How to join a lab as a Master's student

[akim41]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm about to finish my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and I will most likely be pursuing a Master's degree in bioengineering this fall. As I'm narrowing down my list of schools that I've been admitted to, I've been contacting potential lab directors at certain schools about joining their lab. I've sent them my cv and showed interest in their lab's research opportunities, but I'm just not sure if I should continue waiting for their response or email them and ask whether or not I would be a good candidate for their lab. Ideally, I want to go to a school that for sure will let me join a lab with research opportunities that fit my interest so it would be nice if I could hear back from the lab director before the decision deadline. 

 

I guess my questions are as follows:

How do students pursuing a Master's degree typically join a lab? (most of the labs I'm interested in are mainly looking for phd candidates unfortunately)

Do lab directors usually take a long time to review a candidate before letting them join the lab? If so, how long?

 

Thank you,

[justinmcummings]

I'd also be interested in know how this works. Since most paid positions are for PhD students, how does a masters student get research or lab experience? Even if the position is unpaid and not for credit just experience for boosting a PhD application.

[bsharpe269]

I am a masters student in bioinformatics who is part of a lab. I can share how I found my current position.

I tried to set up opportunities with labs before staring my first semester but didn't have any luck. Once I got to campus, I met with the professor who I was most interested in working with and asked of I could volunteer in his lab. I think that starting with pay would have been much harder to find since most professors prefer to put this money towards phd students. After a few months of working my butt off in the lab and getting getting fall grades in (straight As), my department offered to start giving me a "teaching assistant" stipend for the work. That pay will continue until the end of this semester. The professor has offered to pay me to stay and work for him over the summer, once the department money ends.

In my department, only a few masters students are involved with labs at the level that phd students are. Most other masters students sort of slack off in the lab or do it only when they have time. From what I've seen, professors want to see that you are one of the few really serious students before offering you a paid position.

[akim41]

I am a masters student in bioinformatics who is part of a lab. I can share how I found my current position.

I tried to set up opportunities with labs before staring my first semester but didn't have any luck. Once I got to campus, I met with the professor who I was most interested in working with and asked of I could volunteer in his lab. I think that starting with pay would have been much harder to find since most professors prefer to put this money towards phd students. After a few months of working my butt off in the lab and getting getting fall grades in (straight As), my department offered to start giving me a "teaching assistant" stipend for the work. That pay will continue until the end of this semester. The professor has offered to pay me to stay and work for him over the summer, once the department money ends.

In my department, only a few masters students are involved with labs at the level that phd students are. Most other masters students sort of slack off in the lab or do it only when they have time. From what I've seen, professors want to see that you are one of the few really serious students before offering you a paid position.

 

Thanks for the reply!

 

I wouldn't mind volunteering in the lab that I'm interested in. I just want to gain more research experience in the field of my interest. I think I might just do what you did and personally meet the professor and ask if I could volunteer in his lab since it doesn't seem like I will be receiving his response any time soon.

[victorydance]

Obviously a different field, but I also contacted profs looking to work for free. Trust me they love it. When you are low on the pecking order, sometimes you need to work your way up the ladder the hard way.

[starofdawn]

I had a phone conversation with a professor a few weeks ago. Once I said, "I do not require any financial assistance", his tone completely changed and he was willing to introduce me to some professors (and even offered for me to join his lab). I think I was pretty lucky to talk to a nice, welcoming professor - but I honestly believe that if you reach out to a professor and are completely upfront about willing to work FOR FREE, they will take you into consideration.

[bsharpe269]

I had a phone conversation with a professor a few weeks ago. Once I said, "I do not require any financial assistance", his tone completely changed and he was willing to introduce me to some professors (and even offered for me to join his lab). I think I was pretty lucky to talk to a nice, welcoming professor - but I honestly believe that if you reach out to a professor and are completely upfront about willing to work FOR FREE, they will take you into consideration.

 

Exactly! During my first meeting with my PI, he was like "as far as room in lab, yes we always welcome more help but as far as pay, I don't have much extra right now." I responded that I was interested in the learning opportunity and was willing to work as a volunteer. After the first few months where I really proved that I was committed and serious, he has gone out of his way to nominate me for fellowships, recommend me for department money, etc. He is pushing to to present at conferences and will be paying me himself this summer. If you show dedication as a volunteer then a good professor will make sure you are adequately compensated even if he is low on money and that means helping you apply for fellowships or other money.

[starofdawn]

Exactly! During my first meeting with my PI, he was like "as far as room in lab, yes we always welcome more help but as far as pay, I don't have much extra right now." I responded that I was interested in the learning opportunity and was willing to work as a volunteer. After the first few months where I really proved that I was committed and serious, he has gone out of his way to nominate me for fellowships, recommend me for department money, etc. He is pushing to to present at conferences and will be paying me himself this summer. If you show dedication as a volunteer then a good professor will make sure you are adequately compensated even if he is low on money and that means helping you apply for fellowships or other money.

 

It's nice to know that if I prove myself to be useful, some money might start coming my way!