Working in Two Labs

[Lurid]

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Hi everyone,
I currently work at a cancer research lab as a paid laboratory research assistant (work-study). I'm going into my second year in the fall and I'm definitely interested in getting my own project soon. I was a laboratory assistant for two years in high school and did mostly cleaning, cell culture maintenance, lab maintenance, etc., so I'm getting a bit bored of just doing the same thing (at the current lab, it's been a year and I have almost the same responsibilities). I also talked to my post-doc about this and he said that it's hard for me to do my own project because of time constraints, since I also have lab assistant duties (we don't have a lab manager) and my weekly hours are set.

Would it be bad if I applied to other labs as a volunteer, hopefully doing more than just basic lab tasks? If I were to apply, how should I explain it to the PI?

Thanks in advance. 🙂

 

[type12]

I don't think the PI is going to care, but energy is not limitless (yet)

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

At one point I was working in two labs (one at my school and one at a government lab nearby). It worked out pretty well. So long as the hours are not conflicting and so long as you can keep your studies up, more power to you. It worked out well for me, somehow I was able to do everything. I ended up being hired by the government lab as a lab tech after I graduated.

 

[Lurid]

Thanks for the reply! How did you explain to your current lab that you wanted to work in another one? And if, say, I was in an interview for another lab, how should I explain why I want to work two labs? Should I just tell them that I'm interested in doing more than just basic lab things? Also, would it be weird if I asked a post doc in my current lab to be my reference?

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I didnt really have to tell them anything? Unless you are getting paid and signed some sort of non compete clause or something, the reality is that you are free to do whatever you want. I worked in one lab early mornings and swung by some evenings (made my own hours). The other one (government) I was there on a more 10-4 type of deal. So it just worked out that way.

I can also say that showing enthusiasm to learn is usually good. I talked to my PI about wanting to have more opportunities when we were done and within a couple of weeks he hired me. After the conclusion of my contract, he knew a guy with more opportunities who was hiring... thats sort of how the cycle goes.