Research Interests

[FantasyVesperia]

I'm a sophomore and I've decided to get my feet wet a little and try to get some research under my belt. I've never done research before, so I thought this will be a good time to see what I like, what I don't like, and so on. My major is molecular biology but I'm interested in doing chemistry research. My advisor is a little iffy of my decision, so this raised some concerns.

Is it okay to participate in research that's outside your field of study? I like chemistry and this lab has some public health aspects of it which I think is pretty cool. I just don't want the professor I'm interested in to not take me on because of my major. To rephrase it, do I have to be a chemistry major to participate in chemistry research?

Thanks.

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[Glammyre]

It's the PI's decision what students to accept in their lab. With that being said, if you're interested and the PI agrees, I don't think you need to be a chemistry major to do chemistry research.

You said this chemistry research has public health aspects - could you argue a biology connection (through organic chemistry, maybe) to the PI?

 

[doe_eyes]

I agree. It is up to the PI in the lab. I would suggest doing research that interests you, even if it's outside your major. I had 3 years of research experience in the evolution and ecology graduate department on my campus, even though I was not an EVE major. I sent out a couple of emails asking professors if they had openings in their labs and some got back to me for an interview. I also knew some people who asked their TAs from classes to see if they needed an assistant on their research as well. I think it's most important that you are genuinely interested in the research, and if you are, it will be easy to convey that to whoever is in charge.

 

[FantasyVesperia]

It's the PI's decision what students to accept in their lab. With that being said, if you're interested and the PI agrees, I don't think you need to be a chemistry major to do chemistry research.

You said this chemistry research has public health aspects - could you argue a biology connection (through organic chemistry, maybe) to the PI?

One project focuses on the adaptations of amphibians and other species to certain chemical contaminants.... I'm not a scientist, but I believe this could have some genetic components....

 

[Vdubs03]

Absolutely not! I'm a bio major and although I've worked on a few research projects within the realm of biology, I got a job doing organic peptide synthesis with one of my organic chemistry professors. It's been a great experience and I've learned A TON about research in general because I've had experiences in different laboratories with different faculty members as research advisors.

 

[xTineTH]

I agree with what everyone else said about it being up to the PI.
I helped with research in the Environmental Toxicology department even though I was an Animal Science major. I got involved with my research because the grad student in the lab needed some help with her project, and the PI agreed to take me on. Even though I joined specifically to gain more hands on experience with mice, I learned that I want to continue with research in the future, but preferably in fields other than etox.

If you can make a good impression with the PI, and if they can accommodate more help in the lab, I wouldn't anticipate your major being an issue at all.