<p>For example, what was the set-up like? Did you have your own project that nobody else was working on (highly independent) or what?</p>
<p>My current lab set-up is that I'm paired up with a post-doc, but it's hard for me to feel independent because it's always just him coming up with the next step. I'm not complaining though since I don't have that much training in the first place. I'm just wondering if you eventually got your OWN projects after getting training.</p>
<p>A related question: if an undergrad did get their own project, how would the funding be taken care of? For example, if the undergrad is working on a protein that nobody else is, the lab might have to buy expensive antibodies for it or other equipment or microscope time, culture hood time, bench space etc. In general, how willing are PIs to expend so much money for undergrads?</p>
<p>But seriously, what you're doing sounds like the typical undergrad research experience. It's really funny how many people start doing research and think they're going to publish a paper before they graduate. No one expects you to be working independently. At the most, you will have a small project to whittle at after you've been in lab for at least a year. Most professors view undergrads as a community service thing; they take you so that you will have a good research experience and will want to apply to grad school. They don't expect that you actually produce usable work. If you do, that's great. If you don't, that's okay too.</p>
<p>Also, funding works for the entire lab. There is no individual funding for research equipment.</p>
<p>What he said. I don't think I knew anyone who had their own project that they created. After all, why would anyone let a person without even a Bachelor's degree make their own project that you're going to pay for(talking from the professor's POV). Makes no sense; far more usual to see students take a professor's project. </p>
<p>Oh, something to note that completely wipes out my first statement, my major had a senior lab and some students did projects that weren't being done by post-docs. They did work under a professor and the professor suggested a project and helped them along the way. That's as far as I've seen an undergrad go really.</p>
<p>Not to mention many professors let undergrads to do preliminary experiments for "pioneering projects" (not necessarily innovative though), which usually have higher risks of failure. Postdocs do more established projects that hold more promises. Some PhD students don't even get to do those hot projects.</p>
<p>it depends on your PI, your experience, and the lab you join. I have a very independent project. My PI gave me a choice of several projects and I chose this one. It is related to the work of the lab, but I have no one really supervising me and I have decided a lot of what to do on my own, as my PI only gave me a general idea. I came into the lab with a lot of experience though, and experience in designing my own experiment. In terms of money, my project is far from cheap.</p>
<p>When I joined my undergrad lab, I was working closely with a postdoc and doing a very directed set of experiments in close communication with him.</p>
<p>After I had been in the lab about a year, I also started my own project. I still consulted with the postdoc (and the PI) on a regular basis, but I did all of the work and made the choices about which experiments to do next.</p>
<p>I've been in a lab since August (my first experience)- My PI generally gives me the instuctions and explains the next step, introduces me to a technique if needed, then leaves me be.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What he said. I don't think I knew anyone who had their own project that they created. After all, why would anyone let a person without even a Bachelor's degree make their own project that you're going to pay for(talking from the professor's POV). Makes no sense; far more usual to see students take a professor's project.
[/quote]
But how do some undergrads manage to publish as a coauthor?</p>
<p>I've been in the same lab for about two years. I was assigned a project and was supervised by a postdoc, but she had her own projects to work on. She was very helpful at answering my questions but was not working on this project with me, and as a result it has moved along very slowly. She found a faculty position in another country but still "kibbitzes" on my project from across the ocean. (Okay fine, I solicit her opinion - she has good advice.) I'll be submitting a manuscript this summer as a first author. That will be my first publication and I'll be lucky if PNAS accepts it. More likely: PLoS One.</p>
<p>Another undergrad who joined the lab was also supervised by a postdoc. This postdoc, however, assigned her portions of his own current projects. Because they were working together, they published together, and she has several middle-author publications in fantastic journals like Science.</p>
<p>OP, you might consider this when you look for undergrad lab work. Not having any publications didn't affect my applications to grad school (my adviser probably explained the situation in his rec letter). And there is a big difference between being first-author and being middle-author. But on the other hand, you'll be published and your project will move forward a lot quicker if you work with somebody as an undergrad.</p>
<p>P.S. - aloe, I have that comic strip tacked to my lab bench ^_^</p>
<p>Anyone got some psychology field work stories? I'm thinking of working one-on-one with a psych I know very well (former patient) and am going to talk to her this summer to set up something for 2009.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But how do some undergrads manage to publish as a coauthor?
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You don't need to have your own project to publish as an undergrad, you just need to contribute substantial work to the project that you're on. And the definition of "substantial" varies from lab to lab.</p>