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[snowbound]

Absolutely.  If you are an undergrad and she is a grad student, you really do have a different status in the institution, even if you do identical work in a lab.  (And that's regardless of whether status differentials are a good or bad thing.) While the actual grunt work may be the same--you are both feeding mice or computing stats whatever it is you're doing--she understands a whole lot more about what your work is ultimately all about.  Heck, that's why she's teaching a class in it. 

Given that you are not actually on the same level in academia, I don't think it would be that big a deal taking her class.  And it sounds like a great opportunity for you.  Unless you are very close friends, or lovers, chances are that she thinks of herself as at least partly a mentor to you.  And mentors are very valuable things to have. 

[spork]

I was a student in a colleague's class; it worked out great, especially the sex.

[pathanalysis]

Absolutely.  If you are an undergrad and she is a grad student, you really do have a different status in the institution, even if you do identical work in a lab.  (And that's regardless of whether status differentials are a good or bad thing.) While the actual grunt work may be the same--you are both feeding mice or computing stats whatever it is you're doing--she understands a whole lot more about what your work is ultimately all about.  Heck, that's why she's teaching a class in it.

Given that you are not actually on the same level in academia, I don't think it would be that big a deal taking her class.  And it sounds like a great opportunity for you.  Unless you are very close friends, or lovers, chances are that she thinks of herself as at least partly a mentor to you.  And mentors are very valuable things to have.

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

And I don't know if we have a mentor/mentee relationship or not... I don't think of it taht way, except for when she's giving me advice on applying to grad school, but I can't speak for her.

[pathanalysis]

Oh, and I'm not arguing difference in traditional academia--that clearly exists. I'm arguing difference in our work in the lab, which doesn't, at least not clearly. We both do very minimal to no grunt work--we conceptualize projects and write/work on manuscripts (in fact, I probably write more of most manuscripts, not that it really matters).

[prytania3]

Absolutely.  If you are an undergrad and she is a grad student, you really do have a different status in the institution, even if you do identical work in a lab.  (And that's regardless of whether status differentials are a good or bad thing.) While the actual grunt work may be the same--you are both feeding mice or computing stats whatever it is you're doing--she understands a whole lot more about what your work is ultimately all about.  Heck, that's why she's teaching a class in it.

Given that you are not actually on the same level in academia, I don't think it would be that big a deal taking her class.  And it sounds like a great opportunity for you.  Unless you are very close friends, or lovers, chances are that she thinks of herself as at least partly a mentor to you.  And mentors are very valuable things to have.

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

And I don't know if we have a mentor/mentee relationship or not... I don't think of it taht way, except for when she's giving me advice on applying to grad school, but I can't speak for her.

Well, you certainly put us in our place.

Did you get invited to Sweden this year, too?

[wet_blanket]

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

You're right, no-one here knows more about your lab than you do.  For what it's worth, I don't think the previous poster was trying to insult you or diminish the importance of your work by saying "grunt work".

Though this thread perhaps hasn't gone quite how you expected, I think the end result still answers your question.  You wondered if it would be weird to place yourself in a subordinate position to someone you consider to be a peer.  Your reaction when it was suggested that you're not in fact peers tells you everything you need to know: you would find it too uncomfortable to make it work.

[pathanalysis]

Absolutely.  If you are an undergrad and she is a grad student, you really do have a different status in the institution, even if you do identical work in a lab.  (And that's regardless of whether status differentials are a good or bad thing.) While the actual grunt work may be the same--you are both feeding mice or computing stats whatever it is you're doing--she understands a whole lot more about what your work is ultimately all about.  Heck, that's why she's teaching a class in it.

Given that you are not actually on the same level in academia, I don't think it would be that big a deal taking her class.  And it sounds like a great opportunity for you.  Unless you are very close friends, or lovers, chances are that she thinks of herself as at least partly a mentor to you.  And mentors are very valuable things to have.

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

And I don't know if we have a mentor/mentee relationship or not... I don't think of it taht way, except for when she's giving me advice on applying to grad school, but I can't speak for her.

Well, you certainly put us in our place.

Did you get invited to Sweden this year, too?

Oxford Roundtable reference?

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

You're right, no-one here knows more about your lab than you do.  For what it's worth, I don't think the previous poster was trying to insult you or diminish the importance of your work by saying "grunt work".

Though this thread perhaps hasn't gone quite how you expected, I think the end result still answers your question.  You wondered if it would be weird to place yourself in a subordinate position to someone you consider to be a peer.  Your reaction when it was suggested that you're not in fact peers tells you everything you need to know: you would find it too uncomfortable to make it work.

