Part Four: The First (Lab) Meeting

[originally published 01/02/12]
By Stephanie Wang

Learn how to make a great impression when you go in to meet the lab!

In Part Three: Love Letters to Labs, you learned how to send the perfect interest letter. After having written and sent an email of interest to a few PIs, sit back, relax, and wait for responses.  Don’t be discouraged if none respond back immediately.  It is important to understand that these professors, who head laboratories, teach classes, and have lives of their own, are usually quite busy and have hundreds of emails entering their inboxes every day.  I would generally give about a week to ten days for a PI to respond.  If he or she still hasn’t gotten back to you, do not be afraid to be persistent.  

This is one thing I learned while contacting Amy Wagers, the PI of the stem cell lab I work in now.  I was extremely interested in Wagers’ aging research, yet she didn’t initially respond to my enthusiastic letter.  I waited an entire week and a half, nervously, before sending another email reminding her of my interest.  This happened again as we corresponded, and each time I sent her a reminder email to meet with her, I felt guilty for being the annoying undergrad, waving furiously in the background to get a renowned PI’s attention.  However, as I learned from my academic advisor, it is the PI’s responsibility to at least give you an answer to your request for a position in his/her lab, whether it is yes, I can take you or no, I do not have space. Later, Amy would tell me that that particular week had been extremely busy, both in the lab and in terms of her personal life.  After having written and sent an email of interest to a few PIs, sit back, relax, and wait for responses.  Don’t be discouraged if none respond back immediately.  It is important to understand that these professors, who head laboratories, teach classes, and have lives of their own, are usually quite busy and have hundreds of emails entering their inboxes every day.  I would generally give about a week to ten days for a PI to respond.  If he or she still hasn’t gotten back to you, do not be afraid to be persistent.  

This is one thing I learned while contacting Amy Wagers, the PI of the stem cell lab I work in now.  I was extremely interested in Wagers’ aging research, yet she didn’t initially respond to my enthusiastic letter.  I waited an entire week and a half, nervously, before sending another email reminding her of my interest.  This happened again as we corresponded, and each time I sent her a reminder email to meet with her, I felt guilty for being the annoying undergrad, waving furiously in the background to get a renowned PI’s attention.  However, as I learned from my academic advisor, it is the PI’s responsibility to at least give you an answer to your request for a position in his/her lab, whether it is yes, I can take you or no, I do not have space. Later, Amy would tell me that that particular week had been extremely busy, both in the lab and in terms of her personal life.  

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Tip: Attend a lab meeting to see if you fit in!

A PI responded to my letter of interest and wants to meet with me! How do I make a good first impression?

Great!  Depending on the size of the lab, you may or may not be meeting the actual PI of the lab.  If a lab is particularly big, the PI may have delegated you to meet a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow instead.  Don’t feel slighted by this; it’s very typical that in large laboratories, the PI rarely has time to develop relationships with those who work in his/her lab. Either way, the interviewer will likely explain the details of the research project that is currently of interest to him/her as well as the expectations that he or she has for you.  Prepare an answer to why you are interested in their lab in particular.  Read up on one or two of the publications—knowledge of their current work will come in handy during the conversation.  On the other hand, also prepare some questions you’d like answers to from the lab. 

Some things you may want to know about before making a decision to join a lab are:

1.      What are the time commitments for working in the lab during the school year? What about during the summer?
2.      Tell me about an average day in the lab. 
3.      Are you interested in mentoring a thesis project? (This question is for those desiring to pursue a thesis in the future). 
4.      Do you have any other expectations?

The interviewer may also give you a tour of the lab. Thus, the first meeting is a time for you to see whether or not your interests line up with the labs’ and also to imagine yourself working there (for many long hours!).  

Another recommendation I have is to listen in on a lab meeting.  These often happen once a week, usually at the beginning of the day.  Usually, lab members sit around a table, sharing and updating the entire group on lab issues, as well as hearing about each others’ research. Sitting in on a meeting will give you a sense of the lab dynamic. Do you see yourself fitting in?  It’s also a great way to meet the rest of the lab. 

At this point, the decision is up to you!  Remember, as an undergraduate researcher, being in a laboratory requires commitment and sacrifice—much time must be reserved for research that could be spent doing other activities. Choosing a lab can be a difficult process, but ultimately, once a good match has been made, both parties benefit, much to everyone’s satisfaction.  Choose wisely, follow your passions, and know that enjoying your research experience involves not only the science at hand but also good relationships with those in the lab.   

Beginning a new relationship is always exciting, and starting a relationship with your research is no different.  I wish you luck in all your scientific endeavors!  

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