<p>I'm starting research at a research lab this winter (I'm a freshman) and was planing to stay for several years. The lab is psychology-based, but the question I have is regarding the duties that I will be doing as a volunteer ... so far, from what I've heard, it's a lot of data work and perhaps literature review. I was wondering if this was the same thing with every other research lab ... does it get better eventually, either through connections or other opportunities? Thanks!</p>
<p>Every lab is different but data analysis is the heart of research. Anyone can perform an experiment, the people who get paid the big bucks do so for designing and analyzing experiments. What exactly do you mean by better?</p>
<p>I don’t know psych research well but if you’re doing more than just transcribing interviews or escorting/recruiting patients then it sounds like you have a great opportunity especially as a freshman.</p>
<p>I thought that there would be more than mindless data entry, that’s all 
There is some opportunity for observing the actual patient interaction, though. By better, I mean … aren’t there different types of research that are more hands-on, etc?</p>
<p>jeff–every new student is expected to “pay their dues” by doing stuff that’s not terribly exciting. </p>
<p>The PI and other lab members want to see:
a.) if you’ll stick before they invest time in training you
b.) if you’re competent–because they don’t want newbies touching stuff/dealing with clients or experimental procedures unless the lab members are confident that you can be trusted to follow protocols/procedures EXACTLY.</p>
<p>Data entry is a pretty typical newbie job. (But it’s also something that even PIs do. It’s all part of the job title of “researcher”.)</p>
<p>Here’s some advice:</p>
<p>-- Be patient.
– Follow directions. (Yes, even if they seem stupid to you…)
– Show up if you’ve said you’ve going to be there; notify in advance if you’ve not.
– **Ask intelligent and meaningful questions.<a href=“Most%20lab%20members%20will%20be%20happy%20to%20talk%20with%20you%20if%20they%20sense%20your%20questions%20are%20driven%20by%20a%20desire%20to%20know%20and%20not%20as%20desire%20to%20just%20ask%20alot%20of%20questions%20or%20get%20attention.”>/b</a>
– Volunteer to help out when you see other lab members need help or are particularly busy.
– Go above and beyond. (e.g. Do some outside reading on topic related to the research areas your lab works in.)</p>
<p>Depending on the kind of research your lab does, you may or may not get more client interaction. (They’re subjects or clients–not patients. Unless you’re HIPAA trained, you won’t be dealing with patients or patient data.) Since I don’t know what areas your lab works in, I can’t even guess whether you’ll have more client interaction in the future.</p>
<p>And, yes, there are many types of research. Some emphasize data analysis and modeling; some are more observational; some are more hands-on experimental.</p>
<p>thanks for the input! I’ll stick around for awhile and hopefully I get more exciting jobs to do! would you guys say that staying for all four years is a better idea than switching around through different labs (if so, in what ways?) – are there any benefits to jumping from lab to lab?</p>
<p>also, it is common to get connections for shadowing through research?</p>
<p>If the lab you’re working in a healthy & supportive environment and if the research area interests you, it might be worthwhile to stay. The advantages include developing a strong specific skill set, getting the opportunity to cultivate professional contacts, increased supervisory responsibility, perhaps the chance to run your own independent research project and perhaps your name on a publication. (Neither of the latter are guaranteed.)</p>
<p>There are disadvantages to staying too. Mostly it limits your opportunities to explore other research sub-areas and to broaden the scope of your skill set. </p>
<p>It’s a decision you need to make for yourself depending on your own situation and professional interests/goals.</p>
<p>I would caution you, though, against becoming a serial lab-jumper who switches labs every semester. Many PIs will feel it shows a lack of dedication/discipline and won’t accept you into their labs. (They might also think you have issues with academic, lab or people skills.)</p>
<p>As for lab research leading to physician shadowing opportunities–it didn’t for either of my kids. YMMV.</p>
<p>(They had better luck through volunteer activites and active networking.)</p>
<p>It also can take several weeks to months for someone to get up to speed on a lab so as a student doing part time research, your first semester may accomplish nothing. I wouldn’t do more than 2 labs.</p>
<p>Sorry for misunderstanding the phrase “data work” but as mentioned, one of the ways to impress is to either analyze the data yourself if you can or at the very least ask to learn how if you’re expected to just hand it over.</p>
<p>To put into perspective, I’m in the PhD phase of my MD/PhD and we have an undergrad in her first lab stint ever. Her current “job” is to make sure our shelves are stocked with glassware and supplies as well as refill our deionized water tanks. The goal though is to get her competent at doing some of the techniques we do so that she can help us but we’re not having her do that from day 1 because right now she is slower and sloppier than any of us and we have to balance our own learning and productivity objectives with hers.</p>
<p>By 2 labs–Brown mean rotate thru more than 2 lab before sticking with one.</p>
<p>It’s Ok (hugely time consuming, but doable) to work in 2 lab simultaneously, then choose one to stay with over the long term.</p>
<p>No. I meant spend at least a year in one lab but if after a year or two you want to switch, do it, but don’t switch again. You should be meeting with the PI and the people in the lab before you commit anyway. Maybe I just got lucky but this is how I did it</p>
<p>The only exception to Brown’s suggestions would be if the workplace environment is a malignant or toxic one. (And I don’t mean toxic in medical sense, but rather some workplaces foster suspicion, finger-pointing, blaming, shaming, belittling and other abusive personnel practices among its members.)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t stay and work for the boss from hell any longer than I absolutely needed to. BTDT. Bad bosses never get better.</p>
<p>^ of course if it’s a bad lab, leave. I was just clarifying that I wasn’t saying work in 2 labs before committing to one.</p>