No, I know we're not peers academically. I've never said we were--I don't think we are. But we are peers in the lab setting, which could be an issue.

What I'm annoyed by is how nice to me everyone on  the fora is until they find out I'm an undergrad, and they then proceed to treat me likely I'm Stupid Suzy Snowflake, and must know zilch about anything. That is what bothers me.

[prytania3]

Absolutely.  If you are an undergrad and she is a grad student, you really do have a different status in the institution, even if you do identical work in a lab.  (And that's regardless of whether status differentials are a good or bad thing.) While the actual grunt work may be the same--you are both feeding mice or computing stats whatever it is you're doing--she understands a whole lot more about what your work is ultimately all about.  Heck, that's why she's teaching a class in it.

Given that you are not actually on the same level in academia, I don't think it would be that big a deal taking her class.  And it sounds like a great opportunity for you.  Unless you are very close friends, or lovers, chances are that she thinks of herself as at least partly a mentor to you.  And mentors are very valuable things to have.

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

And I don't know if we have a mentor/mentee relationship or not... I don't think of it taht way, except for when she's giving me advice on applying to grad school, but I can't speak for her.

Well, you certainly put us in our place.

Did you get invited to Sweden this year, too?

Oxford Roundtable reference?

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

You're right, no-one here knows more about your lab than you do.  For what it's worth, I don't think the previous poster was trying to insult you or diminish the importance of your work by saying "grunt work".

Though this thread perhaps hasn't gone quite how you expected, I think the end result still answers your question.  You wondered if it would be weird to place yourself in a subordinate position to someone you consider to be a peer.  Your reaction when it was suggested that you're not in fact peers tells you everything you need to know: you would find it too uncomfortable to make it work.

No, I know we're not peers academically. I've never said we were--I don't think we are. But we are peers in the lab setting, which could be an issue.

What I'm annoyed by is how nice to me everyone on  the fora is until they find out I'm an undergrad, and they then proceed to treat me likely I'm Stupid Suzy Snowflake, and must know zilch about anything. That is what bothers me.

The reference to Sweden was in regard to the Nobel festivities. Last time I heard, Oxford was still in England.

No one was nasty to you because you're an undergraduate. People were just telling you the pecking order--sort of like a duchess trumps a countess, but NOW you really are acting like a snowflake undergraduate.

[pathanalysis]

Absolutely.  If you are an undergrad and she is a grad student, you really do have a different status in the institution, even if you do identical work in a lab.  (And that's regardless of whether status differentials are a good or bad thing.) While the actual grunt work may be the same--you are both feeding mice or computing stats whatever it is you're doing--she understands a whole lot more about what your work is ultimately all about.  Heck, that's why she's teaching a class in it.

Given that you are not actually on the same level in academia, I don't think it would be that big a deal taking her class.  And it sounds like a great opportunity for you.  Unless you are very close friends, or lovers, chances are that she thinks of herself as at least partly a mentor to you.  And mentors are very valuable things to have.

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

And I don't know if we have a mentor/mentee relationship or not... I don't think of it taht way, except for when she's giving me advice on applying to grad school, but I can't speak for her.

Well, you certainly put us in our place.

Did you get invited to Sweden this year, too?

Oxford Roundtable reference?

I'm just going to say you know NOTHING about our lab (which is in a research institute, not a department) or the work we do. And what we do in the lab ISN'T grunt work.

You're right, no-one here knows more about your lab than you do.  For what it's worth, I don't think the previous poster was trying to insult you or diminish the importance of your work by saying "grunt work".

Though this thread perhaps hasn't gone quite how you expected, I think the end result still answers your question.  You wondered if it would be weird to place yourself in a subordinate position to someone you consider to be a peer.  Your reaction when it was suggested that you're not in fact peers tells you everything you need to know: you would find it too uncomfortable to make it work.

No, I know we're not peers academically. I've never said we were--I don't think we are. But we are peers in the lab setting, which could be an issue.

What I'm annoyed by is how nice to me everyone on  the fora is until they find out I'm an undergrad, and they then proceed to treat me likely I'm Stupid Suzy Snowflake, and must know zilch about anything. That is what bothers me.

The reference to Sweden was in regard to the Nobel festivities. Last time I heard, Oxford was still in England.

No one was nasty to you because you're an undergraduate. People were just telling you the pecking order--sort of like a duchess trumps a countess, but NOW you really are acting like a snowflake undergraduate.

What part of this indicates that I lack understanding of the pecking order? I'm an undergrad; she's a grad student. I get it, trust me. HOWEVER, in the context that we work (and NONE other) that pecking order isn't so stable. Why none of you seem to get this, I don't understand, but eh. The assumption that any work I do is at the level of lab rat care is somewhat demeaning to me, though yes, I have done lab grunt work before.

