<p>I have been searching for a lab research position that pays and it seems I cant find any unless I volunteer. So now, I have decided to volunteer at a lab to do research so that I can get something useful on my resume. Since I have work-study, do you think I should get paid for doing research instead of volunteering? Its not like am bankrolling extra money from the department if I get paid my work-study or if I volunteer.
P.S. I would rather volunteer at a lab than to get paid for pushing carts around</p>
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The department <em>does</em> have to pay for you if they hire you on work-study. Half of your wage is paid by the employer, the other half is federal financial aid.</p>
<p>Your situation is not that uncommon. A lot of undergraduate research is done on a volunteer basis. If you want to receive some sort of tangible compensation, see if you can get academic credit (“supervised work” or “independent study”) for your lab time.</p>
<p>“Since I have work-study, do you think I should get paid for doing research instead of volunteering?”</p>
<p>They don’t have to pay you. They may not have the work study money to hire you for work study or they may be using their work study funds to hire more experienced students. </p>
<p>By volunteering there, you may amass the experience for future work study lab jobs.</p>