Hey guys !

This is totally off topic but I need very sincere advice.

I am a 2nd year EECS student at McGill Univ. in Canada. I am interested in doing research in Energy and Electromagnetic systems. One of my proffs who teaches Electromagnetics offered me to do research with him over the summer ( ofcourse I went to him and asked if I could do such kind of thing). Now the thing is that since this research is voluntary ( I approached him), he said he has no money to pay me. But he has lots of work for me. I accepted the offer since I need some good research experience to apply to grad school in teh US.

I told this to one of my friends. And he has been condemning my decision. He says working for 4 months without a pay is ridiculous. You'll just get to watch what he is doing and he won't let you do anything. Atleast he should pay you for basic amneties like housing and food. He says that he also went to some proff and asked for summer research position. He said that the proff told him that he won't pay him and he won't let him do any manjor work.

Now I am very confused. On my part, I believe it's what I make of this whole experience. I have never done research before adn I think, if I show passion and take initiative, the proff will obviously be interested in offering me more work. On the other hand, the things which my friend's telling me is disturbing to me.

I am in a dillema.

Please help

Thanks a lot.

Have you or the prof talked to the engineering department about getting some funding for you? The prof may have dismissed payment offhand if he didn't have any spare grant money available, but you could try talking to the department. They also might have more information for you about getting some external funding as well, though it's probably too late for that. I think the nserc deadline for student projects like this is probably passed (called an USRA I think), but look into it just in case (and be aware of it's deadlines for next year).

I wouldn't advise you to work for free. Whatever the work, you will be a slave, and you should get at least a token minimum wage. Agreeing to work for free sets you up as a target to abuse for academic slavery in the future. This will depend on the individuals involved, but I've known someone who let things sprial out of control and ended up running crappy errands for his supervisor (like laundry).

If you are seriously considering working for free, make sure the prof is very clear about what your role in this work will be before you commit. You can then decide if it's worth it or not. If your job is to water his plants and take out the garbage, run away. If your job is to point out targets for his gauss rifle, stay.

Also, consider talking to other professors about summer work. Maybe you can find a paying one.

depends on whether or not you choose to base your *whole* future on what this guy can do for you in those 4 months..

find out if he's helped anyone else and how things went.. always remember to have a backup plan, money makes the world go round.. or so I hear.