Putting research on hold?

[teenyfish]

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I'm currently doing research under one of my biology professors. She is a great mentor, but very intense and is constantly pushing for results. This is not my original project, I joined the project after a friend left the lab and transferred schools. He taught me as much as he could before he left, but there were still gaps that I had to fill in myself. At the beginning of the semester I was confident that I could continue his work and gain results, but after one unsuccessful trial and a rocky period afterwards I'm beginning to dread going into the lab. I understand that everything that science is is based upon trial and error and persistance but at the same time I'm feeling this pressure to succeed as he did, especially when I'm following his procedure and not getting anywhere.

This weekend I went to a conference and watched other undergraduates present their research, and they were all so passionate about what they were doing, and I just don't feel that way about my project. It's not something that I made on my own, it's not something that I built from the ground up, I'm trying my best to feel some connection to the project to make me motivated to continue but I just can't feel it. I'm just not passionate or interested in the field that I'm currently in and because of that I feel that my motivation is lacking and I'm not doing my best. I joined the lab as a volunteer last semester just to explore a different aspect of biology (it's an ecology lab) but I only did basic work around the lab, nothing really substancial and now that I'm in the midst of it I'm starting to feel that it's not for me.

I'm doing research for credit, and I'm in the middle of my project and the others working in the lab depend on my results, so I can't just abandon the project (nor would I want to quit right in the middle), but after this semester I don't think I would like to continue in this lab. I've been thinking of this for a while and it's been upsetting to me because my PI has been so kind and generous to let me work under her and has given me an opportunity that so many undergrads don't have, I feel like I'm disrespecting her in some way by not wanting to continue. I just don't want to have her waste her time and money funding someone that isn't 100% committed to their project. I would love to continue research, but in something that I'm interested in and that I enjoy doing.

Right now I'm incredibly stressed about my project, so much so that it's taken time away from classes and work and I just constantly have anxiety in general. I'm just worried about being disrespectful, not putting in 100%, and getting no data.

So basically what I'm trying to ask is, what should I do after this semester? Am I being disrespectful to my PI? Could I even get into another lab? Is this just part of the learning process of what/who you want to be as a student and professional?

 

[deleted393595]

I'm currently doing research under one of my biology professors. She is a great mentor, but very intense and is constantly pushing for results. This is not my original project, I joined the project after a friend left the lab and transferred schools. He taught me as much as he could before he left, but there were still gaps that I had to fill in myself. At the beginning of the semester I was confident that I could continue his work and gain results, but after one unsuccessful trial and a rocky period afterwards I'm beginning to dread going into the lab. I understand that everything that science is is based upon trial and error and persistance but at the same time I'm feeling this pressure to succeed as he did, especially when I'm following his procedure and not getting anywhere.

Been through th same experience before. You are going to have a lot of issues at first since you're new and because you're following someone else's procedure. It will take a lot of troubleshooting and persistence

This weekend I went to a conference and watched other undergraduates present their research, and they were all so passionate about what they were doing, and I just don't feel that way about my project. It's not something that I made on my own, it's not something that I built from the ground up, I'm trying my best to feel some connection to the project to make me motivated to continue but I just can't feel it. I'm just not passionate or interested in the field that I'm currently in and because of that I feel that my motivation is lacking and I'm not doing my best. I joined the lab as a volunteer last semester just to explore a different aspect of biology (it's an ecology lab) but I only did basic work around the lab, nothing really substancial and now that I'm in the midst of it I'm starting to feel that it's not for me.

I'm doing research for credit, and I'm in the middle of my project and the others working in the lab depend on my results, so I can't just abandon the project (nor would I want to quit right in the middle), but after this semester I don't think I would like to continue in this lab. I've been thinking of this for a while and it's been upsetting to me because my PI has been so kind and generous to let me work under her and has given me an opportunity that so many undergrads don't have, I feel like I'm disrespecting her in some way by not wanting to continue. I just don't want to have her waste her time and money funding someone that isn't 100% committed to their project. I would love to continue research, but in something that I'm interested in and that I enjoy doing.

Is ecology something that you're genuinely interested in?

So basically what I'm trying to ask is, what should I do after this semester? Am I being disrespectful to my PI? Could I even get into another lab? Is this just part of the learning process of what/who you want to be as a student and professional?

It won't be disrespectful to your PI if you quit because your interests do not line up with the work in her lab since you obviously put in the time and the effort to do it. However, do offer to educate the next person performing those trials about the procedure and the nuances of your project.

 

[teenyfish]

I would say that ecology is something that I'm interested in, but in a way that I'd like to read a few papers, learn about someone's research or watch a documentary about it. I really like the lab and the professor I work under is a great mentor so I'm torn. I made an error today in the lab that will probably delay my project, simply because I was careless and wasn't paying attention. I feel like I'm not doing my best work and I'm only disappointing and frustrating her. I really don't want to quit because I've never quit something before, and I really enjoy the atmosphere even if I'm not absolutely passionate about the work. Plus I'm learning things everyday which is great. But after this screw up I'm nervous that she might want me out of the lab, who knows.

 

[syoung]

My 2 cents:

Have a chat with your PI, if you can be frank.

Discuss how you might benefit/contribute to the project or improve it. See how you can become MORE careful. Learn now.

Moving to another lab... will you find something to be passionate about there? Will you have the opportunity to start something on your own? You'll definitely have to start at square one there, learning new lab procedures, the little nuances, etc. compared to this lab.

Weigh it all out.