Although it may not seem like it, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to how you want to gain research experience! The most important thing to remember is (as always) to pick something you are passionate about and can do consistently!
A note on consistency: it is absolutely okay to lab-hop in your first two years of college! It took me three different labs to find the right fit for me and trust me, it is important you find a lab that fits your interests and personality. Not every lab will have the same culture (ie. rigor, friendliness, expectations, etc) so you need to find the right lab for you.
The most common question I get asked is "How do I get a lab position" because let's face it... when you start college you likely have a solid zero lab experience. Here are some tips on getting started:
- Look for a structured research apprenticeship program at your school
- these programs are often set up for students looking for their first research position and do not require any prior experience
- Absolutely list your class lab experience as experience (Ex: Chem Lab, Bio Lab, etc) and emphasis this during interviews
- Look for summer lab internships
- these are often full-time which allows you to learn a lot more quickly
- Use your school's staff directory to find labs with projects you find interesting and email those professors
- In your email you should include your resume, who you are, why you want to be in their lab (be specific - you should at least skim their most recent papers) and how you think you can be an asset to their lab
- Be prepared for MOST professors to say they do not have a spot available or to just not reply at all (I emailed 20 professors and at least half of them never responded)
- Inquire early: professors can only take so many students so the earlier you are on their radar the better
- Be your own advocate: Don't be afraid to ask your TA's, older students, and your own professors
"What kind of research do medical schools want to see?"
A lot of people assume you must do biology or clinical research for medical schools to care but this is NOT true! In fact, the first lab I joined was a psychology lab. You do not have to pick your lab based on what you think medical schools want to see. As long as you participate in research in a meaningful way, show commitment and can talk about your research then you are good to go!
"How can I stand out if everyone does research?"
Some schools offer an Honor's Research Project, Presentation opportunities, or Conferences and these are GREAT opportunities to make yourself stand out in the pool of applicants -
I personally did an Honor's Research Project that entailed running my own experiments, analyzing my own data, writing a paper and making/presenting a poster to the biology department. Although this took approx. a million hours it was a great experience! Not only did I get an incredible letter of recommendation from my mentor because we had worked so closely for a year but having done an Honor's Thesis looked great on my application.
However, there are plenty of other ways to stand out in research without writing a whole thesis. Ask your mentor about possible conferences you can present at or talks you could give. These are great ways to show you made a real commitment to research as an undergrad
But - if research is not your thing that is OKAY you can keep the commitment low and stand out in other activities instead
"What is undergraduate research like?"
This totally depends on your lab! In my first lab (psychology) I spent my time running studies, recruiting volunteers and reviewing data. In my second lab (biology wet lab) I ran PCR most days and did not really get to be a part of the project as a whole. Hence why I switched to my third and last lab! In my last lab (neurobiology wet lab) I started out running animal experiments. I then learned to slice brain tissue, stain tissue and analyze data. I was much more involved in the project as a whole, even before I started my thesis. This made working so much more enjoyable because I actually felt like we were working towards something!
In the beginning I strongly advise you to ask your mentor what her/his expectations of you are! This is extremely important. You should know what you're expected to learn, how many hours you're supposed to put in per week and what you're supposed to get done. I cannot emphasis this enough - you should ask your mentor because he/she may not tell you until it's too late.
Another piece of advice - ASK QUESTIONS - this will not only ensure you understand your project better (which in theory will make it more enjoyable) but it will show your mentor that you care!
"Do I have to publish before I apply?"
No!! You absolutely are not expected to publish before you go to medical school so you can relax! If you do publish that is AMAZING but it is not expected at all. Publications are more important for MD-PhD programs.
"I hate research, do I really have to do it?"
Honestly? Yes you do, at least a little bit - Fake it til you make it :)
If you want to hear more about my personal research go to the Contact me and send me a message so we can chat!
...Happy Researching xoxo
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