Question about research

[brdgamefrk]

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Hey guys, I just had a quick question about research.

I am currently working in a molecular genetics cancer research lab. I have been working there for 4 months now and have logged over 250 hours, but not working on my own project. Going into this lab I was excited to learn and be there, but I've found that because of the amount of time I'm in there - as well as poor treatment by my PI - that I really don't enjoy what I'm doing at all.

So, would it look bad to quit the lab after only 4 months? Should I just stick with it? I can do the work and still work hard in the lab, but would my time be better spent finding a position doing clinical research in something that I'm more interested in?

Thanks for any responses! Just a bit torn here.

 

[Richardh]

I would recommend you to talk to your PI about your desire to work on your own project before you decide to leave. You have nothing to lose. If your PI doesn't grant you a project, you can then go forward and find another research lab.

In the end though, yeah, it is best for you to find a better position working on clinical research. You should work on something that you enjoy/interested in 👍 Also you should be working with people whom you have good mentor-peer relationship 🙂

 

[michigangirl]

Depends on where you're at in your time-- what year undergrad are you? If you're just about to apply to medical schools and you think your PI (despite poor treatment) would write you a strong letter, then suck it up and stick with it. If you're early, (freshman or sophomore year), bail out and find another project/lab/research you're interested in. Do you like that actual benchwork and just hate the lab you're in? Or do you hate bench work? Lots of questions to answer-- it's not easy just switching to clinical research-- in a lot of ways its harder to become involved in clinical research. If you've learned some bench techniques and enjoy them, then it might be worth just looking into another lab with a less caustic environment.

 

[Catalystik]

The end of a semester is a natural transition time. I'm sure the PI would not question the excuse of next semester's heavy academic load/ other commitments coming up/inability to give as much time as you'd wish to his lab/ or even a more honest, "I don't feel like we're on the same wavelength, I feel I'm not progressing as you'd expected, and that you're unsatisfied with my work.". A problem might be that you'd be expected to produce a LOR from your PI by med schools, so hopefully you have plenty of time left to establish a better relationship with another advisor.

 

[fishbait63]

Is there other undergrads in the lab its really better to ask them and see what they have to say or other undergrads in the labs you work closely with. They will be able to tell you if your experience is normal and how did other undergrads in your situation reacted and what happened to them.

 

[bacalaca]

Hey guys, I just had a quick question about research.

I am currently working in a molecular genetics cancer research lab. I have been working there for 4 months now and have logged over 250 hours, but not working on my own project. Going into this lab I was excited to learn and be there, but I've found that because of the amount of time I'm in there - as well as poor treatment by my PI - that I really don't enjoy what I'm doing at all.

So, would it look bad to quit the lab after only 4 months? Should I just stick with it? I can do the work and still work hard in the lab, but would my time be better spent finding a position doing clinical research in something that I'm more interested in?

Thanks for any responses! Just a bit torn here.

for me I went through 3 labs, and logged a good time at the first two before i found the right lab for me. It's ok to move around, and dont count it as losing all the work you put in already. You can always put it on ur app, and plus u learned some stuff from your experience so when you start in a new lab you wont be a complete noob. Also it can show that you have a wider breadth of experience. Lab environment was the biggest reason why i moved on from my first lab, i was not treated right by the PI nor by the rest of the staff. My second lab was alright, but i wasnt really feeling it. By the time i found my third lab things seemed to click, the project and the people were great. PM me if u have any questions

 

[NickNaylor]

OP, I was in a lab for about a year at my undergrad. I hated it and quit, and I decided not to mention it at all on my applications. You can always choose not to mention an experience on an application if you don't want. Don't feel like you have to stay in a lab (or any other activity for that matter) just because you feel like you need to "complete" it, if that makes sense.