What do YOU do as a research assistant?

[Mnbvcxz]

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Hey,

I talked about this in my other thread about research. I started about a week ago (4h so far) but I feel like I'm really bad at it, and I'm also not doing anything to help anybody. People in the lab basically just have to waste their time explaining me everything. I wish I could be more helpful and quicker to pick up on things. What do you guys do as RAs, so that I can try and be like you 🙂))? Thanks!

 

[kpcrew]

That's why PIs want people to put in a significant amount of time into doing research. No one is born knowing how to do things, it takes time to learn techniques and get used to lab life. It takes even more time to do experiments and get results. Listen closely now and take good notes so you know what to do next time. Be persistent but not annoying.

 

[Etorphine]

ask questions about anything and everything, be OCD about writing your results in a notebook, and then keep another "to-do" notepad where you can write any little task your boss asks you to do.

Last, be patient, everyone makes mistakes the first couple of weeks.

 

[deleted393595]

Assist with research.

 

[Minnerbelle]

It's a very steep learning curve before you're truly helpful in the lab doing "important" things. It took me a good 6 months full time to actually feel like I could work independently on full projects and be a big asset, rather than a trainee. It really does take a lot of energy and time to train newbs how to do things reliably (an experienced person could do each thing much faster, and get trustworthy results in one try...). So esp if you can only put in 4-10 hrs/week, I would personally not focus on learning everything because that will be a burden on the person training you, and realistically, you won't be doing the same things enough times to get good at it with those time constraints if you stretch yourself too thin. Instead, start learning a couple of things really well (making gels, genotyping, DNA extractions, etc... dep on the type of lab you work in). That way, you can work independently without leeching onto the person training you, AND take some workload off of them. They can then feel thankful for your contributions, and will be much more amenable to teaching you new things. The more independent you are and the more reliable you are, the more good things will come your way.

 

[ponyo]

It's a very steep learning curve before you're truly helpful in the lab doing "important" things. It took me a good 6 months full time to actually feel like I could work independently on full projects and be a big asset, rather than a trainee. It really does take a lot of energy and time to train newbs how to do things reliably (an experienced person could do each thing much faster, and get trustworthy results in one try...). So esp if you can only put in 4-10 hrs/week, I would personally not focus on learning everything because that will be a burden on the person training you, and realistically, you won't be doing the same things enough times to get good at it with those time constraints if you stretch yourself too thin. Instead, start learning a couple of things really well (making gels, genotyping, DNA extractions, etc... dep on the type of lab you work in). That way, you can work independently without leeching onto the person training you, AND take some workload off of them. They can then feel thankful for your contributions, and will be much more amenable to teaching you new things. The more independent you are and the more reliable you are, the more good things will come your way.

I agree with this. Also, is there no way for you to get more hours? I feel like it's almost impossible to really get a sense of direction w.r.t. specific projects at <15hrs a week, and it might be worth it to try to take on a few more hours.

I am working on an independent thesis, so I do all the experimental design, actual experiments, etc. I started at this lab last semester and work about 20hrs a week. I started out with a research scientist who coached me by basically doing the study design, so that I could focus on honing my techniques, but now I mainly work by myself. In the past when I was working at a biotech I had a technician do some of my assays for me, but I think that's really rare in an academic environment.

 

[kpcrew]

I agree with this. Also, is there no way for you to get more hours? I feel like it's almost impossible to really get a sense of direction w.r.t. specific projects at <15hrs a week, and it might be worth it to try to take on a few more hours.

I am working on an independent thesis, so I do all the experimental design, actual experiments, etc. I started at this lab last semester and work about 20hrs a week. I started out with a research scientist who coached me by basically doing the study design, so that I could focus on honing my techniques, but now I mainly work by myself. In the past when I was working at a biotech I had a technician do some of my assays for me, but I think that's really rare in an academic environment.

it seems like a lot of medical school labs have technicians to do things like order chemicals, make buffers or run gels. they can run their own experiments but they devote a significant amount of time to helping the lab run smoothly.

 

[Morsetlis]

Everything except that planning of the project. When you come up with an idea and put in the work, then you're first author. If you put in the work, but didn't come up with the idea...

 

[Ghost117]

I will have to agree with everyone else here. Just give it time. I spent 6 months working as an RA at a lab last summer, and honestly felt that I was more of a waste of time for them than a benefit. I did learn a ton though and have since been working as project lead on a different project in a different lab. It's a very steep learning curve, but once you are over it you can do a lot of fun stuff.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

 

[Mnbvcxz]

Thanks a lot for your answers guys. To clarify about the 4h, I basically said that I could do 10-15h or so when I applied, but I believe since I know so little about the whole research they are doing, they only take me for 4h and then give me some studying to do home to understand better. So I'll just give it time and learn as much as I can for now.

 

[TropicalKitty]

I'm assuming when you say "research assistant" you're a student just popping into the lab to do some sciency stuff to put on your resume. (In my experience, "research assistant" is a title for STAFF, not students.)

