Too many research experiences?

[pv1993]

Let me begin within a short preface:

 

I'm going to be a senior this fall at Texas A&M and will be applying to grad schools this fall. Here's my profile as it stands now:

 

GPA: 4.0

GRE: V:169, Q:170

One paper (second author) that has been submitted and hopefully will be published before I apply.

 

Here's the problem: I started doing research my sophomore year, and have been in four different research groups all dealing with different problems. I started working in a biological chemistry lab my sophomore year, and being a sophomore hadn't really put a lot of thought into the kind of lab I wanted to work in. One semester in, half the grad students and post-doc left leaving the lab with only two grad students and 5 undergrads. Moreover, I was simply performing the same reactions to churn out starting materials for my grad student to use in actual biological studies. So, I decided to leave the lab at the end of my sophomore year. I joined a materials group that summer and worked there for half a year. In that time, I basically did all the experimental work for the post-doc that I worked with and the entire project was completed in that time frame (that's the one that's been submitted for publication). They were starting a new project but it entailed almost exactly the same kinds of things I was doing and so I decided to switch labs again as I felt I wouldn't gain anything by staying on. I currently work in a physical organic lab on two projects simultaneously on my own (i.e) without a graduate/ post-doc mentor. I intend to stay on here till I graduate as I really like the work and think I'll learn a lot. Meanwhile I also worked with a computational professor the past two years on some protein modelling.

 

 I'm worried that this might look like a lack of dedication or like I might be very indecisive in grad school as well. I realize there's no quantitative method to decide if someone gets in, but is this something that might effectively sink my application? I guess I ought to mention that I'm looking to work with groups at relatively highly ranked schools (Stanford, Caltech, UW-Madison, etc.). Is this something I could maybe address in my SOP, so they understand my position? Or am I just being paranoid?

 

P.S: This is my first official post and I apologize if I have rambled on a bit. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read through it!

 

 

[peachypie]

I don't think its necessarily a bad thing or something you need to identify in an SOP.  However, if you do feel the need to address it in your SOP I would use it as an opportunity as evidence to support why you picked the next lab or why you feel this work helped you decide and narrow/focus what you'd like to do now.  The research itself is great, it shows that you know what real research can be like which is important for a school to show.  If you want to talk about it, use it to show why you are pursuing what you are now and what were the things you learned you liked about these different opportunities and how that will prepare you for graduate school.  Based on the rest of your stats I'd say you will be very competitive so make sure you take time to lay out what you need to in the SOP and maybe even get some LORs from some of those former labs as a way to show that you  left on good terms and were seeking other ways to learn.

Best of luck, and On Wisconsin!

[victorydance]

This is a good thing, not a bad thing.

 

I will say though: only emphasize what is relevant to the programs/research interests in your SOP. Don't go on and on about every RA position you had, but just list them on your CV and say you have extensive research experience in your SOP.

Edited July 29, 2014 by victorydance

[loginofpscl]

It will never hurt you, all you have to do is write about your experiences to show how you learned/grew from each one and how that makes you an attractive candidate for grad school.

[Cookie]

I lol'ed when I read your post's title. There is no such thing as too much research experience!

I got my B.Sc. in Biochemistry, did research in classical molecular dynamics and polymer synthesis and now in grad school, am doing research in quantum dynamics. At prospective student visits, I was not questioned why I had too diverse research experience. They thought it's great!

From my experience, learning a lot of different things in undergrad is very beneficial. In your SOP, I would suggest that you (1) show that you learnt many aspects of conducting research in various labs, (2) be able to work well independently/ with others in different environments, (3) realize your passion for [insert the research area you apply for] and how your undergrad research makes you the perfect candidate for it. Of course, what you have done must be related to what you want to do, otherwise it doesnt sound believable.

 

Best of luck!

Edited July 29, 2014 by Cookie

[pv1993]

Thank you for your input everybody!

[Whisky-with-a-Y]

Holy mackeral pv1993.....Im just kidding. You are in a unique situation, and I guess all we can do as forum-ers is give you our opinion. I was kind of in your situation, just not to the degree you are. I was also in a lab where all I did was shake, mix, heat and weigh. Unfortunately, it took me over a year of being unhappy to finally find the courage to get the hell out. I received no pubs (unfortunately, when I entered I didnt realize how important that was), and all I will get out of it is an LOR, and Im only using it because I was in there for over a year and it will look fishy if I dont. I would just worry about relaying the reasons why you left each lab in your SOP. But I also wouldnt spend multiple paragraphs on it waisting time. You have a 4.0 at A&M, a pretty outstanding chemistry school, so there is no hiding that you are a great student. A lot of us can get away with good GPA's because our undergrad institution wasnt a great chemistry school so our classes were a bit easier. I would spend just a little time stating why you left, reasons like it wasnt were you felt you needed to be. I would focus more on your current lab, why you feel that is it for you and how you want to take the skills you learned from that lab and apply it to grad-school and the future. Dont let them question your integrity or the fluctuations you have made in the past. Sound certain of yourself and your choices. You will not be the first candidate who has been in different labs. Also, you could play them out as if you were only in there for specific projects that would not take very long. So once the project was finished, so was your obligation to the lab itself. Like students who do summer research programs, they only have 2 months at the school and then are done. Also, as I always add, have fun and goodluck. 4.0 at A&M is great.

P.S I hope Johnny Manziel has a horrible year

 

-A concerned football fan

Edited August 2, 2014 by WaterBoy21

[reactiontime]

I had worked in four labs (two summers, a summer+school year and then full time during 2 year gap before grad school) when I applied with diverse aims (pharmacology, developmental genetics, bioinorganic chem, and pharmacology).  At my Einstein interview (a biomedical sciences PhD program), one professor was very skeptical and concerned that I was flighty and not committed.  When I explained how the diverse experiences tied together and lead me to a firm conclusion of what I will study for my thesis, he understood that the experiences were an asset.  The other professors I spoke to were glad to see my diversity of experiences because they saw it gave me a deeper appreciation of academia.  My passion and ability to adjust to new problems were also assets.  So, you might encounter some haters, but just emphasize how much you have learned in the process.  Also don't say anything negative about the experiences (like everyone quit the group, or I found the new project direction boring) as they can reflect poorly on you.  The adcom doesn't know if you're telling them the whole story and might guess that problems follow you.  Instead emphasize positive reasons for switching (like, I enjoyed the synthetic approaches, but found a great opportunity to explore computational chemistry so I decided to switch). 

[Aldeidara]

Please allow me to submit to your achievements

 

Hail

[biochemistry professor]

At the most competitive places, I think your research record could raise some red flags. Doing research takes a lot of perseverance and the ability and patience to grind through a lot of rather repetitive work. You don't want to come across as a professional student. I'd downplay the range of your experience (especially doing a computational project with one professor while working in another lab!).