<p>I did unpaid research for this physics professor during last summer and last two school semesters..during last semester he said he applied for a grant for me for this summer to pay for the work I did for him last year. however, I recently got an Engineering internship so I met him today and told him I have to quit research to continue my internship. I am an EE/physics major and engineering experience is more important to me than physics research to get a job once I graduate. He seemed understanding but then he said he is not giving me the grant money and will use it for something else. I asked him didnt you say it is for the last summer but he said no its for this summer. I have a feeling he is being spiteful and trying to use my grant for himself. I am in desperate need for money to pay for school so I do not understand why a well paid professor like him would do that to a student that already worked with him..what should I do?</p>
<p>Generally grants are given for a specific project or research before it is started. I would be surprised if your professor could get could get you grant money for work that is completed unless that was spelled out in someway last year. Face facts, the professor is using the money for this year’s research and you chose another option.</p>
<p>You sound like you don’t understand how grants work.
You apply for grants to do a particular project, not to get paid for a previous one. Why would anyone pay you retroactively to do something you’ve already done?</p>
<p>Shouldn’t your internship pay pretty well?</p>
<p>I don’t think ya’ll understand how my research works…my research was basically typing papers on a computer…no lab work nothing practical…thats the main reason I decided to quit it on the first place…so even if he kept the grant for himself it is not like he will use it for research because there are no expenses in this research. I just think he is money greedy and trying to keep it for himself.</p>
<p>Grants are usually given (at least in my line of work) prior to or near the start of a job, not a full year after it was completed. I think you misunderstood him - he could not apply for a grant to pay you for work you did the previous summer. He is not entitled to give you the money if you did the past work under the agreement that it was “unpaid research.” The grant he received would go toward work to be done this summer, and you decided not to do it. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It sounds to me that you are just being greedy and trying to keep this year’s grant for yourself, with no desire to do the work that earned the grant for this year. The typing still costs money in paper and ink, time, ordering articles that he may be using in the papers you’re typing, etc. Lots of students do unpaid research jobs to build up their resume and build relationships with professors, and it sounds to me like you are about to blow a relationship that could have otherwise resulted in a strong recommendation. Unless there was some kind of agreement/contract stating that you were to be paid for last summer’s work (which would have been agreed on last summer, not this summer), then this grant is for his own research purposes, not for you.</p>