This is how I handle students and what I expect:
When you walk into the lab, I give you kid gloves and tell you every detail until I know I can trust you to even work the sink properly. I expect you to take notes and ask questions. Please please please ask questions if you aren't sure. I'd rather you ask me a seemingly silly question like "where's the beaker?" instead of messing up the lab or sitting there staring into space dreaming about whatever pop star you're lusting after. Also, I don't expect you to even know how to tie your shoes, but I plan on teaching you that as well. I know you know nothing and I expect that. My goal is to groom you into a decent part of the lab, or at least something that uses our oxygen without contaminating my work. Even if you have done a method in a class before, listen and follow their way of doing it. You never know what tweaking they have done to optimize it for their work.

Hope you got an idea from someone who has been on the other side of your experience.

TL;DL Take notes. Listen. Don't be a fool. 🙂

PS- read the info they're giving you and try to understand their work. Nothing frustrates me more than when a student comes into the lab and they haven't read the articles I gave them.

 

[Mnbvcxz]

Thanks! You must be awesome to work with TropicalKitty. I'm indeed an inexperienced college sophomore, though I think I don't exactly do it for my resume. They are doing cancer research which seemed extremely interesting to me, especially since it's so clinically applicable. I guess now that I think about, given that they are using human tissue, there is now way I'd get to do "important" stuff until I'm a lot more knowledgeable.

 

[TropicalKitty]

Thanks! You must be awesome to work with TropicalKitty. I'm indeed an inexperienced college sophomore, though I think I don't exactly do it for my resume. They are doing cancer research which seemed extremely interesting to me, especially since it's so clinically applicable. I guess now that I think about, given that they are using human tissue, there is now way I'd get to do "important" stuff until I'm a lot more knowledgeable.

Thanks, I try! 🙂

For me, if you come in, are friendly and at least show an interest/care about learning things, I'll help you out. I'm less annoyed by the kids who honestly want to know what's going on and why than the kids who come in and just want the resume pad. Different labs have different vibes, but I remember how awkward it was as an undergrad trying to get a feel for the lab.

Until you're more knowledgeable, just be kind and ask if you can see what they are doing and see what is going on. "Hey Susie Q, may I see how you split cells?" "How can you tell they are ready to be split?" etc. Most people I have worked with would share the info with you.

 

[Morsetlis]

I'm assuming when you say "research assistant" you're a student just popping into the lab to do some sciency stuff to put on your resume. (In my experience, "research assistant" is a title for STAFF, not students.)

This is how I handle students and what I expect:
When you walk into the lab, I give you kid gloves and tell you every detail until I know I can trust you to even work the sink properly. I expect you to take notes and ask questions. Please please please ask questions if you aren't sure. I'd rather you ask me a seemingly silly question like "where's the beaker?" instead of messing up the lab or sitting there staring into space dreaming about whatever pop star you're lusting after. Also, I don't expect you to even know how to tie your shoes, but I plan on teaching you that as well. I know you know nothing and I expect that. My goal is to groom you into a decent part of the lab, or at least something that uses our oxygen without contaminating my work. Even if you have done a method in a class before, listen and follow their way of doing it. You never know what tweaking they have done to optimize it for their work.

Hope you got an idea from someone who has been on the other side of your experience.

TL;DL Take notes. Listen. Don't be a fool. 🙂

PS- read the info they're giving you and try to understand their work. Nothing frustrates me more than when a student comes into the lab and they haven't read the articles I gave them.

My lab PI at UCSD:

"Oh, hey, welcome. Now that I've interviewed you and know you're not an idiot, go follow this procedure manual and run twenty SDS-PAGE. Oh, we don't have the buffers? Well, clean this 1-year-old container and make it from scratch with the powder. See you next week."

Sure made me learn quick!

 

[ponyo]

My lab PI at UCSD:

"Oh, hey, welcome. Now that I've interviewed you and know you're not an idiot, go follow this procedure manual and run twenty SDS-PAGE. Oh, we don't have the buffers? Well, clean this 1-year-old container and make it from scratch with the powder. See you next week."

Sure made me learn quick!

👍 The first time I tried to run a gel, I picked up the 10x TBE and found a solid-packed half-inch of white ppt on the bottom of the container.

It worked though...

 

[NachoBabyDaddy]

I get lab mice super high. Nothin like mainlining that buprenex for a lab mouse.

 

[chiapet874]

Normally the first semester of working in a lab is a "testing" period where you simply get the grunt work and the lab tries to see if you are reliable.

If you stick to it and make it a point to show your interest (reading other papers, contributing to lab meetings, ect.) than your role in the lab will certainly grow. P.I.'s LIKE to see interested students work for them.

I would recommend more hours in the lab as well. No matter how good one's intentions are, 15 hours a week isn't enough. I'm in lab around 5-6 hours a day. That's a little overkill, but the key is long chunks of time, rather than lots of little bits.

My main activities: I implant infusion cannula's into certain regions of rat brains and perform live dissections/extraction of the brain out of the skull. I'm also in-charge of running immunoblots in the lab and keeping up with my projects. Beyond that, I let all the new undergraduates do the tedious stuff 😀

 

[Poozer]

I used to work in a genetics lab (C. elegans). When you first start out there is always a lot of literature reading.. but when you are taught techniques, make sure that you actually learn how to do them correctly the first time (aka take good notes) so that it doesn't need to be repeatedly shown to you over and over.

Learn it the first time!