Obsolete...? - (Mar/10/2009 )

Begin Rant: So Ive been working as a lab tech for my boss for almost two years now, Im basically a Grad Student but I dont present papers and that sort of thing and could probably not explain why we do everything or how it is we do everything but Im still very competent. Anywhooo my boss who is pretty young for a PI is just now getting a Grad Student (who is older, and is and Indian male... traditional values A.K.A. - acts like I dont know what Im doing and is generally smug when I ask a question, I suspect bc Im female) and Im being muscled out of the projects that were just starting to do that Im actually really interested in. I took this job under the assumption that I would be learning a lot of new techniques so that when I applied to Grad school it would be easier for me to get in, but if I am ceasing to learn new techniques as it is appearing then there is no point to my working here. Ive tried to tell my boss that I want to start doing the RTPCR and not the grad but hes told me to let him figure out how to do it first, but that I need to know how to do it. Then I told him that the grad hasnt actually been showing me how to do it or what hes doing like Ive asked him to, he just tells me that Ive gotta basically babysit him to learn how to do it.

It also doesnt help my morale that I was promised a 7% raise after a year and only got 3%, and my chances of a raise this year are slim. I might just take a non science job offer Ive recieved that comes with a 12grand a year raise.

Thoughts?

End Rant.

Why not get into Graduate School?
To become equal to the student.

Thats why I want to stick around so I can get some papers that have my name on them to compensate for my lower than is competative GPA... not sure if I would get in otherwise

esquared on Mar 11 2009, 01:41 AM said:

First of all, decide what you want to do. If it's not science, then leave now. On the other hand, if it's research, then take a concrete pill, harden up and do the research. Don't let the student's ass-like attitude (or pig-like, choose your own stupid animal model) be the reason you give up. This is by way of encouragement!!!

Be a royal pain in the butt to the grad student, both in front of the PI and when the student is doing his expts. Get in his face. Clear your workload to be able to shadow him every step of the way in the RT-PCR. Tell PI you want to do the work too. From what you've said, the grad student doesn't know how to do RT-PCR himself.

Or just go behind his back and do the RT-PCR yourself. It's not that hard if you know how to read a protocol and you start with good quality RNA. And how is your PI going to get angry if the work is done? As for those things you're not sure about in the rest of the lab, try to find out. Make yourself too useful to be ignored.

This is not unexpected -- the PIs responsibilities to a grad student are greater than those to a technician. I'm not being harsh, but it's the truth. Producing a well-trained and successful grad student is more beneficial to a PIs career than is having a successful technician, and failing to produce a successful grad student is worse for the PI. The relationships are totally different, and should be. BTW, I was a lab tech for years, so I know where you're coming from.

You're not obsolete, it's just that your role in the lab has changed.

HomeBrew on Mar 10 2009, 07:26 PM said:

But aren't it unfair for the technician.
Technician may stay in the lab for >5 years. But PhD student only 3-4 years, master student 2 years.

I used to work in the lab, which values technician more than PhD student.
When the lab is low in budget, the PI would rather cut the PhD's experiment than the technician, because the university did not pay for the training cost for this PhD student.

Hi esquared,

As what swanny advised, if you really want to learn, then you have to become more aggressive and persistent (even sneaky ), if you're just gonna wait for things to happen or change, you might be waiting forever. And since you have a goal (to enter grad school) then you stick to it and make sacrifices for it. Homebrew has a point- don't call yourself obsolete, this self-eclipsing isn't gonna do you any good. It's actually the time to shine i.e. be more visible and expressive. And if your morale is down bec your PI reneged on his promise to increase your salary, then negotiate to get the equivalent in time instead, it's still better than nothing and it shows assertiveness which you really need right now. Goodluck...

casandra

Minnie Mouse on Mar 10 2009, 11:33 PM said:

Unfair? Perhaps. But ask yourself "What are the principle objectives of an academic research laboratory?". They are to produce quality original research and to train new PhDs to carry on and build upon that research. A technician can play a role in both objectives, but once a lab goes from 'PI + technician' to 'PI + technician + grad student', the technician's role changes, as the second objective comes into play. It is equally true to say that a PIs role changes after he or she hires a technician and the lab changes from 'PI only" to 'PI + technician'.

At this point, you're not a grad student - not almost , not at all - and should not expect priority treatment as tho you were one.
Have an honest discussion with your boss regarding being a grad student in his lab. With a poor GPA, it's not likely having your name on a paper will count that much for other folks. Explain that you (I assume) love science and need to decide now if there's a chance to progress. Ask for a commitment with timing, Failing that, take the other job.
Do folks still take the GRE? What was your score on that?

GeorgeWolff on Mar 11 2009, 03:07 AM said:

Odd that, wherever I was, they made a point in telling that grades alone don't make a good graduate student and that PIs aren't concerned with grades at all. If there's no stellar CV, the preferred way of recruitment is to get someone working voluntarily several weeks before the institute PhD recruitment date, and then see if they are worth something.
Papers count more, because contrary to grades, which just measure the ability to do tests, it's considered real.
If you really want to be a grad student, just talk with your boss. Remaining a technician has its good sides - advanced technicians are those who get full salary, not a stipend and they are a real power at the lab. A figure of an experienced technician, pillar of the lab, taking care of the freshmen, providing stability, reliabilility and with her name in the papers, is such a common picture.
That student guy - it's easiest just to befriend him and figure out rules between you and him on your own, without concerning the boss. I suppose the guy might be clueless about the situation. You might produce a grateful follower instead of an enemy.
As for you being a grad student "not oficially, but I was promised" is such a bad idea. I lived through it and at last, applied properly somewhere else.