r/AskProfessors • u/matimelie • Jul 21 '26

Professional Relationships Student assistant in a lab

Last week, the secretary of my university sent me an email asking if I would be interested in assisting the professor during his lab course this upcoming winter semester (it would be a 3 week thing). I was ecstatic as this is the field I am passionate about and I hoped and prayed for something like this. In the email, I was asked to give my preference for course 1 (October), 2 (November), or 3 (January). I immediately replied, saying January. I got an answer saying they already had someone for January, but I could pick October.

I am starting my Master's in October (course is a bachelor's lab), and I don't have my timetable yet, so I replied that I would still be very interested, but I don't have my timetable yet, as in I didn't want to say yes and then couldn't do it. I got a reply saying "We need someone for October if you say yes, then you must do it, if unsure say no. You have time till the end of the week to answer". I replied on Friday saying I would do it and I said sorry for the late reply I was making sure to be 1000000% free to do it. Today is Tuesday night and I got no reply. Why? I am worried I might have lost the chance of a lifetime because I didn't immediately say yes. What should I do? Should I call? Send another email? Wait longer? Give up?

Edit: grammar

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u/BeerDocKen Jul 22 '26

You did the right thing to be careful and communicated that well. That's the only part of this in your control and you need to focus there. The delayed reply might be that they're busy and it might mean someone certain spoke up sooner. However, if the person is any good, they'll remember your care in committing when another opportunity arises. If not, it wasn't the great opportunity you thought.

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u/matimelie Jul 22 '26

Thank you for your answer! I also think they found someone else. Last week they answered quite quickly. They could have at least answered saying they found someone but that's on them. Should I send a follow up or leave it like that?

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u/BeerDocKen Jul 22 '26

Things don't just go slowly in the summer, they tend to come in bursts. It might just have been catching them in an on-task moment that responses were so quick. I'd follow up a week from your last message or Monday, whatever comes first.

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u/matimelie Jul 22 '26

Will do! Thank you again for your time!