<p>I know it depends on the PI and the lab work, but I am just wondering, in general, how much time people tend to put into research during undergraduate school.
I'm a second year pre-med. I have been looking for a research position, and have found some possible positions. However, I am worried about being able to manage going to class, studying, having a job (I work 10-12 hours a week as a calculus TA), and having a research position. Would asking to work only 4-5 hours a week sound completely ridiculous and insulting?</p>
<p>Generally, labs are pretty flexible, especially if you’re volunteering and not doing like lab tech type stuff. The problem with 4-5 hours a week is that YOU won’t be able to get any experience because that’s not enough time to really do anything. In my opinion, especially in bio labs where there tends to be a lot of “set up an experiment and then wait for it to run,” you need to have at least 12 hours/week to really be able to do anything worthwhile but more is always better.</p>
<p>If it helps, I volunteered in a bio lab for usually 12 to maybe 20+ hours/week depending on week, worked a part time job for 16-19 hours/week), and then was a TA for 12+ hours/week, in addition to a full courseload–and sometimes, I’d do some extra stuff on top of that but it usually depended on the quarter. I mean, there’s always time to do things that are important to you, but it just depends on what you’re able to handle, while still doing quality work. If you’re trying to get actual research experience, 4-5 hours/week is not enough, in my opinion. If you’re trying to just check a box for medical school, then do whatever you want. I don’t think they would be insulted, but they may recommend you come in more often or may rather have a student that is able to devote more time. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Also, keep in mind that research tends to be more goal-driven, rather than time-driven. If you really want to get involved (or are given a project), after you get trained, it’s usually you come in for however much time it takes to finish what you need to get done–not come in for a four hour “shift” and then be done with it. You’re there however long it takes to get the work done, and part of that is figuring out how to plan it around your other work.</p>