Can you reject a research assistant position? Forum

[Meno]

Hi all - some quick help needed here. I applied for a position as a research assistant for a professor and have been offered the job before receiving offers (or no-offers) from several other summer jobs. Are positions with professors like those with judges and you're unable to decline them? FWIW, I'd like to work with this professor at some point, preferably during a semester, I just think a different legal job over the summer would be more beneficial for me.

Thanks!

[20181989]

No, positions with professors are not like those with judges. You can decline.

[Anonymous User]

No one is going to force you to do it. If I were you, I'd just go meet with the professor and explain the situation and that you want to work for him later on.

[Anonymous User]

I applied for a summer research assistant position with one professor and didn't hear back from him until long after I had already accepted another offer. I explained my situation and mentioned that I was still interested in helping out. I ended up working remotely for him a couple hours a week on top of my full-time position, then worked "full-time" as his research assistant when I got back to school in the fall.

[Wild Card]

Offer to work up to 10 hours per week during the summer, and then up to full-time during the fall semester.