Summer research away program when to best take vacation? 8v10weeks

[Isoprene]

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For those who did research during the summer between MS1/2, do you think a dedicated 8 weeks vs. 10 weeks make much of a difference?

2 wks vacation followed by 8 wks of research seems like a good option (the program is 8 wks, but obviously can do more). At the same time since it's an away research program, I wonder if taking the entire 10 weeks + 1-2 weeks of vacation in between/after getting started would be more efficient. Opinions?

 

[JP2740]

take it at the end so that you do nothing for a bit before 2nd year starts

 

[Isoprene]

take it at the end so that you do nothing for a bit before 2nd year starts

Yea I would, but that doesn't work --in fact it ends right before 2nd yr starts haha

 

[jthedestroyr]

Are you just getting your feet wet in research, or are you trying to do something? To be honest, 8-10 weeks in research doesn't mean much. You're going to probably learn 1-2 techniques and maybe utilize them. It's very improbable to get one decent experiment done in that time frame, therefore I think it's irrelevant to fret over 2 weeks.

 

[Isoprene]

Are you just getting your feet wet in research, or are you trying to do something? To be honest, 8-10 weeks in research doesn't mean much. You're going to probably learn 1-2 techniques and maybe utilize them. It's very improbable to get one decent experiment done in that time frame, therefore I think it's irrelevant to fret over 2 weeks.

As an away national program, this is more of a translational/clinical research than basic. So technique/time wise I am not as concerned. You are right about probably not making a difference regardless, but a dedicated summer can make significant progress on a non-bench research project. Hence my question and why I asked for opinions.

 

[jthedestroyr]

I stand by my opinion that 2 weeks isn't going to make or break you. I understand it's an away and even with translational/clinical research I highly doubt 2 weeks is a deal breaker. I'll play devils advocate and will tell you it's much nicer to have people around a bit longer as we can utilize you better. We have summer medical students coming into the lab soon as we do every year, but I always feel it's more for their benefit then ours.

As someone that's active in research, I'm telling you 2 weeks isn't going to make or break you even with clinical research. Additional 2 weeks is not significant enough to progress you're non-bench research whatever it is.

 

[tiedyeddog]

2 weeks won't make a difference.

 

[Guero]

Congrats on landing a project. 🙂

I second what's been said. I'm doing an away fellowship and was in the same position as you when I had to decide. I opted for 9 weeks because June 1 to July 31 ended up being exactly 9 weeks. So I'll get a one week vacation before school starts. :/ C'est la vie.

 

[Isoprene]

Thanks for all the response! - Congrats to you Guero as well!

I agree with you all that the difference of 2 weeks is indeed minor, it's more for logistics than for "lots" more progress, especially when the writing process once data collection is done can be done off-site for the type of clinical research many of us do. I have also worked extensively in basic research previously and there is very little chance to accomplish much, if at all in 2 month's time or even a year's time (2 yr minimum and even that's pushing it) - hence, many PhDs in the department never understood why these summer programs are offered, the techniques you eventually forget, the exp design is simple as there's little chance to deeply do literature reviews -- and it takes up their time to teach you. So yes, I understand exactly where you are coming from for a basic science perspective.

I've decided to do 8 weeks so I'll get 2 weeks to do a small observership program with vacation. Cheers!