Hey Guys,

I have a meeting with a prof this week to see if I can volunteer in her lab. Do you guys have any tips on things I should talk about, and what I can expect to be asked?

Thanks!

Some profs are more "intense" than others...I've heard of people being quizzed on knowledge of techniques and science related to the work in the lab, and I've also heard of people having a nice/casual discussion about something totally unrelated

At the very least, make sure you are familiar with the work the prof does, and be able to state why you're interested in volunteering in their lab.

As Starfish mentioned make sure you know what the prof does, look up their research profile online or in simple terms start stalking . It's also good to look into what publications they have written so you can throw that into the conversation which shows you did your homework and have interest in the prof's work.

I would make sure to take any documents you might have such as your resume/CV or sometimes reference letters (copies of them) it just gives you an overall edge and shows you are serious even if it is not a paid position.

And of course as mentioned start building your thoughts on why you want to volunteer, what's your goal long term with this volunteer experience, what can you offer to the lab that other students can't?
And good luck!

If the prof ever visits Macinsiders, they may ask how you spell "research"? Lol im just kidding. Like people said, try looking into some of their past publications and also familiarize yourself with the fields that the prof is currently researching. Maybe work on a list of past experiences through your education which you feel could be directly applied to a volunteer role under them.