[wet_blanket]

What part of this indicates that I lack understanding of the pecking order? I'm an undergrad; she's a grad student. I get it, trust me. HOWEVER, in the context that we work (and NONE other) that pecking order isn't so stable. Why none of you seem to get this, I don't understand, but eh. The assumption that any work I do is at the level of lab rat care is somewhat demeaning to me, though yes, I have done lab grunt work before.

You're entitled to interpret the responses you got on the thread anyway you like, of course, but your characterisation isn't how I read it.  The reason people picked up on the fact that you're an undergrad is because it changed their responses from earlier.  The reason that point about academic heirarchies got hammered is because you made the comment about posters having an attitude, making them think you did not in fact understand the acadmic heirarchy.

And, sorry to say it, but the huffiness about the use of the term "grunt work" does strike me as snowflakish. The post in question assumed the grad student was undertaking the exact same tasks as you. It takes a special way of thinking to take it as a personal affront.

[barred_owl]

Okay, so let me see if I am thinking about this correctly, pathanalysis.  Most of the time, you and your lab colleague are peers, working in the same lab and same physical environment in a research institute.  Coming up soon is a 3-week class covering topics with which you are both familiar, but grad student co-worker has been assigned to teach it.  You're uncertain about taking the class because you and she work closely together in the lab, and her role as the teacher for the class now tips the power balance in her favor.  Have I gotten the basics so far?

If so, let me offer two things:

(1)  This is not really so different from a graduate student taking a class from his/her advisor or a committee member.  I did this--a committee member whose research very closely parallelled mine, and with whom I collaborated on projects, taught a seminar course in our shared research field.  I enrolled for the seminar.  There really wasn't a problem because we were able to:

(2) Separate the work relationship (lab workers/RA's/collaborators) from the teacher-student relationship.

If you don't think you can honestly and in good faith do (2), then I would dissuade you from taking the course.  However, if you can, for 3 weeks, accept your co-worker as an authority figure during class (and the associated assessment/grading), then you might succeed. 

From what you've written, it sounds like you have some trepidation about being able to shift that power balance if you decide to take that class.  I always say, "trust your gut."  If you don't think you can do that--i.e., separate the work relationship from the student-teacher relationship--then don't take the class.  Only you know what your gut is telling you--listen to it.

[spork]

Grads and undergrads working in the same lab are not peers.

I seriously doubt you will be having sex with your instructor.

[grasshopper]

Get over yourself.

Seriously.

Believe me, we get it. We understand the difference between studying in school and working in a research capacity. We also have a much more sophisticated understanding of the relationship between these two. You and your colleague may do the same work in the lab, but that doesn't mean that you're equals. No more than I, a graduate student, am an equal with my tenured colleagues just because we all teach classes.
 
We all do grunt work. It's part of the apprenticeship of being a student. It's great that you got this fantastic job in a super-duper research lab and everything, and congratulations on that - it's a wonderful opportunity. But don't fool yourself into thinking that this somehow magically makes you a high-ranking scientist. It indicates potential. Not achievement.

One of the most important parts of graduate study, in my experience, is that you learn how much you don't know. You don't seem to have learned that yet.

Don't take this course. If you think that your part time job makes you equal to people who are qualified to teach the people who do your job (which, just in case it's not clear, you are not qualified to do), it is clear to me that you do have a chip on your shoulder about the pecking order.

[notaprof]

Dear OP,

If you have been around here much at all, you should understand by now that any request for advice will include some answers that will be helpful to you, some that really don't apply in your case but are well intentioned and some that are snarky.  You have received very little in the way of snarky replies, mostly comments from people who are trying to help.  Of course some things will be off the mark since most issues are fairly complex and you revealed only a tiny peek at your situation in your first post.   You are not being treated differently because you are an undergrad, you are getting the same treatment as others who leave out important details that make a difference in the advice that will be given.   

The correct response is for you to use the advice that is helpful, ignore the rest and thank everyone for taking the time to respond.  If you can't stand the snark, stay out of the forum.

[snowbound]

Having just returned to this thread, I am amazed at how my passing reference to "grunt work" (which we all do, BTW in every discipline.  As Einstein or someone said, "Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration") has thrown the OP into a major huff.   Especially since both of my posts were, I thought, supportive and non-snarky.

I withdraw my advice to go for the class.  Your responses here suggest that you would have a very hard time accepting your so-called "peer" as an authority figure.  Grasshopper is so right about grad school teaching you how much you don't know!