Scared to ask friend about join his lab.. 😔

Soooo, basically I have a friend who works as a neuroscience research coordinator at this hospital. Me and him used to work at Starbucks together and often did solo closes with just the two of us, so we got really close and still continue to chat after we both quit.

Here’s the problem: I’m an incoming sophomore who snagged herself an MA job, shadowing, and, thanks to this friend, a reference so I can start volunteering at a hospital. The only thing I need besides my MCAT and leadership is research. I’m planning on taking a workshop at my local cc over winter break that’ll teach me the basic of working in research, but I’m scared to ask him if I can help out in his lab or if he can find me a lab in the hospital that’s willing to accept students.

I personally don’t like asking friends for favors. It just makes things weird. PLUSSS, I just asked him for a reference, and he was so nice about it and responded quickly. I don’t want to make him feel like I’m using him.

Should I just leave it at the reference, or thug it out and ask?