Is it gonna be counted or not?

[johenen]

I worked 1+ year in a tissue engineering lab during my junior year that's like 4-5 years ago. however, the professor I worked with retired like 2 years ago and I lost touch with him. I am not sure if it is ok to mention this experience in my CV/SOP without prove. is it still gonna be counted?!

[queenleblanc]

If it's on your CV, and the prof's name is also listed as your supervisor, that should be proof enough; they can always ask you about it during the interview process.  If that experience is really relevant to your application for whatever program you are applying for, then you should write about it in your SOP; anything you can say beyond what the common person can look up on google would be proof enough that you completed the experience.  Generally, I have a ton of things on my work resume - places I've worked etc.  I have definitely lost touch with my former supervisors and some of them have moved companies (i.e. no longer there).  I have been asked random questions about those experiences in work-related interviews, but honestly no one really thinks you're going to tell a bold-faced lie on your CV/resume.  So... I guess the answer is YES it can be "counted" but make sure you at least list the supervising prof's name. 

[fuzzylogician]

Yes, it's ok to list research experiences on your CV/SOP without providing proof that they are real, and they will still count. You should be able to explain what you did in the lab with sufficient details - for example, you can talk about the problem you were working on, methods you used, any findings or outcomes, and what you learned from the experience. That should make it clear that you are not lying and it will enhance your SOP by showing exactly how you've benefited from this research experience.