Hey /sci/, lets discuss graduate school related things here, comments and questions surrounding graduate school are welcome
I have my own particular problem to share. I'm in a lab where the PI basically assigns each person to a more experienced person in the lab and they basically work together and have day-to-day meetings while meeting with the professor is a once in a couple weeks type thing.
I'm in my 3rd year and am having problems with my mentor person (5th year). Basically I think our working styles are totally different. I like to be told what to work on and a deadline for having it ready. This guy is extremely vague in explaining what he wants and doesn't like to set firm deadlines. Because of this, since I never know what he wants, I usually stick to my own project and don't contribute much to his pet project (and I never ask for anything other than advice on my own project). Our research funding comes from his project though. Additionally, my background is really lacking for his project so I couldn't contribute much even if I wanted. I feel like this dude expected much more from me and now our relationship has deteriorated to the point where he basically responds extremely slowly to my emails on purpose.
What do I do? I feel like the vagueness and in-directness is part of his personality. Ideally, I would just be straight with him, try to figure out what his problem is, and try to get past this. But I'm thinking that he would just deny any problem exists and try to blow it off as nothing.
I think I may just have to work on my own shit and try to make enough progress to get my PI's attention.
I have my own particular problem to share. I'm in a lab where the PI basically assigns each person to a more experienced person in the lab and they basically work together and have day-to-day meetings while meeting with the professor is a once in a couple weeks type thing.
I'm in my 3rd year and am having problems with my mentor person (5th year). Basically I think our working styles are totally different. I like to be told what to work on and a deadline for having it ready. This guy is extremely vague in explaining what he wants and doesn't like to set firm deadlines. Because of this, since I never know what he wants, I usually stick to my own project and don't contribute much to his pet project (and I never ask for anything other than advice on my own project). Our research funding comes from his project though. Additionally, my background is really lacking for his project so I couldn't contribute much even if I wanted. I feel like this dude expected much more from me and now our relationship has deteriorated to the point where he basically responds extremely slowly to my emails on purpose.
What do I do? I feel like the vagueness and in-directness is part of his personality. Ideally, I would just be straight with him, try to figure out what his problem is, and try to get past this. But I'm thinking that he would just deny any problem exists and try to blow it off as nothing.
I think I may just have to work on my own shit and try to make enough progress to get my PI's attention.
