<p>I had some questions for those of you that have experience integrating into a lab with a professor.</p>
<p>I wanted to start working in a lab this year as a main extracurricular and so that I can get deeply involved by my third year or so. I looked areound and one lab really interested me on otolaryngology and neuro. The professor teaches honors Human Phys, which I plan to take soph year, and usually the undergrads that work with him are from his class that did well. But I took my chances and emailed him on my interests offering to be a lab assistant.</p>
<p>He replied and invited me over. Is this a sign that I'm in, and also, are there specific things to mention during this meeting to show that I want to grow with his lab?</p>
<p>Thanks a ton</p>
<p>It's probably a good sign. Just be prepared to talk about your interest in his lab, and why you think you'll be an asset. </p>
<p>Be ready to wash dishes and do very basic lab stuff for a while. Some people avoid it, but, at least in my lab, the freshman always gets the stuff we don't want to do. It's not fun, but someone has to wash dishes and make solutions. If you stick with it and continue to be enthusiastic about the lab, you'll start getting more responsibility and real work.</p>
<p>Well, I wouldn't call it an absolute guarantee, but he wouldn't invite you for an interview if he didn't have space in his lab/want an undergrad.</p>
<p>As far as what Emily said, your responsibilities will really depend on the professor. It is quite normal for the (freshman) undergrad to be stuck with those sorts of responsibilities. However, I know from personal experience that you can get lucky and end up with a great mentor who gets you involved in real research.</p>
<p>good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies</p>
<p>I am ready to do those tasks only because you've got to start somewhere. I'd rather start at his lab where I would plan to/hopefully work as a Sophomore. </p>
<p>I've read his research (understanding maybe10%) but I want him to know I plan to stay.</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>I had the meeting with the professor and...</p>
<p>I can't work this fall because school already started, but I can in the spring.</p>
<p>Here's the thing, it has to be for credits, and I plan on taking 18 credits this coming spring. Is it possible to work 10-15 hours in lab and take five courses? I know its a vague question and there are many other factors.</p>
<p>Also, it would go into the summer, and I really want to apply to the HHMI Summer Internship. Do you think then it is worth working at his lab or am I wasting both his and my time?</p>
<p>10-15 hours per week? that sounds a lot. don't be so objective about the end-result of the work. serioulsy...but no offense, that this attitude is not the best one. If you are interested in research and you truly want to do it, then go for it, and see if you are still liking it. Don't do it just so that you can hv something for a long term extra curricular. when u realize u r rlly passionate abt it (hopefully it wud be the case for u), u'll automatically see everything working out.
best of luck.</p>
<p>I would rather continue a research project I had been working into the summer rather than do an isolated research internship in the summer.</p>
<p>I do sound like a checklist guy don't I? I have to give this a lot of thought.</p>
<p>Yes, that does make more sense to me, doing a long term project rather than an isolated one. </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, I'll try to keep a better outlook</p>
<p>Long term projects are, of course, better than isolated summer projects. Still, if you see some interesting lab options in the HHMI program, I would urge you to go for it. Nobody is going to mind you switching to a lab that better suites your interests.</p>
<p>mmm I recently got a job as a lab assistant, responsible for tasks such as cleaning glassware, managing supplies and occasionally helping out the people work there. I am a freshman, and which it isnt exactly the great research job everyone wants, I think it is a good place to start with (much better than working at a dining hall bussing tables, no?)
Just take advantage of the opportunity to meet new people--maybe it will bring you somewhere.</p>