Stealing Projects, Surviving Gross Experiments and Deceit

Welcome to my first column!  I am very excited to have the opportunity to contribute to BenchFly, and I look forward to answering your questions!  I welcome all ideas, questions and comments and thanks to Sarah, Chris and Dave for helping kick off the series!

Dear Dora,

There’s a senior grad student in the lab who’s basically stealing my project.  I’ve tried talking to her about it and she just doesn’t care.  I’ve tried talking to my P.I. about it, but since she thinks the other student can do no wrong, my P.I. either doesn’t believe me or doesn’t care.  I don’t want to give up my project, but I also don’t want to start a major competition in lab.  Help!

Sarah, Graduate Student

Dear Sarah,

It is understandable that you feel angry if another student steals your project, and it is even more frustrating that neither your colleague nor your PI is listening to you. Therefore, it is up to you to get your research on track again. When you say that the senior student “stole” your project, is she actually trying the answer the same question as you? Or, is she looking at a different aspect of the project? If your PI thinks that the other student can do no wrong then there is probably room for two students to work on it.

My suggestion is that you think about a way to divide the project up so that both of you can work on it without being in competition with each other. This is no easy task, especially if you and the other student are not communicating well. First, brainstorm about some possible solutions and then approach the other student with your ideas. It is possible that the two of you started off on the wrong foot before, but she might be open to a collaborative effort, especially if it would help her out as well.

After you talk with the senior student (whether or not it went well), it is imperative for all three of you to meet (you, the senior student and the PI), and to clarify what each of you is working on. If the other student is not open to collaboration, then you could arrange a meeting with your PI alone, and suggest some solutions. It is in your PI’s interest that both of her students collect useful data, so she will probably be open to creative ideas. While you might feel angry that you need to resolve this problem when it was the other student who stole the project, you will definitely impress your PI by taking initiative.

Unfortunately, this type of situation arises quite often in science, and it is a challenge to collaborate without competing against each other. Since both of you want to write an original thesis, it is very important that you keep lines of communication open so that you don’t step on each other’s toes. Hopefully, if you approach the other student in a friendly collaborative way, she will be more open to working with you, so you can work on complementary parts of the project and maybe even learn from each other.

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Dear Dora,

I just accepted a postdoc position in a lab that does a fair amount of mouse work.  The closest I’ve come to an in vivo experiment has been characterization of a recombinant rat protein. I’m not against animal experiments, but I’m not sure how much of a stomach I have for performing them.  My project won’t require them initially, but they’ll be going on all around me.  Any advice for helping keep my lunch down?

Chris, Graduate Student

Dear Chris,

Many students and postdoctoral fellows feel queasy when they need to watch animal experiments. While you might decide to skip lunch during the first few days, there is a good chance that you will get used to it. In fact, some animal technicians were nauseated too when they began their careers. My advice is to consider this an opportunity to get some exposure to in vivo experiments. Even though you do not work with animals, it could be useful to understand how they isolate the proteins or other samples that you work with.

If you get to the point where watching animal experiments no longer bothers you, you might even consider getting some hands-on experience yourself. This might seem like a very remote possibility at the moment, but there is a great need in the job market for scientists with in vivo experience. Of course, if you cannot get used to animal work, there is no need to push it. Getting some exposure to animal experiments will definitely be useful, and after this fellowship you will be able to make a more informed decision about job opportunities that will come along (i.e. how much animal work you can tolerate).

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Dear Dora,

I just picked a lab this summer with the understanding that I would be continuing to work on the project I started in my rotation.  But now, it seems like my P.I. has other ideas and he wants me to work on something else that I’m less interested in.  I’m scared that telling him no will start us off on the wrong foot, but I feel a little misled.  Should I just accept it, change projects and move on?

Dave, Graduate Student

Dear Dave,

If you chose this group with the understanding that you would continue working on your previous project, it is normal for you to feel misled and even disappointed. Before you make any decisions, it is important to get more information about these two projects from your PI. There can be no harm in asking questions, as long as you approach your PI with an open mind. Since he wants you to work on a new project, try to find out more about it. Perhaps he can perk up your interest when he gives you the details.

Once you have clarified what he wants you to work on now, you can ask a few questions about the previous project. It sounds like you enjoyed it, so it is important to understand why he decided to put you on something else. Did he abandon it completely (e.g. he no longer has funding), or is someone else working on it? If the project is still “alive”, you can ask whether there is a chance you could get involved again. Whether or not he grants your request, you will know that you have spoken up for yourself. In addition, by showing interest in your current project, you will have started a good rapport with your PI.

In general, I do not recommend swallowing disappointments like these, because they will only lead to bitterness in the future. You are much more likely to enjoy graduate school if you speak up for yourself and clarify misunderstandings when they occur. It might not always be possible to work on the project of your choice, but at least make sure that you are learning skills that will be useful for your career, and that your topic is likely to lead to a doctoral thesis within a reasonable amount of time.

To find out more about Dora Farkas, author “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.:200 Secrets from 100 Graduates,” visit her website at www.yourphd.com.  You will find links to her book, newsletters and graduate school resources.

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Stay tuned for the next Dear Dora in two weeks!  In the meantime, check a few of Dora’s recent posts:

• How to Leave, Balance and Publish
• Ethical Dilemmas, Micromanagers and that Evil Email.
• Authorship, Feuding and Career Doubts
• Starting a Family, Finding a Job and Managing Your Boss
• Dear Dora: Asking for a Raise, Picking a Lab and the Importance of Good Grades
• My Labmates Want Me to Be Their Dealer
• Isn’t Reviewing Papers My Boss’ Job?
• Dear Dora: Full-time Student (and Part-time Employee?)

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Submit your questions to Dora at [email protected], or use the comment box below!

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