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Is it better to spend a lot of time per week committed to one single lab/PI or is it better to spread out my time and work in two or even three different labs? My goals here are to get research/lab experience, establish relations with professors which will then culminate in good letters of recommendation, and (if possible) to get my name on a publication or two. If you have experience in such matters, please respond. (I am a BS in biochemistry.)
Also, I am thinking of traveling to UC Berkeley to do research over the summer there with a lab so that the PI can write me a letter of recommendation for graduate admissions (I'd like to go to UC Berkeley for my PhD). Would this be a good idea?
Finally, should I take any GRE tests aside from the general GRE and the GRE Biochemistry subject test? I don't want to take more than I have to, but at the same time I don't want to miss out on potentially boosting my application a bit.. they are fairly expensive, though.
 
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hmm i would imagine you simply look up what the graduate program you are applying to requires? this week i took the general GRE only because that's all i needed
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Finally, should I take any GRE tests aside from the general GRE and the GRE Biochemistry subject test? I don't want to take more than I have to, but at the same time I don't want to miss out on potentially boosting my application a bit.. they are fairly expensive, though.
I only took the necessary ones, but if you think you can do well on more of them- and those other ones are actually relevant- I don't think it'll hurt to do more. Keep in mind that they generally cost a decent amount of money, and the GREs aren't offered that frequently, so make sure you're very well prepared when you have the opportunity to take them! You don't want to take the same test more than once, let alone over multiple seasons.
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Choose one PI who you feel like you can work well with and who's project interests you. I would be amazed if any PI wanted you working in another lab at the same time you were working in theirs. The longer you work with a project the better you'll know that material and ensure a better recommendation. Fewer, quality recommendations are better than many mediocre letters.
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It depends. I know people who focus on 1 lab and some who do 2. Doing 3 is too spread out and you wouldn't be learning anything useful unless you're crazy and doing at least 15 hours per lab. In which case I also don't recommend that as you'll burn yourself out, assuming this is on top of school.
Working in 1 lab allows you to focus on one area/topic/project and gives you a much stronger mastery over that research. Generally, this is a good idea if you know you are interested in that area and want to work in that field in the future. It also gives you a much higher chance at getting published. Working in 2 labs can be better under certain circumstances. For example, I know a person who was a 4th year who had no experience and was just desperate to get some experience. If you are looking to explore different areas of research (such as wet lab vs. dry lab labor), then maybe working 2 labs will be a good idea until you decide which you like better. Also, some labs are the kind of research where you do something, wait 1-2 hours, do something, wait...in which case, you just hop over to your other, more time consuming, lab during this waiting period. I know a couple (literally, a guy girl genius couple lol) who do this.
However, in my opinion, it is almost always better to work in one lab. It sounds to me like you still have some time before applying to grad school. What I suggest is working hard in one lab for maybe 8-12 months (unless you just hate it), and moving on to a different lab at a good time like just after finishing a project. Getting published as an undergrad requires A LOT of work on your part and a little luck, which I think is extremely hard to pull off when splitting your time between 2 labs. Like, I'm working 40 hours a week all summer in my lab and I *might* get published for the project I've been working on =/ So, you'd have a much higher chance getting published if you did 1st year 1 lab -> 2nd year 1 lab. Rather than 2 years with 2 labs. Or if you find you love the first lab, just work there as long as possible!
Regarding UC Berkeley research, um yes, but it's more like any summer research/internship is good. You shouldn't limit yourself to one program like that unless it really interests you for some reason. Saying you want to go to Berkeley for PhD sounds like planning too far into the future and only serves to limit your options. Especially for PhD (though this applies to graduate level somewhat), you'll find that the school you apply to is fairly meaningless, to an extent. The only thing that's really important is the research that school does and more specifically, the research the professor you will work under does. The research you want to do is the determining factor and therefore, which profs and school (i.e. where the prof works) you'll end up at.
Of course, maybe you DO know exactly what kind of research you want to do and that a Berkeley professor does that research so you don't need to hear this. Point is, branch out and try lots of different research until you find what you love. Then find profs that do that and work under them. Good luck!
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Great advice Kaze, I agree 100%.
Definitely do try to go for 3 labs, as the point of doing research in a lab is to acquire specific work and research experience. Unless you devote yourself very much to a single lab (or perhaps two if, as Kaze mentioned, you are really quite desperate for experience), you probably will fail to learn much about the field in which you're working. You mention that you would like to get a letter of rec from your PI. Don't split yourself among several labs if you want to do this. You want to work hard and show your PI that you care about your work. Making a good impression is very important, not to mention something quite difficult to achieve if you're not spending a significant amount of time and effort there.
Good luck, and cheers! 
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Russian Federation3632 Posts
I don't think its a good idea (or even possible) to be simultaneously working in two labs while having a decent undergraduate courseload (grad classes, etc.), while still accomplishing meaningful progress in either.
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On September 08 2012 16:06 419 wrote:
I don't think its a good idea (or even possible) to be simultaneously working in two labs while having a decent undergraduate courseload (grad classes, etc.), while still accomplishing meaningful progress in either.
I have a friend (biomed engineer @ WashU) who did that and did fine while maintaining a good social life and getting good grades on top of it (and attaining either a double-major or a minor in Classics ...). Granted, she didn't do it for very long; it was more of a weird in-between transition phase between her getting out of one lab (the research wasn't going anywhere) and getting into another that fit with her interests better, but it is certainly possible, and I don't think she suffered much for it.
Then again (not having much experience in this area) she might be the exception rather than the rule. WashU is also known for having great student life that produces happy, stress-free students even though I feel like half that campus is pre-med, lol.
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Russian Federation3632 Posts
In my opinion, getting publications is quite luck dependent. I managed to get a publication from 3 months of research during a summer fellowship. The other project that I worked on in a different lab (for probably 4x longer than that) didn't really lead anywhere. Factors involved (not comprehensive): how many coworkers you have on your project, how ambitious the project is, how long it takes to become semi-proficient at lab technique, how much lab technique is required not to immediately destroy 1-2 weeks of work, how generous your PI is feeling, etc.
Also, I am thinking of traveling to UC Berkeley to do research over the summer there with a lab so that the PI can write me a letter of recommendation for graduate admissions (I'd like to go to UC Berkeley for my PhD). Would this be a good idea?
I would suggest applying for these things quickly. Generally the fellowships that cover your travel/living costs, offer stipends, and set you up with a PI are highly competitive.
Being able to say you got into these programs provides a nice thing to list on grad school apps.
Finally, should I take any GRE tests aside from the general GRE and the GRE Biochemistry subject test? I don't want to take more than I have to, but at the same time I don't want to miss out on potentially boosting my application a bit.. they are fairly expensive, though.
I think taking those two GRE tests is sufficient.
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EPT
