First Rotation Reflections!
Finally back in the lab, here's how my first 2 month rotation went
PhD students, mainly in the biomedical sciences, start their journey by rotating in labs. Think of this as a “trial run,” a time where they can see if the lab is a good fit before they join to complete their thesis work. In my program, we start these rotations in the second semester of our first year, and each one is about 8 weeks.
So, by the time January came around, I was absolutely itching to get back into the lab. So once I got the all clear to start doing experiments, I hit the ground running as fast as I could (and got as much done as possible in a span of 2 months). In this post, I’ll be noting the things I really enjoyed about this rotation and things I would have done differently (In the style of rose, bud, thorn, because why not)
Rose: What I really enjoyed about this rotation
In my first rotation, I was able to pitch a mini project and follow up on my own questions. If you are in a situation where you are rotating with a PI who will let you do this, I highly recommend it. I think this gave me a good idea of what it would be like to be a student in this lab. I got to see how the PI would embrace my ideas, their approach to solving scientific questions, and better understand how they lead various projects. While this was an intimidating thing, I really think I benefited from doing this. Further, I was so excited about the science and was really happy to go into the lab every day.
I got to know the members of the lab beforehand. If you are in a situation where you can do this, DO IT! Being able to get to meet everyone a few times before starting my rotation made the transition into the lab so much easier. In fact, by the time I was there for a few weeks, I didn’t feel like just a rotation student; I already felt part of the team.
I really embraced being a member of the department I was in. Being able to attend talks, holiday parties, and social hours all gave me a good idea of what it would be like to be a member of the scientific community I was rotating in. I got to meet students from different labs, see what kind of science they were working on, and get a feel for the “vibes”. The floor I was on has lots of students, and this allowed me to identify that that is something I really enjoy!
Bud: Things I am going to apply to my next rotation
One place where I think I may have fallen a little short was in asking questions quickly. Asking for help has always been something that I procrastinate, because, to be honest, I feel bad bothering people. However, this next time around, I am going to remind myself that learning the lab’s techniques requires getting help from the current members of the lab, so I should not be afraid to ask for it. Additionally, my first 8-week rotation FLEW by, so really, I don’t have much time to waste.
Thorn: What went wrong
To be honest, I had such a fun time in my first rotation! I feel the lab and the PI were both really great fits. I still have two other rotations, so we will have to see where those take me, but overall very optimistic!
Thanks for reading my quick reflection on my first rotation! Stay tuned for the next one in 8 weeks :)
Hi, I’m Isabella!
I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!
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Congrats on being done rotation one! It sounds like you made great progress!
“Asking for help has always been something that I procrastinate, because, to be honest, I feel bad bothering people.”
Yep, think we can all relate to this!