X vs Y lab--Which should I choose?

[purplemarbles48]

Hello! I'm super torn between deciding which lab to do research under, and I'd like y'alls opinions/input!

As a background, I'll be studying abroad in the Fall in Japan for a semester, where I'll be doing full-time research. As a part of the program, you have to reach out to professors in which you'd be interested in working with. I'm super grateful to have had two professors express interest in having me, but I'm absolutely torn on which one to work under. Here's a sort of outline of each PI:

PI 1

• dean of the graduate school of child development
• research would be on vulnerability genes associated with childhood/adolescent mental diseases
• clinical research

PI 2

• one of the most influential immunology researchers in the world (think wikipedia page, frequent Nature publications)
• discovered this gene called IL-6 that my current home lab has studied
• biomedical research

I'm extremely torn on which to choose. While the first PI is clinical research, and studies fields that I'm extremely interested in (psych and peds), the second PI's sort of "fame" is drawing me in, and I'd want to see what academia would be like in a lab of that caliber. I'm also very interested in the research he does as well as its more related to my current research, though I would admit I'm slightly more interested in the topics of the first.

No matter what PI I'd choose, I believe I'd have an amazing time doing work under then. I guess, then, it's a question of what might be the "best" for medical school. Do y'all have any advice for me? What would you do? I'd want to know how medical schools might view my work under each PI. Thank you!

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[Hollow Knight]

I would go with what you enjoy more. You’ll be more productive.

Working with a regular Nature publishing guy/gal is cool and all but will you actually get a pub out of a lab like that?

But of attendings come behind me and tell you I’m an idiot, listen to them

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Whatever you like to do better, or if you want that photo of you and the celebrity in your digital photo album forever, go for it. Again, whatever floats your boat.

 

[privatesugar]

If it was me I'd go PI 2. An opportunity to work with someone who is world-renowned in their field is too good to pass up. Work hard and you'll probably get your name on a high impact paper. At the end of the day you're a pre-med, not deciding where to do a PhD, so I wouldn't stress too much either way. Go wherever you can succeed and be happy.

 

[AJS59]

Another important point I'd add is go for the one with the less toxic environment/the person who would be able to write a better letter for you. Some (not all, but certainly some) of the rockstars in the field of academia can be known to be arrogantly toxic.