To take or not to take?

[rajp98]

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I need some advice on this, and am hoping you guys have had experience with this type of stuff before or are knowledgeable about it.

I was recently offered a paid research position at a relatively high research institute near my area. The catch is the PI wants me to do 20 hours per week, but all I would be mostly doing is working with a microscope and computer, and just repeating stuff. I want to know if this will actually benefit me for admissions, and if it will look good even if I get a pub. I need advice, as I dont know what to do in this case. Should I take the position or not?

The research is a more geared towards engineering than medicine.

 

[Moko]

I was recently offered a paid research position at a relatively high research institute near my area. The catch is the PI wants me to do 20 hours per week, but all I would be mostly doing is working with a microscope and computer, and just repeating stuff. I want to know if this will actually benefit me for admissions, and if it will look good even if I get a pub. I need advice, as I dont know what to do in this case. Should I take the position or not? The research is a more geared towards engineering than medicine.

Will you be able to participate in the scientific process, e.g. hypothesis generation and testing, data analysis, and/or writing and editing of the manuscript? These are the things that you want to talk about on interviews to show that you conducted meaningful research.

In my opinion, all else being equal:
Publications + meaningful research exp > No pubs + meaningful research exp >> Pubs + no meaningful research exp >> No pubs + no meaningful research exp > no research experience at all.

Take the job if you have the opportunity to conduct meaningful research in the future. If this job is purely about 'scut work' (cleaning supplies, etc.), are there other opportunities available? If not, some work experience is better than nothing..

 

[rajp98]

Will you be able to participate in the scientific process, e.g. hypothesis generation and testing, data analysis, and/or writing and editing of the manuscript? These are the things that you want to talk about on interviews to show that you conducted meaningful research.

In my opinion, all else being equal:
Publications + meaningful research exp > No pubs + meaningful research exp >> Pubs + no meaningful research exp >> No pubs + no meaningful research exp > no research experience at all.

Take the job if you have the opportunity to conduct meaningful research in the future. If this job is purely about 'scut work' (cleaning supplies, etc.), are there other opportunities available? If not, some work experience is better than nothing..

I don't think I will be involved too much in the research process itself. Its more just a simple task given to me, that is a part of the research and essentially making the research run smoother. Do you think I should take the position?

 

[Moko]

I don't think I will be involved too much in the research process itself. Its more just a simple task given to me, that is a part of the research and essentially making the research run smoother. Do you think I should take the position?

Ask your PI about the possibility of being involved in research down the road. If there is absolutely no chance of contributing in a meaningful manner, I would suggest finding other opportunities. This can be another research lab, or something unrelated to research such as volunteering or teaching (depending on when you are applying, and what you've currently done up until this point).

 

[rajp98]

Ask your PI about the possibility of being involved in research down the road. If there is absolutely no chance of contributing in a meaningful manner, I would suggest finding other opportunities. This can be another research lab, or something unrelated to research such as volunteering or teaching (depending on when you are applying, and what you've currently done up until this point).

He said he does plan to do further research down the road in which I can be involved in, but I'm not sure about the extent of my involvement then either.

 

[rajp98]

Thank you so much guys for your input. Although I've received some positive and reinforcing answers here, my question still remains.

Is it worthwhile to pursue this research given the circumstances of 20hrs a week and simple, repetetive task?

 

[Verity]

If you have no other means to get more involved research/need the money, I think it is a good option. Once you learn more techniques, you become a more desirable candidate for other research opportunities. Further, in many cases, you can make of the experience what you'd like. If you choose to put in more time outside of the lab understanding related literature, make it obvious (but not annoyingly so) that you want to do more (and more importantly, would be capable of doing so), then it has a good chance of evolving. 🙂 If you prove that you can be an intellectual asset, the opportunities will come. This could be a foot in the door.

 

[rajp98]

If you have no other means to get more involved research/need the money, I think it is a good option. Once you learn more techniques, you become a more desirable candidate for other research opportunities. Further, in many cases, you can make of the experience what you'd like. If you choose to put in more time outside of the lab understanding related literature, make it obvious (but not annoyingly so) that you want to do more (and more importantly, would be capable of doing so), then it has a good chance of evolving. 🙂 If you prove that you can be an intellectual asset, the opportunities will come. This could be a foot in the door.

Thanks so much! When you mention the 'techniques', how would this be helpful? The techniques that I will do with this research, will probably not be applied to any other research since these are very computer and microscope based.

 

[Verity]

Thanks so much! When you mention the 'techniques', how would this be helpful? The techniques that I will do with this research, will probably not be applied to any other research since these are very computer and microscope based.

Both very useful skills to have. Once you become used to working in a lab and learning new techniques, it becomes easier to learn more. While you might not do exactly the same thing in another lab, you'd be able to pick up computer and microscope-based tasks far easier.