D is at a university doing research in a social science lab this summer. The prof is great and he is giving her the opportunity of being involved with studies and research, but the reality is that there is not much for her to actually do and she has a lot of free time.
She just read on the college blog that they are looking for volunteers for another lab in the same department to do something related, that she is also very interested in.
She has no intention of dropping her current position, but she is wondering how to approach this with the prof. She doesn’t want to offend him or seem that she is ditching his project for another. Can she do both or is this a faux pas? What should she say, or is she overthinking? Quick advice appreciated, as she wants to get in touch with the other lab on campus ASAP. Thanks!
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I don’t know what the right answer is, but I will share what my daughter did. It seemed to be ok…it’s not exactly what you are describing but I think it’s close?
In early spring of her sophomore year she accepted a wonderful research position for the summer. This position was off campus and not local to her school or home. It was an 11 week commitment.
Shortly after accepting this summer research position, she was offered another position… on campus. This position was to begin during the summer and last through graduation, with the goal of getting published. She wanted this position as well… it was long term and of interest to her.
The professor who offered her the longer, on campus position was fine with her being away for the summer… despite wanting her to begin in the summer. She was upfront and honest. He allowed her to work remotely and understood that the summer position was her first priority. He reduced the work that was expected and allowed her to do it on the weekends when she was free. She was able to manage both because of the flexibility that was offered by this professor.
I am not sure if there is a right/wrong answer… maybe somebody else knows. I think maybe much of it depends on the personalities of the professors who they are working with…?
Back in the stone ages, I worked on two different professors’ projects. One was a paid position, the other for credit. I just arranged the schedules so they didn’t conflict.
I don’t see the problem unless your daughter is already committed and getting paid to be with her current project full time.
I think she’s overthinking. I would just ask the prof if it’s OK to volunteer in the other lab while being clear her focus is to his lab.
Thanks so much ladies!
@momofsenior1 , no, she isn’t being paid, but she did get a stipend from her college to do her first position. I’ve shared both of these posts with her.
I would first go to the prof. whose offer she accepted and ask to clarify the hours she will be needed, the days the prof. would want her etc. If that seems way less than full time she could then ask that prof. if he/she would mind if she spent some of her down time on the second project. I’d make clear to the prof. that she hasn’t approached anyone about the other project yet and her doing so would be subject to his/her approval and an assurance that she would have the free time to spend on the second project. If the first professor agrees then your D could then talk to the second professor. (hopefully this makes sense). If she does talk to the second professor I would ask not only about if the timing works but also what type of work she would do if she were only part-time (see next paragraph).
My D did work on two projects concurrently one semester – she was the “lead researcher” on one and helped out on an ad hoc basis on the second project. As is likely the case with your D the two professors she was working for knew one another well and both knew what was going on and there were no issues. She did much higher level work on the project where she was lead researcher and just odds and ends to help out on the other project – she was OK with that because she liked the second professor and learned from watching the way she handled things in the lab but she didn’t volunteer with her past that one semester.
A good problem to have. Congrats to your D for landing the summer position. My D spent two summers on campus doing research and enjoyed it.
As an aside, her second summer the prof. needed her part-time so she used the summer to take a class at a school in a consortium with her college that was not offered at her school. It was way easier to take the class at the other school over the summer (no other classes to schedule around and her job had flexible hours, no chance of snow, didn’t have to worry about school calendars not being in synch, the class met just one day/week in a compressed format etc.)…so if she has any desire to take a summer class that could be another good use of her extra time.
Very interesting idea, @happy1 . I don’t think it ever occurred to her to take a class!
The main questions that occur to me are
- Is the work at the first gig going to ramp up? Might she miss out on opportunities within that internship if she is doing anything else? Or is this kind of a gofer position?
- Are there potential conflicts where she has to do something for the first position but then the second position also needs her for something. I think she would have to make it clear to the volunteer position that conflicts may come up and her priority is the one with the stipend, that hired her first.
You said the professor is great. Some people in academics are territorial and even possessive, and their egos get hurt etc. etc. and some are truly generous and concerned for a student’s progress. And most everyone has suffered through the intro internships. Rite of passage.
I don’t think she is overthinking. But I think she should talk to the first professor and NOT do it if out of respect if that is what that professor prefers, but chances are it will be fine and it is good not to miss out on opportunities out of shyness about talking to the first prof.
Free time is easily filled. I am always a fan of kids NOT taking academic classes in the summer, unless there is a good reason. But that’s me. I think it is a good time to try an art or dance class or volunteer or work in a cafe, or whatever 
Thanks @compmom and all. Very useful.
She did talk to the prof. Her text said “he said he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, in case it interferes with my ability to help with his lab at any point. He is inclined to say that yes I should talk to them at least.” So I guess that he is okay with her trying to make it work if she can.
In my attempt to paraphrase her text, I apparently got it wrong, lol. The prof was inclined to say yes to the idea, not just about talking to the other lab. My D says thank you all for the advice.
I think that your D did the right thing by asking the prof if it was ok. Congrats and best of luck this summer!
Hope she has a great summer no matter what happens!
Sorry. Late to the party. Your D did the right thing. IME, it’s not an issue if her priority is to the first position, and the second position has hours that do not overlap with the first position, and if the head of the first project gives an OK. But it’s always best to ask, which is what she did. Best of luck to her.