Research Problems

[DisgruntledMed]

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Hey guys, I'm a regular user but in the interest of anonymity I just wanted to use a different account.

I have an issue with my potential summer research project in a field I really want to go in. I contacted a PI who happens to be a residency director in the home program, and after going through all the work of writing up a research proposal to submit at my school so I can get paid over the summer, I decide to ask him if the research he proposes that I do is publishable. He straight up told me no, it isn't. Now, I'm really annoyed because not only do I find this research uninteresting, but I won't even get anything out of it either, and I really don't want to do it. My issue is that I've become already committed to doing this research project, and I'm worried it might hurt me in the future if I drop out now. Is there any way to approach this situation in a way that won't hurt me when I apply for residency? I really want to approach the situation delicately. This is basic science research btw.

 

[CatFactorial]

Stick with it. If this is a residency program you'd be interested in, pissing off the program director isn't worth it.

Also, publishing a basic science paper in one summer is pretty implausible, so I don't understand why not doing so annoys you so much.

 

[DisgruntledMed]

Stick with it. If this is a residency program you'd be interested in, pissing off the program director isn't worth it.

Also, publishing a basic science paper in one summer is pretty implausible, so I don't understand why not doing so annoys you so much.

It annoys me because he told me it's not the type of research that's publishable. So he gave me a research assignment that he knows will never show dividends.

 

[CatFactorial]

You could still get a sweet rec letter.

 

[operaman]

1) don't piss of the PD (obviously)

2) If you don't already have basic science research experience, this is still a nice feather to have in your cap. You can always grab some clinical pubs later, but may not have much future time to do protected basic science work. Having a nice list of skills in this area can open doors later.

3) While hanging around the department this summer, make some connections and see who has some clinical work that needs doing. It's especially nice if someone already has data collected and just needs some analysis and number crunching. Since you don't have classes to study for, you may have some extra time to churn out something extra.

I really don't think there's any delicate way to bail at this point being that we're only a few weeks away from the summer. The only way I can think of would be if you landed some other prestigious summer fellowship and could then politely ask this person's permission if you could accept it, but I think most of those have already been awarded at this point.

 

[DisgruntledMed]

1) don't piss of the PD (obviously)

2) If you don't already have basic science research experience, this is still a nice feather to have in your cap. You can always grab some clinical pubs later, but may not have much future time to do protected basic science work. Having a nice list of skills in this area can open doors later.

3) While hanging around the department this summer, make some connections and see who has some clinical work that needs doing. It's especially nice if someone already has data collected and just needs some analysis and number crunching. Since you don't have classes to study for, you may have some extra time to churn out something extra.

I really don't think there's any delicate way to bail at this point being that we're only a few weeks away from the summer. The only way I can think of would be if you landed some other prestigious summer fellowship and could then politely ask this person's permission if you could accept it, but I think most of those have already been awarded at this point.

This is great advice. I think you're right; mostly I'm just annoyed at the PI but I'm going to do my best to get something good out of it. Thanks!

 

[Sheldor]

Agree with above and would add: Be a self starter and see if you can submit an abstract about the research for, at the very least, a poster presentation so that the effort shows up on your CV.

 

[Frazier]

agree with above and would add: Be a self starter and see if you can submit an abstract about the research for, at the very least, a poster presentation so that the effort shows up on your cv.

+1