<pre><code> I'm at WashU right now, and I work in a lab there during the school year. This summer, however, I'll be back home (in SoCal), and the PI from my old lab here (I worked in her lab for 8 months) contacted me, asking if I'd be interested in helping her out this summer. I'm essentially interpreting data from work done over the school year, so I figure it's not run-of-the-mill benchwork. I dont wish to be sneaky about this or anything, but am I required to inform my PI at WashU that I'll be working in this lab over the summer? The only reason I'd even consider not telling her is because the labs have no overlap whatsoever, so I dont feel as if I'm a liability to either lab. Your thoughts?
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<p>Your PI from WashU most likely won't care. You aren't obligated to work in her lab over the summer. Just tell her you want to go back home for the summer and can't work at WashU over the summer.</p>
<p>i agree with norcal and i don't really think any harm can come out of telling your PI what your summer plans are....there's also absolutely nothing wrong with working on two projects during the same period, i dont see how this would be a liability</p>
<p>I think one concern might be that you're offending your WashU PI by choosing to work in another lab rather than her lab over the summer. But, it's usually not a big deal as most students don't stay at their colleges over the summer and it's perfectly reasonable to want to work at a lab closer to home.</p>