<p>I got offers to do research for 2 groups:</p>
<li><p>Scholarship + research at WUSTL medical school, 2 month program mentored research with lectures</p></li>
<li><p>Research with a professor at my undergrad</p></li>
</ol>
<p>From a quick comparison, #1 looks like it would be a better option. However, the professor in 2 was really really cool when I met with him. He showed me powerpoints and pictures on his computer of the stuff his lab did, while explaining all the science behind it. It really distinguished him from the other PI’s that I met with, and I think I would enjoy working in his lab.</p>
<p>I’m not sure who I would work with if I went with number 1.</p>
<p>I’m really stuck here, which lab would be better to work in?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<h1>2. The most important determinant of your research experience is your PI and how good of a mentor he is. If this research opportunity will extend into the school year, I would absolutely go with #2 and the more sustained research experience.</h1>
<p>People often brag about doing research at a top med school or volunteering at a well-known hospital. Honestly, it makes no difference at the undergrad level. You can find lectures and seminars to attend anywhere and 2 months is a very short time on the research timeline.</p>
<p>Yes, I would suggest no-2..too…it shows more time commitment as well as motivation for research given that the mentor for no-2 is wisely and carefully chosen.</p>
<p>Sorry to impinge on OP’s thread, but I figured that since I had the same question, I may as well use the same thread.</p>
<p>So.. I’ve been working in a lab at the Norris Cancer Center with a Keck professor for a few months now, and just recently spoke with my professor about doing work in his neuroscience lab this summer. My dilemma is basically whether I should work at both labs over the summer (and most likely continue over the next few years), or choose one and drop the other. At Norris, I’ve been doing a lot of raw data collection and sorting, not much hands-on work, which in contrast my professor’s lab seems to promise more of. I’m concerned that leaving Norris after only a few months’ work shows lack of commitment, though.. any advice would be great! thanks!</p>
<p>i think that you probably should go with the one that would allow you to do more “hands-on work” because im assuming that the experience and what you learn from it is what counts more? not just name of the place you researched at? and im assuming if you get closer to the professor, chances are you will get to publish something; that im not sure either?</p>
<p>sorry someone correct me if im right or wrong</p>
<p>mm yeah, I was thinking along those lines, too. I’m pretty sure there’s a chance to get published with either professor, but I’ve just got qualms at the back of my head about not working at Norris for very long.. overall I’m leaning towards the neuroscience lab, though, especially since it’s on the main campus and so half an hour of travel time would be saved. Thanks for your input! 
anybody else have thoughts on this?</p>