system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
My Boss Sent Me A Journal Article to Read and I Can't Understand It...

Hello everyone,

This is my first time posting in this sub so please bear with me.

So, I graduated with my BA in Psychology this past May. A couple of weeks ago I started a job as a Research Assistant working with a highly distinguished professor in the field of cognitive science and abnormal psychology. Now, cognitive science (or any science for that matter) was never my strong suit.  I also fulfilled my science requirements in undergrad 2 years ago, so I forgot a lot of information. I was hired mainly to work on one of his projects that has nothing to do with his primary research interests, but aligns perfectly with my interest of abnormal psychology and working with a completely different population.

Last week, I got hired to work on another project. So now I'm working part-time in both projects. My boss sent me a lengthy article to read, and I can't understand a majority of it. My boss mentioned that if I had any questions, I can just ask. But, I'm afraid that I'll look incompetent and that I really don't belong in the lab. The paper was way too advanced. I've been researching key terms, going on websites and reviewing notes from years ago. Although it does help, I feel so inept and that I don't really belong in this lab. 

Imposter syndrome has already got the best of me. I'm one of the youngest working in the lab. Most of my co-workers have PhD's. It's so intimidating. I know the common sense answer here is to just ask my professor questions, but I've had demeaning professors before and I'm trying to prevent a poor situation. 

What do you suggest I do? I'm not considering dropping out of this project, considering my boss really needs an RA for this project. I definitely still want to work in this project because I love learning new things. I'm just overwhelmed with imposter syndrome symptoms and I'm not sure where to begin. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
gpt
Look at the older papers cited in the article; it's likely these will provide some of the background for how the research in the article itself came to be. Keep going down the rabbit hole as needed.

Are the new project and subsequent article cognitive science-based, and that's why you feel you don't understand them? Try to fit the paper in with the concepts you do understand from the new project. Do you need to thoroughly understand everything from the article before you will be able to carry out your duties as an RA? In that case, you will need to explain the situation to your PI. That's improbable, though, ime.