Yet ANOTHER question about research

[eonxblue]

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Long story short...I am a second year and I just started another quarter at school. I did some (crappy) research last quarter, and I wanted to continue this (crappy) research just to do something in the meantime until I find something that is more interesting to me.

I just received basically a window of opportunity to leave if I wanted to. My question is: should I stay with this crappy research while I find a more interesting opportunity, or should I just drop it?

 

[Kaustikos]

Long story short...I am a second year and I just started another quarter at school. I did some (crappy) research last quarter, and I wanted to continue this (crappy) research just to do something in the meanwhile until I find something that is more interesting to me.

I just received basically a window of opportunity to leave if I wanted to. My question is: should I stay with this crappy research while I find a more interesting opportunity, or should I just drop it?

😕

I'll say the same thing I told one of my "co-workers" who bitched and moaned about the people she worked under in her lab.

You don't know if another opportunity will arise for you, plain and simple. Take a second and realize you have a job in a lab that will carry weight the longer you stay. Quitting without a backup plan is nonsensical in these times and will probably only hurt you when you apply for another lab position. Stay the course and get whatever experience you can from the lab.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Leave. If you dont like it..leave.

 

[eonxblue]

😕

I'll say the same thing I told one of my "co-workers" who bitched and moaned about the people she worked under in her lab.

You don't know if another opportunity will arise for you, plain and simple. Take a second and realize you have a job in a lab that will carry weight the longer you stay. Quitting without a backup plan is nonsensical in these times and will probably only hurt you when you apply for another lab position. Stay the course and get whatever experience you can from the lab.

Thank you for your input, and I agree with everything you say. But this is the reason why I wanted to make my "long story short."

The lab I work in has no opportunity for growth. I know this, I've spoken to seniors who've worked in the lab for quit some time. There has only been 2-3 students out of 60+(over the past 2-3 years) who had the opportunity to get to know their professor/conduct their own experiments. This is a "dead end job", and chances are I will do grunt work throughout college in a topic I am not interested in anyway. The seniors I work with have been very dedicated to this lab during their time, and the responsibility they've earned thus far is not very impressive.

I go to a research University, and professors are always looking for undergraduates. I have professors in mind that I plan on contacting, and this great clinical research program at my university hospital that I have high hopes for. In addition, it is the end of the year, and professors are looking to replace graduating seniors in their lab. I am very certain I will be able to find another opportunity. This isn't the point of my post.

 

[135892]

... I am very certain I will be able to find another opportunity. This isn't the point of my post.

So, the lab you're in now is "crappy". The lab you're in now offers no potential for working on your own project. You haven't been in this lab for too long. And, you have plenty of opportunities to join another lab?

Why are you even asking this question?

 

[eonxblue]

The point of my post is: should I stick with it for the quarter, just to be a part of a research project for the time being? Nothing more than that.

My gut says leave. Thanks for the input, though.

 

[135892]

The point of my post is: should I stick with it for the quarter, just to be a part of a research project for the time being? Nothing more than that.

My gut says leave. Thanks for the input, though.

Well if you can get started at another lab right away, then yeah, I would leave. If you won't be able to get into another lab until the next quarter, then it really doesn't matter whether you stay, although I really can't see much benefit of staying in a lab that you know you'll be leaving in a few months. Personally, I would try to get into another lab as soon as possible, and leave this current lab as quick as you can.

Best of luck 🙂

 

[Gallix23]

Sorry to intrude, but I had a quick research question myself. When is a good time to start research? Should it be done ASAP Freshman year, or in later upperclassmen years?

 

[135892]

Sorry to intrude, but I had a quick research question myself. When is a good time to start research? Should it be done ASAP Freshman year, or in later upperclassmen years?

Quick answer: Whenever you want. If research is something you want to get involved in right away, then absolutely go for it. But don't feel like you're falling behind if you don't start in a lab your freshman year, as most people don't start this early

 

[Red Leader]

Sorry to intrude, but I had a quick research question myself. When is a good time to start research? Should it be done ASAP Freshman year, or in later upperclassmen years?

MD/PhD prospects start early as possible, aka freshman yr. Other people, doesn't matter as much.

 

[eonxblue]

Update (not like many would care):

I left the lab and I joined a clinical research program that taught me so much about the health field. I was able to present original research at emergency medicine research forums, learned a lot about the healthcare system and how it affects under-served communities, made good friends with medical students who act as my mentors, and worked on my people skills (aka, dealing with crazy patients skills)!

Moral of this story: don't do research JUST to do research. Don't stick with something you don't really like just to climb the ranks. Find something you will enjoy and work hard for it; the opportunities will come to you.