Contemplating a Lab Change: Remain or Depart?
**Student Decides to Continue Research in Sigman Laboratory**
For a college student with a passion for biogeochemical reconstruction, the decision to continue their research journey in the Sigman Laboratory was a significant one. During their sophomore year, they pondered the question of whether to stay in the same lab or join a different one.
The student's summer experience at the Sigman Research Laboratory, part of the High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton, reinforced their passion for the field. They worked on a project involving biogeochemical reconstruction via the investigation of the marine environment during a historical mass extinction, using foraminifera as a biological proxy.
The student's decision to stay in the same lab offers several advantages. By continuing in the Sigman Laboratory, they can build upon relationships with faculty and graduate student mentors, fostering a robust mentorship that provides personalized guidance and better academic and career support. Remaining in the same lab also provides a sense of continuity, allowing the student to develop specialized skills and deep knowledge of the ongoing projects, methodologies, and equipment.
However, staying in one lab may also have its drawbacks. The student acknowledges the risk of limited exposure to diverse research topics, techniques, and interdisciplinary collaboration. To mitigate this, they can ask their faculty mentor about joining other lab members' research projects if they don't feel passionate about a specific project.
On the other hand, switching labs offers the opportunity to explore new projects and fields, potentially discovering a new interest. This move provides the student with exposure to new scientific questions, technologies, and approaches, which can broaden their expertise and adaptability. It also allows them to meet new mentors and gain exposure to new forms of research and lab environments.
The student's new project in the Sigman Laboratory involves working with organic carbon isotopes in fish otoliths and coral. This project integrates their interests in geochemistry, anatomy, and physiology, offering a perfect blend of their academic pursuits.
The student's decision to continue their work in the Sigman Laboratory for the summer of 2024 was not only due to the lab's ongoing projects but also their remaining interests in the research questions being pursued by the lab. They are grateful to have been able to return to the Sigman Laboratory with the support of HMEI and the Smith-Newton family.
In the end, the student's choice to continue in the same lab offers the opportunity to find a project that more strongly aligns with their interests, providing continuity and deep specialization, while switching labs provides diversity and expanded opportunities. The student's decision reflects a balanced approach, considering their academic goals, desire for specialization versus breadth, and the quality of mentorship and lab environment in each option.
The student recognized the benefits of continuing their education and self-development within the Sigman Laboratory, as it offered the chance to delve deeper into their chosen field through online education and learning from experienced mentors. Despite the risk of limiting their exposure to diverse research topics, the student saw potential in building a strong foundation in a specific area, allowing them to become an expert in their chosen field.
