Research Experience

[467167]

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[AlbinoHawk DO]

Yes. Two years in and you can barely talk about the research and your PI won't write you a letter? Where there is smoke, there is fire. I would want to know more. If I didn't, you're not a risk worth taking.

 

[Espadaleader]

1. Never mention that research again.
2. Find another lab.

 

[penguinism]

Why did you leave the lab?

If you mention the research at all on your application, prepare to be asked about it.

 

[type12]

What is stopping you from understanding what you did for two years now? You left, but you did do something there. You have 2 years worth of experience. Figure it out, look at papers, etc.

You can put it on your app, but put a colleague on as a reference rather than the PI. There has to be someone you worked with very closely for two years who can vouch for you, since you didn't know what you were doing. That would be the person I would put on as the reference.

 

[Espadaleader]

As I said before.

1. Never mention that research again.
2. Find another lab.

If you left the lab on bad terms remove it from your CV and find another research lab.

 

[467167]

I'll try to find something else.

 

[type12]

They will see the gap in your application. What are you going to fill it with? Also, bear in mind, if you were paid for this work, this will show up during a background check (after admissions) and you may have to explain it then (i.e., why you didn't share it before).

 

[Oso]

Were you asked to leave on bad terms? Two years is a long time to do an activity and not mention it. Also, you should be able to discuss the work that you did.. I'm not sure why leaving the lab would prevent you from doing so. It's not essential that you receive a LOR from a PI you did research with, although it is common and beneficial.

In my opinion, you should list the activity on your app, be able to discuss your work in interviews, and have a good, positive to neutrally phrased explanation for why you left the lab. You could list another person in the lab as your reference.

Besides, what would you do in an interview if they ask you if you have/ why don't you have research experience.. Lie? I don't think trying to cover it up completely is the best way to go, but again, this is my personal opinion.

 

[Contr0lz]

oops wrong thread

 

[mishaS]

They will see the gap in your application. What are you going to fill it with? Also, bear in mind, if you were paid for this work, this will show up during a background check (after admissions) and you may have to explain it then (i.e., why you didn't share it before).

Why would they see a gap in the application if it isn't on the application? And as far as the background check goes, I'm pretty sure it's a CRIMINAL background check, so as long as there wasn't a crime involved, the OP will be fine.

OP, as others have said, if you've left on bad terms, depending on what exactly happened, it is your call as to whether it's too dangerous to mention. If you think that bringing it up will cause more harm than good, then there you have it, but depending on circumstances, it isn't a thing that you 100% need to forget about mentioning. Also, worst case, get some token research in - unless you're shooting for powerhouse schools, rather than in-state schools, not having tons of lab won't hurt you too much.

 

[Served]

Hey there.

So I recently had to leave my research lab that I had been working in for two years. This means I cannot get a recommendation for research and really can't talk too much about the research for applications.

Would this significantly affect my chances at getting into medical school?

Why did you have to leave the lab? Even if you left, is there a reason why you can't ask for a LOR from your advisor?

 

[467167]

Worked it out!

 

[lumpyduster]

I wasn't really getting too much from the experience. They would ask me come to in randomly and there was never really any consistency with the lab experience. I wasn't paid for it - I took it for credit. I don't know how much they can write for me, but I can certainly ask. I just feel like on an interview, I would have to tell them that the experience did not give me much to gain. I didn't exactly leave yet, but it seems like it just isn't worth my while.

I was in your position. My lab isn't really the best at teaching but somehow I survived and made it into a good experience. I think it could still be something you talk about? My PI always really encouraged me to follow the grad students around and learn as much as I could, but I was generally too afraid of bothering them (PI thought they should be overjoyed to have someone interested in their work haha). You could try this method? Rather than wait for them to ask you for help, tell a grad student you're interested in what they do and would like to hear more. They tell you and use this discussion as a way to get them to let you watch them do whatever it is they do? That way you kind of learn about the project as well as certain techniques they use 🙂 Even if you're applying in June you have a few more weeks to get an idea about what to talk about in interviews this way.