By Stephanie Wang
[Republished from 11/01/2011]
                              "This research topic doesn’t seem to interest me."

                                            "I feel like I am not getting much guidance and support in this lab."

                                                   "Going to lab just isn’t enjoyable for me anymore."

You’re struggling in your relationship with your lab.  There’s no passion, no excitement. All you’re feeling is a sense of being tied down and of being forced to do menial tasks with no end in sight.  It might be that the subject of your research no longer tickles the science nerd in you or that your lab community isn’t the nurturing place that can bring you closer to your life goals.  Whatever it is, suddenly, you realize that this lab isn’t a good fit for you. It’s a signal for a lab breakup. 

This is not something you necessarily conclude overnight.  I came to the realization myself earlier this semester, as a junior.  Even though I worked on a particular project for a whole semester and part of a summer, my relationship with my research was falling apart.  It became apparent to me as I met with my principal investigator (PI) during the first week of school and talked with him about spending more time in the lab this year.   Imagining my life with a large chunk of it spent in lab only made me feel dread and apprehension: It was a sign.  

In addition, although my PI, a highly intelligent and quirky guy, was more than willing to support my work in his lab, he was not as excited to support me as a person.  From the laboratory grapevine, I came to understand that he looks down upon the MD degree, seeing it as a cop-out to the far superior PhD.  I would always approach him with fear if it ever came down to being honest with him about my future career.   

Yet, what finally got me was not being able to pursue the aging project that had enticed me into joining the lab in the first place.  It had never been my plan to study tail-anchored protein insertion into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).  The ER project was only supposed to be a stepping stone for another project about aging’s effects on protein misfolding. Apparently, though, the aging endeavor still lacked focus, and my PI was adamant about giving me a thesis question that could be clearly and feasibly answerable in the next year and a half.  I understood his logic, but knew I would be miserable if I spent even more time studying protein insertion pathways into the smooth ER.

I was so frustrated at the idea of working on ER proteins that I completely forgot about my freedom to search for a new lab until later on in my junior fall.  Realizing this was a huge step for me to remedying the unhealthy relationship I was developing with my research.  This is not to say that you should immediately switch labs upon feeling unsatisfied with your project.  It is best to first ask your PI if there are possible projects that you can switch into that suit your interests more.  For example, I talked with another member of the ER lab about his project on aging first before approaching entirely new labs in order to see if there was anything that interested me in the lab I was already working with.  Unfortunately, I was told that the aging project was still very preliminary and that there was a chance I may not move forward in the one and a half years I have left of college.  If, like me, there are no other projects suitable for your interests, then there is more reason to begin considering a new lab.   

For me, switching was the best option. However, as a junior, was I too late?  Over and over again, I was told, “Not at all!”  Doing research is a huge time commitment— it is like a relationship in many ways.  Sometimes you love it, sometimes it’s frustrating, but overall, it should be rewarding and you should ultimately be passionate about the topic you delve into. If you find that you’re in a destructive cycle of anxiety or disinterest, I’m here to tell you that there is a way out!

So, if you’re in the same situation I was in, the question you might be asking yourself now is, how do I go about finding a new lab after having had a history with another?  Or, if you have never done research and would like to begin, how do I start a relationship with research at Harvard?  

In Part One: Lab Drama and The Breakup, I explained the importance of finding a lab that you are passionate about, and how to break up with a lab that isn't "Mr. Right," so to speak. Now that you're single, it is time to start looking for a lab that is a good fit for you. Finding a laboratory is a fun and exciting process.  College is a place in which you have the freedom and opportunity to study almost any topic you can think of, from chemistry and physics to biology and engineering.  Here are some tips to help you get started on your search.

1.   How do I know what labs to contact?

Perhaps a better question is, what is your purpose for doing research during college?  Is it because you can’t get enough of a particular scientific topic and want to learn more?  Would you prefer a fast-paced, cutting edge lab setting, or rather a smaller, slow-paced environment? Are you looking to delve deep into a specific topic or to dabble in several projects? Do you want to gain the skills to one day go into industry or head your own lab?  Is it just for the experience?  Or is it a springboard for medical school?  Consider your intentions before beginning your search for a new lab.  By doing so, you may be able to narrow your search to better suit your own needs. 

2.   I want my lab to be tall, handsome, outgoing… and involved in the synthesis of new cancer drugs. 
Some people come into college knowing exactly what scientific topics they wish to pursue. They can easily do a search on faculty in their field of interest and pinpoint a particular one they want to work with.  

By Stephanie Wang 

Here begins a four-post blog series on how to start doing research as an undergraduate.  What does it exactly mean to do research in college?  How does one begin and what can one expect?  

Performing research requires gentle cultivation, passion, and dedication; in many ways, you begin to develop a healthy relationship with your research lab.  Through the sharing of my own experiences in these upcoming blogposts, I hope that you may find that devoting yourself to a lab is more feasible!  Research is an activity that is truly worthwhile.

So, read on and enjoy!