Research -Choosing between two labs/advisors

[process chemist]

I have the opportunity to spend my summer during research with two PIs before the my 1st semister in grad school officially starts. One professor does Physical Organic/Materials, and the other PI does synthetic organic/catalysis. I want to focus on catalysis and synthetic organic chemistry for my graduate studies; however, because of funding issues, I may not be able to get into my first choice lab for the summer. I am ok with this aspect of this arraingment, as I have no obligation to stay with that lab;but, will it cause hard feelings within the department if I choose to leave the Physical Organic lab at the end of the summer, and join the catalysis lab?

Also, I know what I want to work on for my graduate work; however, the catalysis lab publishes in lower impact journals than the Physical Organic lab. This is a fully funded MS Chemistry program (thesis based), and I have hopes of entering into a R1 PhD program at the conclusion of my MS. Would it be advisable to join the lab that publishes in higher impact journals, and pivot to my real interest during my application process to PhD programs? I would think that would be confusing to adcoms, but the higher impact journal pubs will make my application stand out more.

[santos123]

It is strange that the replies that were written about this post have all disappeared. Very strange ...

[ktel]

Perhaps it's a double post? And the replies didn't actually disappear?