This section of the website covers information regarding Trainee Research and the related program requirements you have within EXITO .

Below are the subpages which house the information, please click on the applicable sub-page. The drop down menus above will be the most reliable for links and new pages we add.

Principle Investigator (PI): Directs research efforts of lab members, but may rarely be seen in the lab.

• Assistant professor = non-tenured professor or non tenure track

• Associate professor = tenured professor, awarded based on research productivity, teaching, service usually after ~5-7 yrs

• Full professor = professor promoted to highest rank, usually after ~10-15 yrs

Professional Personnel

Lab Managers, Research Associates, Research Assistants: researchers hired to work on specific grant-funded projects or to oversee lab operations; paid from grants; usually have BS or MS degrees

• Sometimes help to train undergraduate researchers

Postdoctoral Fellows or “Postdocs”: PhDs who are building their research experience & independence before progressing to faculty jobs

• May be funded by their own grant or by PI’s grant

• May or may not train/work with undergrads

Trainees

Graduate students: Master’s (2-3 yr) or PhD (5-7 yr) students working on independent or semi-independent thesis research

• Juggling research, coursework, graduate exams, teaching

• Often help to train/work with undergrads

Undergraduate students (this is you!): roles vary tremendously

• “Grunt work” e.g., washing glassware, preparing sterile media. Foundational work but shouldn't be everything you're doing.

• Assisting with graduate student or postdoc research

• Conducting independent projects

• Any combination of the above

• The impression you make on your mentor may have a large role in the responsibilities you are entrusted with.