Ben Linn Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I graduated with an undergrad in biochemistry and proceeded to a ph.d. program in plant biology. I was given funding for 1 year and would need to be a TA after that until I graduate. I responded saying that I'd like to do a rotation the 1st semester in another lab that I might be interested in. They said that would be fine. However it turns out that the funding was only available from the 1st lab, so I needed to stay at that lab for the semester and maybe try the 2nd lab the next semester. It turns out I'd need to be a TA in the second lab if I wanted to rotate there. Well now I'm debating whether to stay in the 1st lab (studying kinases) or try the 2nd lab (studying plant-derived pharmaceuticals). The advantage of staying would be that I'd have another semester of funding without TAing, I'm already familiar with the project, and I know everyone in lab and am doing well. It's more of a plant physiology lab. This would be another fairly easy semester. The advantage of going to the 2nd lab would be a more varied lab experience, experience being a TA, perhaps discovering a project that interests me more, and meeting more biochemistry people rather than plant biology people. The downside is that it might cost me a semester or two longer to graduate going this route, and I'd have a very busy semester next year. Can someone give me the perspective of an experienced student and help me choose what to do? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rising_star Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 If you're going to have to be a TA anyway next year, I wouldn't bother trying out the second lab, but that's just me. It probably depends on where your interests lie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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