Poorly designed project or am I just not resilient enough?
Hi everyone, I just started a research technician position in an R1 and could really use some advice. Since I’m new to the field the lab is working in, there’s still a lot for me to learn. However, my PI has assigned me a project to lead independently, and the goals and timeline feel completely unrealistic. To make matters worse, neither the lab nor the PI has prior experience in this specific area.
When I try to discuss my concerns with my PI, they brush it off, saying I am capable and just need to try hard. I even spoke to 2-3 postdocs I know for a reality check, and they told me this project would be highly demanding and challenging even for a senior postdoc.
I'm feeling incredibly frustrated and completely set up to fail. What should I do? Is it worth trying to salvage this situation, or should I just resign?