what's it like being a CSD research assistant?

[bibliophile222]

I've been invited to be an RA next semester and eventually do a research project involving transcribing/analyzing speech samples. Since I've never done any actual research in a lab or assisted in research, I was just curious what those of you have been RAs have experienced. Are you doing your own thing, working in a group, or working more closely under the professor's wing? What types of studies have you assisted in and how much of a role did you play? I'd just love to find out whatever I can so I know what to expect!

[Louly]

It depends on the project your professor/mentor is conducting. For me, one semester I helped him edit a manuscript that he wanted to submit. The very next semester, I helped him research by collecting data. So varies from one lab to another and project to project. So for example, a voice lab...similar to yours had four students who were research assistants. One was responsible for data entry, one collected data, one edited the samples, and another analyzed the samples. Again, it varies on how much work each project requires and how much help/what your mentor wants done.