my recourse with regard to AMCAS? Would one list an experience that resulted in termination? If I do, it could obviously raise red flags with admissions committees. If I don't, it leaves me with a summer where I did nothing but volunteer at a hospital and study for the MCAT--as well as a lack of research experience. Does anyone have advice? I'm going to be a junior in the fall, if that makes any difference.

From what you've said here there's zero reason to think that the meeting is for a negative reason. Talking about the future is a pretty standard thing to do. Don't leap to unfounded conclusions, you could create the very situation you think already exists. For example if she thinks nothing is wrong and you open up the meeting by blurting out a defense of yourself unprompted, that could trigger someone to think 'hm, IS there something wrong? maybe I should look'.

Chill out and don't assume the worst. As others said, even if she is getting rid of you you aren't being fired and it wouldn't be a big deal.

 

[allantois]

I had to abandon the research that I started this summer on the third week. I was so incredibly worried about this that I even started posting on this forum for the first time 😀 Having read many threads on this issue, it really is NOT a big deal. One way or another you will have to leave the lab some day just move on with your life and look for new research opportunities.

 

[dnrs]

It's funny because I went through the same exact scenario last year. I too made a small error. I too thought I was getting fired.

Don't worry you are not getting fired. She probably wants you understand the bigger picture and will probably ask you to start your own literature search or something of that sort.

 

[Microglia]

Doubtful you will be told to cease providing free labor due to a PCR mistake. Shatter a 30,000 dollar objective? Maybe. Mess up some genotyping? Nope.

Most likely she wants to plan out what you'll be working on from this point on. Otherwise, maybe they just don't have enough work going on for you to stay active in the lab. Either way, it doesn't affect you negatively even if they ask you to leave. Bottom line: relax, you're fine.

Life will throw things literally 100000000 times more horrible than this your way, and you'll learn that all you can do is take it to the gut and keep putting one foot in front of the other. With age, you realize how little these things really matter.

 

[lmn]

Like others have said: It can easily be to plan out future work/projects or at worst the fact that they are out of stuff for you to do. If it is the latter, I would probably think of some things that you could possibly do that they may have overlooked to keep your work going, or else be honest with them and ask if they could possibly come up with something for you to do or if they know someone else who might need your help. It is likely they will feel bad for dropping you when they find out you've been planning on doing this all summer with the hopes for this to help you get more involved in research later or for schools, and they might be able to come up with something for you to do or at least put you in contact with someone else that might need help.

 

[mysdnhandle]

One PCR mistake? You're a volunteer. You're free labor. Why would they fire you?

That being said, try to not think about your experiences in an undergraduate research lab like that. Someone is teaching you how to do something that you may find useful later on. From the perspective of a grad student, undergraduates are basically expected to mess up. Don't worry about it. Now, in the future, getting fired for incompetency is a very real thing. But as an undergraduate volunteer, no.

PS: from what ive seen, a whole summer of shadowing (like, 300+ hours while studying for the mcat) might look bette than research. Its not 'just' volunteering...

 

[Lamel]

That doesn't sound like you're about to get fired. That sounds more like they just want to discuss what they will be doing for the next few months. If you think you're gonna get fire every time there is a meeting with your PI, you're gonna be feeling pretty antsy all the time.