Can’t tell if my lab is worth it anymore

☑️ Extracurriculars

So I joined my lab because I like the research they do and they publish undergrads a lot. Literally that’s the only reason I chose this lab as opposed to other ones. The con is that this lab is a 40 minute drive from where I live, takes longer during traffic hours. During the semester, I minimally came to lab, once a month or a little more depending on my availability. During the semester I did remote work for the lab, averaging 10 hours a week of data analysis. I expressed my interest in doing molecular work and was told by my PI that they can not train people for free and I need to have a dedicated time and schedule as I will be treated like a PhD student. I said that I can come in full time in the summer, to which I have been. I work 40 hours a week and my PI did not give me an independent project to work on even though I will be working from June to August. Ok that’s not a problem, I’m still working with another lab member (who completed their masters). I’m being trained on a couple of techniques and my PI keeps telling the lab member who is training me rude things. My PI is very straightforward and calls people out. She can be very harsh at times and she has been rude and harsh to my face and I ignore it and move on and forget it. However the PI got mad as I kept asking the other lab members questions because a protocol I was doing this week, I had trouble with. My PI said to other lab members that they need to basically quickly train me on most crucial stuff so they can do their own work and gather data. There are no undergrads in the lab. I am the only one, I am the only one to train. I was THINKING about coming in person to lab during the semester multiple times a week in order to get a first author pub. But I feel like from what I have seen so far over the summer, I am learning however the PI can be toxic. I probably will get a pub this summer, just not first author which is ok.

Do people suggest I find a new lab for the next 2 years? I am also worried she won’t write a good lor because again sometimes she’s rude and doesn’t care about your feelings. So I am getting worried. It’s not my fault I’m new and take time to do protocols and learn. Everyone asks questions but the PI also got mad at lab members for basically helping. And the PI on one end I know is so great because she has helped many undergrads get 1st author pubs and she treats you like an adult so I don’t know if I’m overthinking tbh. I’m sure if I barged into her office and asked what do you think of me, she would be so real and give an honest answer not caring about my feelings. Again my feelings are not hurt by rude things or mean things people say, just worried about the LOR and I can not be wasting time. To clarify as well the most likely reason there’s no undergrads in lab is because colleges are far away from this lab. There used to be undergrads 2 years ago.

Posted Jun 11, 2026, 10:40 PM UTC

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