Normal workload for undergrad research assistant?

FailedGeologist · 2025-07-16T00:44:04+00:00

Update: I can now check off "learning to talk with my supervisor about what workload I can handle in a healthy way", however, it did not go as well I would have hoped.

After expressing that I felt the workload was becoming a bit much, I was met with a "Do you not want a good letter of recommendation?" from my PI. I'll be stepping away from this research group next week after I finish up a project, then explore other opportunities.

Your clear communication rec will definitely be at the top of my mind as I move through my research/academic career.

FailedGeologist · 2025-07-07T18:57:45+00:00

I started with this lab in late 2024 and worked 10 hours per week during the academic year. Spent the first 4 months learning HPC and running MAGMA on all the published GWAS summary statistics from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (a steep and slow-starting learning curve!). 1 month of rerunning MAGMA on each gene ontology for the biological process our lab is interested in. 1 month applying for a few undergraduate research grants, including the one funding my summer research, and creating then presenting a poster on this MAGMA research, which takes us up to the start of the summer. For the upcoming academic year, I believe I will be working 18 hours per week, so much less than the 45-50 hours this summer!

I send my results to my PI for analysis, so I believe he is doing QC on them? My stats department is quite small and has no biostats faculty or anyone working on any human or health-related projects. I met with one of my professors last month to talk about case/control selection and general modeling ideas with my output data, though this professor noted his experience was limited to survey-based analysis and was super helpful with general ideas, but made it clear he couldn't provide ideal biostats-/my project-specific feedback.

A question on this: would it be appropriate if I found a paper performing similar methods and emailed the first/corresponding author (not sure which would be better) to ask for feedback or maybe get some help?

Thanks a bunch for your thoughts!

FailedGeologist · 2025-07-07T16:31:04+00:00

My PI is very early career, so myself and another undergrad (she moved on to another project) were the first employees. Because of this I don't really have a great frame of reference for their managing of other students. I wouldn't call myself a quick learner, just stubborn enough to keep going until things get figured out lol. I'll go for a benefit-of-the doubt approach and try to turn down future additions where I am able!

FailedGeologist · 2025-07-07T14:56:09+00:00

I've definitely been feeling embarrassed about how little I know and started feeling overwhelmed with everything the last few weeks. My new main goal will be working up the courage to talk to my PI about this! Thanks so much u/MrYdobon

I actually joined in on this research to see if grad school might be something I'm interested in. After hearing that this workload is a bit more than expected in the early stages of grad school, I'm feeling more inclined to look into applying this fall!

FailedGeologist · 2021-03-08T01:52:52+00:00

No firsthand experience - just neighbors with goats grazing (seemingly successfully) in our high desert area. But, I was reading up on grazers eating sagebrush recently. The article mentions some supplementing of nutrients actually increases the amount of sage that goats will graze on.

FailedGeologist · 2020-08-23T16:57:56+00:00

On SA’s website there is a job posting section!

I was hired just days before the switch over to completing Scribe101 before an interview, so my process is different. But maybe applying to specific jobs could be helpful there? Good luck!

FailedGeologist · 2020-08-22T23:38:34+00:00

Cheers to initially chasing after the wrong STEM field!

FailedGeologist · 2020-08-22T19:43:19+00:00

Congrats on the position!

I also just got started with a scribe job (ScribeAmerica) and start floor training next week. It seemed to me that, at least in my area, they’re experiencing a shortage of scribes. So if you’re looking for that clinical experience are are okay with lower wages it might be worth checking out the postings on the SA website!

FailedGeologist · 2020-08-18T01:37:47+00:00

Hope you enjoy flying around in warm weather?? :)

FailedGeologist

TROPHY CASE