Research opportunity for something I have no interest in

[Analog]

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I am so confused right now about what to do right now- I want to explain my situation.

So anyways, after a professor at my schools associated med school guest lectured a class of mine, I asked him about getting involved with research as an undergraduate student. I met with him Friday, and he showed me a lot of the kinds of stuff he was doing. It turns out he's a head honcho more in the medical rehabilitation school- his experiments involved treadmills, EMG's, analyzing video of motion of various limbs, that kind of thing. He pretty much offered to let me run one of the experiments. I'm fairly sure this would put my name on a paper if it was published. Basically he has a lot of ideas for experiments and wants me to go ahead and carry them out. The problem is that I have zero interest in this sort of thing. I was expecting something on more of a cellular level- a grad student once told me about how in her lab they'd do things with cancer cells like induce hypoxia, interpret results, etc, and that kind of thing totally clicked with me. I really like that. I told him I wasn't expecting this large of a role, I was just here to do whatever they needed me to do, and he said they didn't want that, he wanted a go-getter who can follow this through fully. He also said he wouldn't be offended if I didn't email him back.

I just don't know what to do. This research is not something that interests me greatly and I'm not sure if I have the passion to be the go-getter he needs. Since this was on Friday I know I need to email him back fairly soon. The commitment wouldn't be very much time-wise but I don't want to half ass something like this, because it is important.

Thoughts? This is something I'll need to work out myself but whatever, I'd like to hear what SDN has to say.

 

[LizzyM]

"Thank you for the opportunity. Taking into account my interest in bench research, your lab does not seem like a good fit for me. Wishing you every success with your endeavors. Sincerely, Analog"

 

[JJMrK]

I am so confused right now about what to do right now- I want to explain my situation.

So anyways, after a professor at my schools associated med school guest lectured a class of mine, I asked him about getting involved with research as an undergraduate student. I met with him Friday, and he showed me a lot of the kinds of stuff he was doing. It turns out he's a head honcho more in the medical rehabilitation school- his experiments involved treadmills, EMG's, analyzing video of motion of various limbs, that kind of thing. He pretty much offered to let me run one of the experiments. I'm fairly sure this would put my name on a paper if it was published. Basically he has a lot of ideas for experiments and wants me to go ahead and carry them out. The problem is that I have zero interest in this sort of thing. I was expecting something on more of a cellular level- a grad student once told me about how in her lab they'd do things with cancer cells like induce hypoxia, interpret results, etc, and that kind of thing totally clicked with me. I really like that. I told him I wasn't expecting this large of a role, I was just here to do whatever they needed me to do, and he said they didn't want that, he wanted a go-getter who can follow this through fully. He also said he wouldn't be offended if I didn't email him back.

I just don't know what to do. This research is not something that interests me greatly and I'm not sure if I have the passion to be the go-getter he needs. Since this was on Friday I know I need to email him back fairly soon. The commitment wouldn't be very much time-wise but I don't want to half ass something like this, because it is important.

Thoughts? This is something I'll need to work out myself but whatever, I'd like to hear what SDN has to say.

Don't do it. You'd probably be wasting the time of everyone involved.

 

[Omni]

Your answer is simple: don't research with him and just email him back, thanking him for the offer, but you won't be able to do it because of x, y, and z. (I want you to think of what to put in your own email 😛) Also, how hard is research for you to come by?

I think a better thing to do would be to try his lab for a month or two. Tell him that you would like to see how it is. Who knows? You might like it. Also, after working with him for a bit, you'll be able to ask him if he knows of any labs with your interest that will accept you.

ITS ALL ABOUT NETWORKING!!! NETWORK!!!

 

[GlamDoc]

It sounds like a great opportunity, and it could have its fair share of perks in the future (a potential publication, a good LOR, a good EC in general). However, only you can decide the answer to your question. If you truly are not interested, then get out before it goes too far. As the PI said, he won't be offended. He'd rather have someone who would stick through the experiment rather than just leave midway through. It could be time better spent doing other EC's that you're interested in (clincial/non-clinical volunteering projects, etc), and searching for a position in the lab you care about. After all, you've proven you can get a good one! 👍 Just start searching for something else.

Personally the research sounds pretty interesting to me. But to each his own. Good luck! I'm sure you'll find something you want! 🙂

 

[JJMrK]

Your answer is simple: don't research with him and just email him back, thanking him for the offer, but you won't be able to do it because of x, y, and z. (I want you to think of what to put in your own email 😛) Also, how hard is research for you to come by?

I think a better thing to do would be to try his lab for a month or two. Tell him that you would like to see how it is. Who knows? You might like it. Also, after working with him for a bit, you'll be able to ask him if he knows of any labs with your interest that will accept you.

ITS ALL ABOUT NETWORKING!!! NETWORK!!!

Don't do this if you know you aren't interested. He has to train you, and if you quit you will have completely wasted his time.

 

[FIREitUP]

listen, research is research; it can be boring at times. if you can bear it and try to apply yourself you will see a side of science as it pertains to medicine that is gratifying in its own right. but if you find yourself absolutely wanted to shoot yourself in the face, then don't do it. as much as people want to say "do what you love to do", research looks good and it helps hone your problem solving skills.

 

[Bacchus]

listen, research is research; it can be boring at times. if you can bear it and try to apply yourself you will see a side of science as it pertains to medicine that is gratifying in its own right. but if you find yourself absolutely wanted to shoot yourself in the face, then don't do it. as much as people want to say "do what you love to do", research looks good and it helps hone your problem solving skills.

I'd have to disgree. The researcher is probably on a grant. Grants are arduous to write and often are the security for one's job. Its too much of a wasted resource to have an undergrad come in, not jump on the train, but rather just go through the motions. Besides that, the OP can definitely get more out of a research area he's interested in rather than "put on a smile" and provide lackluster results/screw everything up/waste time.

 

[Analog]

Thank you guys for the replies, my main problems are-

Will I even like bench research better?
Am I letting myself down by not taking advantage of this opportunity? In bench research I would probably be washing dishes, so it's definitely a step down.

 

[ThaliaNox]

One thing to keep in mind is that if you know starting off that you aren't interested in a research topic, you aren't going to want to give a ton of time to this, and you'll probably come to resent the amount of your time it does take up. Especially since it sounds like clinical research where you'll come into contact with research participants, I don't know how good of an idea it is for you to enter into this.

You could come off looking lacksidaisical and close doors for the future. Professors generally know each other and talk to each other at a school, so if you start at this lab, hate it, quit and try to go work for another professor, you may find yourself blacklisted for lack of committment. I wouldn't start in this lab unless you've decided it is something you really want to do.

 

[dw2158]

Thank you guys for the replies, my main problems are-

Will I even like bench research better?
Am I letting myself down by not taking advantage of this opportunity? In bench research I would probably be washing dishes, so it's definitely a step down.

that's why i would suggest taking this opportunity. before i did research, i couldn't have told you what type of research i was or was not interested in; all i knew was the theoretical stuff i had learned in my classes. i had never actually seen any science applied to experimental situations. i think it's more important to put yourself in a position where you can take some ownership over a project and really learn *how* to do research. once you've gotten a feel for that, you can decide whether that particular subject area was a good fit for you or not. you're not committing your life to this research; you're just trying to have a meaningful experience before med school. JMO.

 

[zetabetazeta]

It would be silly not to take this opportunity. I'm doing research too, guess what I am doing? Stay in front of the computer and trace the brain all day long. I'm interested in my research project in general but I don't like what I am doing..

So take this opportunity and be grateful. You know how many people would kill for this great opportunity. 😀