<p>This past Spring semester (of my Fresman year) I joined a research lab at the McKnight Brain Institute, involving genetics and neurodegenerative disorders. I was really excited for the first few weeks, but started losing interest in just aging flies all the time. I understand this is the grunt work required at first, but now that I am thinking about it I am not even sure about what I would do in this lab in the future. I'd love to have my own project, but at this point I can't see myself doing that at all. My PI does try to get the undergrads involved with weekly meetings, and he is very lenient with hours/exams though.</p>
<p>I was not able to stay for the summer due to financial reasons and my PI was not too happy initially, and though he was willing to let me come back next fall he sort of said "I'm not sure where to put you, and you need to think about what your long-term goals are regarding what you want to gain out of being in this lab".</p>
<p>Anyways I guess my question is, what is the normal research process for undergrads? Is it that you are doing grunt work under post-docs for a few semesters and then come up with your own "project" on your own? I don't even know what exactly I'm supposed to be doing right now in my first semester. Also, I see people applying for grants like USP and SciforLife and doing presentations, but my PI never really discussed anything with me..so how does that work?</p>
<p>Looking back, I started to think about what I had done and realized I haven't really learned too much from being there one semester, and am now considering switching. Is it normal to stay in a lab for such a short time and then switch out to something else??? Thank you so much, this is just really frustrating because I'm sort of at a standstill as to figuring out what my next step is...</p>
<p>Also, one of the reasons I want to try switching is because looking online, there are so many other interesting opportunities available. For example, would it be hard to get involved with one of the research projects done by a professor in the Medical College? There are also some projects labs that seem a bit more “established”, so would getting a position there be much better in regards to getting help for coming up with my own project, etc.?</p>
<p>Faculty research is tied to what they have funding for. You cannot generally design your own projects because your faculty advisor legally couldn’t divert funds to them. Yes, some faculty members have rather open-ended funding, but most do not. If you wish to do something more independent, your best bet is to join a group with a lot of general funds available. Every new faculty member will have this kind of money, but senior ones probably will not.</p>
<p>Your problem is compounded by the fact that you’re doing research in a bio-related field, which is especially tedious. There’s a reason why bio-related Ph.D’s take 1-2 years longer and their students are consistently rated most depressed amongst science grad students.</p>
<p>whether its your own research or not, research is very very tedious and difficult. take what opportunities are available to you and decide if its really something you want to do.</p>
<p>research is not as romantic as so many people think it is. its hard, slow work that very very frequently leads to nothing at all. if you aren’t willing to commit yourself to it with that understanding, then its probably not for you.</p>
<p>Thanks! It’s not really the length of time that concerns me, in fact I understand that this is the way research usually goes and it’s not like I am expecting to come up with a new cure or anything, haha. I actually would not mind spending many hours in a lab as long as I feel like I am contributing something while still learning.</p>
<p>I guess my question is more about whether this sort of initial experience in a lab (where I can’t see myself growing/learning more) is an indication that I should switch (to a lab that is more used to working with undergrads and getting them involved), or if most undergrads are like this at first.</p>
<p>I understand just having the opportunity for any research is amazing, but this is just a general question about how the research process usually works.</p>
<p>are you able to go in and talk about the research with the person you work under? what would it take for you to feel like you’re ‘contributing’–or is the issue that you’re not learning anything?</p>
<p>obviously you haven’t given enough information for me to really say this with gusto, but it doesn’t seem to me like you have a very clear picture of what you want to get out of the position–that is to say, you should definitely be grappling with the question the your PI posed. if that sounds like it might be the case, don’t take it negatively (if it isn’t, disregard the rest of this paragraph)–its very rare for freshmen to have a clear idea about a lot of things of this nature. even those ambitious ones who’ve already planned out the rest of their lives tend not to think of things in small steps–they just know what basic kind of work they want to do, and that they want a terminal degree, good grades, and to do research. its great to have a plan, but it cant be so arbitrary and stiff. make sure that you understand what specific skills you expect to gain from your experience in the lab, and why you need them. what goals do you have that the lab might fulfill? once you’ve come up with a clear list of objectives that align with your career goals, decide if the lab is going to give you what you’re looking for. talk with your PI to see what they have to say about your goals and how they align with your work in the lab.</p>
<p>make sure you have a real, genuine understanding of not only what they expect from you, but of what you expect from them, and what you expect from yourself. if you’re feeling disappointed by your experience, one of those expectations is probably not in sync with the others.</p>
<p>this isn’t the information you’re looking for specifically, but i hope its useful nonetheless. apologies if its unclear or overly presumptuous.</p>