DIY: the PhD Edition. Chapter IV: What? What Do You Mean By "An Undergrad Is Going To Help You"?

Hi, how's your new life going?

I know that thanks to my post from last week you have become a confident first year PhD student. You're crushing it, you have one thousand ideas and can't wait to get results. You feel confident and are ready to tell the world how awesome being a PhD student is. One day your PI calls you, you wonder whether it is to discuss an experiment or to ask you for your progress. No, it isn't about that. They tell you some words that leave you paralyzed in place. "There's an undergrad coming to do an internship at the lab, I think they can really help you. They start on Monday." An undergrad. Under your supervision. You're not ready for this. YOU ARE SO NOT READY FOR THIS. (If you think you are you're either the most arrogant person in the world or LYING.) YOU ARE NOT READY! It wasn't this long when YOU were an undergrad, how are you supposed to be in charge of an undergrad?

Ok, ok, don't panic! Here's a list that might help you.

1. They will be young. They will be very young. And you will feel old, extremely old. Even if they are only two years younger than you. It will be worse if they went to your same university. It's okay, you will be old from now on.

2. They will ask you EVERYTHING. From now on you're the one who knows the things, you're the one who is in charge. Sometimes you won't know what to do and will have to admit it, sometimes you'll feel embarrassed about not knowing something and will pretend you do. And screw up big time.

3. They will need you to give them work. You are the boss, you're the one who calls the shots. Find what they are good in. Ask them whether they plan to do a PhD. Ask them everything, ask them what they like about your field.

4. Set limits. Of course you're going to be friendly, but if they do something wrong you need to tell them. If you don't you'll end up doing the same work two times.

5. Don't be shy to tell things like they are. If they are not working as they should, TELL YOUR PI. You should not put up with someone who is not helping you, not even because you feel bad. If they are not helping they either change or leave.

These are my tips for surviving your first undergrad, you'll get better with time. Or you will care less anyway.