<p>So, I've been working in this professor's lab for the past month and a half. At first I found the work interesting, challenging, and fun, but then the more and more I learned the less enthusiastic I became. It has led to me not wanting to continue working in his lab once my summer obligations have finished. </p>
<p>The only reason I wanted to work in his lab was to get research experience and see what its like. I think I have accomplished my goal, but the field he does research in is not what I actually want to go into. At the time it just seemed like the most relevant and what was available. </p>
<p>I'm not sure what to do. I also think that the fact that I am an undergrad, that has just finished my first year probably didn't really help with having as good of an experience as I was hoping. </p>
<p>There is also the issue that my major is somewhat unrelated to what he studies. I am a math major, working in a physics lab, doing computer science and electrical engineering stuff. I think I am much more interested in theoretical computer science, than I am actual physics. The project I am currently working has to do with building equipment to do research.</p>
<p>Yes, I get paid. I’m pretty sure all summer research is paid at my school. I haven’t heard of anyone volunteering to work in a lab or work for credit. </p>
<p>I just don’t enjoy doing this stuff anymore. It is microcontroller programming in c.
I spend a lot of time in the lab writing and debugging code for the microcontroller. But in the past 2 weeks I haven’t actually made any progress. That and the fact that I remember how painful it is to write stuff in a low level language like c has caused me to not be as motivated. </p>
<p>Theoretical computer science has been a longtime hobby of mine, once school started, I kind of had to give it up because of lack of time. This summer job has revived my interest in it, but I wish I could spend more time studying it.</p>
<p>If you don’t need the money, and you don’t feel the experience is worth it, then don’t do it.</p>
<p>I also work in the lab at my college and I love it; I love it so much, I’d work there for free if I had to. </p>
<p>If it’s not for you and you don’t have any obligations, then take it as a learning experience and quit. You shouldn’t be burdened with this – especially if it’s not something that you’re benefiting from.</p>
<p>I do research in a lab over the summer (like you, completely unrelated to my field – I’m Bio, he’s Psych, and I’m not paid/get no credits). I began because I was considering a Psych minor, and from the lab experience, I learned that it’s not something I want to do. I still love working in the lab and will keep doing it until my part is over. (My part of the experiment will take about 300 hours, and I’ve barely put a dent in that.) However, were I to hate the lab, I know I could leave with no hard feelings and no issue for anyone, if I trained the next person to do my job.</p>
<p>I’m being dumb today, so let me just ask: what’s your issue with just leaving?</p>
<p>i would recommend continuing for the rest of the summer.</p>
<p>you can get a good recommendation and reference from someone you did research with/for. When the next professor asks this professor how you did, you don’t want them to tell your new potential boss that you quit half way through.</p>
<p>i’ve been wondering, how good of a recommendation can he write me if I don’t actually accomplish anything?</p>
<p>That may happen, but i’m sure it is normal for an undergrad to work in a lab and not actually produce anything useful. Especially if they have just finished their freshmen year. Right?</p>