Unproductive research lab

[deleted647690]

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Hi,
So I got involved with a research lab last semester, and I didn't do much. They basically had me helping out with some minor things for other people's projects.
I was supposed to pair up with another undergrad this semester and start this project of our own, but my PI is really hard to reach. She is so busy and she rarely responds to my emails. It it now after spring break, and our project still hasn't been started (I have done nothing for the lab this semester).
The other undergrad I'm with is worried too, and he is pretty productive. He thinks we should just start the project since nobody is really helping us.
Will this be bad if my experience in this lab is unproductive?
I don't know if I would want to just leave the research lab and find another; I would feel bad about that. The PI already wrote me a letter of rec for something I applied for a few years ago, so I'm planning on using her for med school apps.

 

[eteshoe]

Really up to you:

- You could go to another lab that would afford you a better research experience - you are not obligated to go with the PI who's lab you're currently in just because they already wrote you a rec letter.

- You could just get started on the project (with the other undergrad) - you'll struggle a bit but it may be a unique learning experience (I personally went through both paths)

 

[Dr.TonySoprano]

if you stay in this lab, ask around fellow grad students or post docs for help. typically, the people at the bench are the most helpful when it comes to undergrad research.

 

[kb1900]

Just try starting out your project. Get a plan laid out. Present it to one of the grad students/phd students/post docs and see what you need to learn before getting started (tehniques). After that just got for it. Why would you just label your lab work as unproductive if it's completely within your control?

Does your PI have something about approving every single step you take?

 

[Petrichor1]

if your PI is hard to reach, I don't know how that person can be a good LOR. You could very well start on the experiment. It's confusing for me because if it were me I'd probably try finding another PI in the off chance you guys don't get support/guidance.

 

[deleted647690]

Well my lab friend and I are going to start the project. We talked with a post doc in the lab, and he answered our questions for getting started.

About getting a LOR:

I'm worried by Petrichor's comment. Do you think this PI won't be able to write me a strong letter when it comes time for me to apply to med school?

She wrote me a letter over a year ago for something else I was applying for. From your experiences, do you think if I asked her if she could write me a strong letter for my med school apps, she would reuse this old letter either fully or partially, or write something better?

 

[Petrichor1]

Well my lab friend and I are going to start the project. We talked with a post doc in the lab, and he answered our questions for getting started.

About getting a LOR:

I'm worried by Petrichor's comment. Do you think this PI won't be able to write me a strong letter when it comes time for me to apply to med school?

She wrote me a letter over a year ago for something else I was applying for. From your experiences, do you think if I asked her if she could write me a strong letter for my med school apps, she would reuse this old letter either fully or partially, or write something better?

medical schools are really looking for a PI who could speak to your personality closely. It is very plausible that the last time your PI wrote a letter, they may have written a lot about themselves than you. I suggest you continue with your lab if you are able to work more closely with a person of authority (preferrentially PhD and possibly your PI) so that you could get a strong letter. You may expend a lot of energy at this point trying to find a lab if you are applying this year or next.

 

[deleted647690]

medical schools are really looking for a PI who could speak to your personality closely. It is very plausible that the last time your PI wrote a letter, they may have written a lot about themselves than you. I suggest you continue with your lab if you are able to work more closely with a person of authority (preferrentially PhD and possibly your PI) so that you could get a strong letter. You may expend a lot of energy at this point trying to find a lab if you are applying this year or next.

Yeah, at this point, I feel like it might not really be worth it to go looking for a better lab. Maybe my PI will just be impressed after this project...

 

[Shirafune]

I don't mean to scare you, but I think it depends on your PI's management style. Did she already give you the go ahead to start the project and just isn't responding to your emails asking for help? I think it could backfire if you start something your PI hasn't asked you to do, unless that's just the style of the lab in that everybody is allowed to go at it with minor directional guidance.