I don't want to be left behind in research

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I think I have posted a question similar to this, but here's the whole deal. </p>

<p>I was a freshman, now an entering sophomore. I started research at my professor's lab this past spring semester. So did student X. Student X and I are both in the same year, however, he took my professor's class, Human Physiology, the fall term before, and excelled at it. He is TA'ing for upcoming fall (I guess he APed out of Bio). So he has become my professor's pet really. The guy loves him, delegates more authoritative tasks to him.</p>

<p>When I wanted to apply for certain fellowships to work in his lab during the summer, he declined saying I needed more experience. I find out he helped student X apply to the very same ones. He didn't get any for the summer, but my professor offered him a payed job during the summer. I went home for a month and a half, I live far from my family. So when I got back, I got tacked onto Student X's project. I feel like I am drowning and being left behind in the lab. </p>

<p>What do you think I should do? I do not want to become a secondary student there. I am thinking about talking to my professor, but I fear of being too coarse. My intents are to tell him I do not want to come under Student X, I am my own person, and can handle things as such. I do not like being left behind.</p>

<p>What do you think? Or am I just not used to lab politics?</p>

2

<p>Either you’ll have to live with it or change labs. Laboratory politics are unique. PIs play favorites. There are four summer students in my lab, myself included, and I am probably the favorite. I kiss a lot of ass and work hard and it pays off. I also had the advantage of working an extra few months before everyone else came. I get paid and I get a lot of responsibility. It’s just part of it. I know I’m speaking from the opposite side you’re on, butthey do play favorites, it’s gonna be like that anywhere.</p>

3

<p>You can certainly talk to your professor, but I wouldn’t tell him you just don’t like being under student X. Instead, emphasize that you would like to gain some more autonomy and independence in your research. You might want to have some idea of what exactly you want to do before you approach your professor. Keep in mind that student x is ahead of you because student x was able to get more experience because of having more of an academic background in related classes. As you become more experienced and advanced in your major you will likely be given more responsibility. Politics do play a role, but in your case you are behind because you and student x started at different points, not necessarily because of politics alone.</p>