PREP - Module 8.5

Time Management

While some labs will have you log hours, others will not. In these labs, you are expected to manage your time and appropriately spend the time you and your research professor agree upon. Research can oftentimes be a very independent endeavor, especially during literature review or data analysis. It is critical that you organize and prioritize your time so that you can dedicated the necessary time to your research projects and endeavors. Unlike classes which usually have deadlines and exams, research tends to be flexible, which can be a double-edged sword because you may not prioritize it as highly as your other tasks. Make sure you plan accordingly so that you can maximize the benefits of your research experience.

Balancing Responsibilities

You likely have numerous responsibilities (e.g., employment, childcare, family responsibilities, military responsibilities, etc.) in addition to your courses. The good news is that there are many options to pursue research opportunities that fit within your life:

Paid opportunities. Some RA positions may be compensated through work-study programs or other funding opportunities. Ask your professor about paid positions.
Course credit. Some RA positions can count for academic credit. This means you can dedicate time each week to the research experience instead of another elective course in your degree program. Ask your professor about these options sometimes called research internships or independent studies. It is recommended that you approach professors whose classes you find interesting or in which you are engaged (e.g., asking/answering questions in class). Having established rapport is not a requirement, but it is helpful.
Time commitments. Research commitments may range from volunteering for just a few hours per week (e.g., 2 hours) to a paid 20 hours per week job. If you are limited in your ability to commit time to the RA position, ask your professor if there are options that will allow you to participate a few hours per week.
Online vs in-person. Fixed vs. flexible schedules. RA tasks can range from entirely in-person tasks to entirely online tasks. Some tasks may need to be done at specific times during typical work hours, while other tasks are flexible in when they can be accomplished (e.g., work can be done during evenings and weekends). Ask your professor about options that fit your circumstances.
Open communication. All of the above options will require you to have an open conversation about your capacity and the fit with the research conducted in that lab. While not all labs may be the right fit for you, if you talk with a number of professors about their research and lab requirements, you are likely to find one that does fit. Moreover, as your capacity and circumstances change, be sure to openly communicate with your professor to determine how you can continue building skills and experience.
Flexibility. An important note of this process is that your research participation should be mutually beneficial for you (as your build your research skills) and your professor (as they complete their research projects). Of course, they likely value mentoring and training, but it is most beneficial for them when they can do this while also making progress on their research work. Thus, it is important to approach this arrangement not with only your interests in mind, but also theirs, by being generally open to different projects and opportunities they may have to offer, even if it doesn’t perfectly align with your interests for now.

The following students completed one (or more) research experiences as they balanced coursework, caregiving responsibilities, and employment. Learn more about how they did it by listening to at least two of their stories below.

Meet Alexandra! She conducted research on student success as an undergraduate student and this led her to an internship (which was paid!), and at the end of the internship she was hired full-time by the organization!

https://youtu.be/_J5un7Wg6IE

Meet Nathan! He has research across several topics including research on marine mammal behavior as part of a research methods course and another course for credit.

https://youtube.com/shorts/GGCLkBVchAU?feature=share

Meet Stacie! She volunteered as an undergraduate on student success research and went on to complete her master’s degree and a thesis project, too!

https://youtube.com/shorts/C50I2kg35eA?feature=share

Meet Sophia! She has volunteered on a beluga whale research project for 4 years.

https://youtu.be/SH80EznlKlI

Meet Abby! She volunteered as an undergraduate on student success research and realized she liked research so much, she decided to go to graduate school!

https://youtu.be/FSFwpvSdJ-E

Meet Lara! She gained volunteer, internship, and leadership experience on several animal behavior research projects throughout her undergraduate degree.

https://youtube.com/shorts/C20SW1rajKo?feature=share

Meet Michelle! She has volunteered on many different student success research projects and is a lab manager now in graduate school.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Q-cvE-lvSqA?feature=share

Meet Winter! A study abroad trip to Honduras sparked her interest in research and since that time, she has participated in the McNair Scholars program and volunteered for other research projects as well. She has worked on projects involving bottlenose dolphins and beluga whales.

https://youtu.be/25zSJPi-hFQ

Meet Ariana! She was a research assistant as an undergraduate volunteer. She won a research grant for her project as well as a research award at a conference!

https://youtube.com/shorts/f-eH6BRil-w?feature=share

Feedback

If you’re lucky, during your time working in a research lab, your research advisor and other people more senior than you will offer you lots of feedback over a number of projects. For example, you might receive feedback on a research abstract you write for a conference or feedback on an IRB protocol you attempt to write. Generally speaking, take the feedback seriously and try to apply it to future revisions or efforts. If you feel like you need additional clarification of feedback you’ve received, generally, it’s a good idea to ask for that clarification instead of guessing about its interpretation. It’s also important to note that this is a learning process, so feedback is important in that endeavor. Feedback is not a reflection of your self-worth or abilities. Approach it with an appreciation that the feedback will improve your skills in that domain.

Accountability

In terms of accountability, it is very similar to thoughts about time management. It is important that you hold yourself accountable because independence is quite critical to the research endeavor. For example, don’t wait for professors to follow up on deadlines. They often have multiple projects that they are juggling. If you don’t follow up on your deadlines, your project will fall behind. Hold yourself to a high standard and strive to achieve what you set out to do. Having said that, also allow yourself grace and know that failure is an inherent part of learning. It’s important that you fail so that you can learn how to improve and hone your skills.

Use of University Resources

As a research assistant, you may be assigned tasks that you have zero to limited experience doing. For example, you may be tasked with writing an abstract for a conference or preparing an oral presentation for a conference. It is important to know that you do not have to approach these tasks alone. For example, reach out to your writing center on campus with help with your abstract; reach out to the tutoring center to help with statistics related the poster; or reach out to services designed to help students practice their public speaking. These resources can complement the mentoring you will likely receive from your research professor.

Student-Mentor Relationships

In regard to your student-mentor relationship with your research professor, understand that it’s not likely to be a perfect fit. There are a variety of factors at play. Professors are human and they differ in how they communicate and work with students. For example, some professors tend to be more nurturing and supportive than others; some tend to be more charismatic than others, and some are more detailed-oriented than others. Overall, professors enjoy seeing you succeed, and your success brings them joy. But the process of working together may bring highs and lows, make sure you communicate clearly and honestly with your professor. Be reminded that this is a learning experience, that your professor should teach you things, and that you should be open to learning them. And, remember to check your relationship boundaries to ensure that you are treated fairly and respectfully.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse