How Did You Find A Research Position?

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Doc of the Walk

Doc of the Walk

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I am just curious, for those of you who are working in a research lab, how did you end up being there? I am very interested in working in one, and I just wanted to see how others embraced the opportunity.
 
I've found four positions in total.

The first one was a blind email to a professor, asking if he needed any help around the lab, and that I would be happy to do anything for no pay (this was my first lab job, so I wasn't asking for anything). Got that one easy, and got a publication out of it too.

The second one was also similar - I talked to a professor who was doing research that I liked, and he just took me on. By this point I realized that professors like to have students interested and willing to work with them. And as a freshman, I was a good applicant because they could keep me/train me.

Two more were through a family friend, but those aren't positions. More like shadowing in some clinical labs.

Cold emails work well. Trust me. Professors like students who'll want to work for them.
 
Doc of the Walk said:
I am just curious, for those of you who are working in a research lab, how did you end up being there? I am very interested in working in one, and I just wanted to see how others embraced the opportunity.
Click to expand...

I have actually secured a position in a research lab myself. I went to the UTA website I clicked on the labs I was interested in and emailed the profs....everysingle one....Then I got a whole bunch of replies...and chose from the best. I start doing clinical research with a kinesiology prof. (PhD) in the fall of my sophmore year.
 
So it seems like cold-calling or emailing is the best way to go. Would reading some of the papers the professor has published help?
 
Just talk to your professors. My professor actually asked me if I was interested in helping her conduct research after she realized I was interested in her area of expertise.

However, as I imagine, it might be a bit more difficult to secure a position at a larger university. I have no experience with that as I go to a small LAC.

In any case, good luck in your endeavor.
 
Doc of the Walk said:
So it seems like cold-calling or emailing is the best way to go. Would reading some of the papers the professor has published help?
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not; being familiar with their area of work certainly can't hurt.
 
What kind of stuff did you guys in your labs? Clean petri dishes? Ran to get snacks? Fed the lab rats?
 
Doc of the Walk said:
What kind of stuff did you guys in your labs? Clean petri dishes? Ran to get snacks? Fed the lab rats?
Click to expand...

It'll usually start with crap like that, but if you demonstrate interest and don't screw up you'll be "promoted." You'll probably help out with another project and might eventually get your own.
 
Swiss Medical said:
I have actually secured a position in a research lab myself. I went to the UTA website I clicked on the labs I was interested in and emailed the profs....everysingle one....Then I got a whole bunch of replies...and chose from the best. I start doing clinical research with a kinesiology prof. (PhD) in the fall of my sophmore year.
Click to expand...

Congratz! You know, as much as I bash you, you could craft a perfect application if you work hard!

Then accepted you 1 year in advance though?

Doc of the Walk said:
So it seems like cold-calling or emailing is the best way to go. Would reading some of the papers the professor has published help?
Click to expand...

I cold emailed my first professor to get the spot. After that, I won the Goldwater scholarship, and my next lab a professor asked me. Oh how the tables have turned haha.

When I emailed the professor, I made a really individual, specialized email for each professor and not a shot-gun letter. I wrote about what interested me in their research and how it help. PM me if you want the email - if I can find it.
 
NickNaylor said:
It'll usually start with crap like that, but if you demonstrate interest and don't screw up you'll be "promoted." You'll probably help out with another project and might eventually get your own.
Click to expand...


Yes, the starting scut-work. It makes you into a man and allows you to get ahead. I can now clean glassware like a boss.
 
raltima07 said:
Yes, the starting scut-work. It makes you into a man and allows you to get ahead. I can now clean glassware like a boss.
Click to expand...

haha as long as I get exposed to the field to see what its like, I will do it with a smile.

P.s. I sent you a pm
 
My school has a portion of its website where professors post openings in their labs. I emailed one of the professors, and she accepted me into her lab after an interview.
 
theres a research projects database at my school for students in the honors program.. describes all the research projects going on, the professor doing them, etc.

you just email the professor from there if you see one you're interested in
 
Cold emailing: worked on 3 separate occasions

I just took a look at a whole bunch of faculty webpages, picked a half dozen that looked interesting, and shot off an email.

I tended to pick professors that flew under the radar (as opposed to department chairs, etc) so that the professor would more likely train me himself (as opposed to being handed down to a handful of grad students). Once you're in a lab, finding other positions through word of mouth is also very useful (and much more efficient than cold emailing/calling).
 
Swiss Medical said:
I have actually secured a position in a research lab myself. I went to the UTA website I clicked on the labs I was interested in and emailed the profs....everysingle one....Then I got a whole bunch of replies...and chose from the best. I start doing clinical research with a kinesiology prof. (PhD) in the fall of my sophmore year.
Click to expand...
You haven't started college and you have a research position planned for your sophomore year? Geez...

OP, I spent a while looking through the my school's different departments' websites, singled out a couple labs I thought I would fit in with based on interest and nature of work, sent a couple emails that legitimately weren't copy & pasted scripts, ended up getting a favorable response and joined a lab Spring semester of my freshman year. (I already had previous research experience from HS to build off of and AP credit in relevant courses.)
 
Last edited:
Depends on the professor. Try to get a new lab, actually. The professor who does research with me just joined the faculty, so he has TONS of new ideas and he gives me a lot of quite interesting tasks. In a more well-established lab I feel like there is more of a hierarchy where undergrads get the scut, and grad students eventually are promoted to doing interesting things.
 
To those of you who successfully secured a spot, how did you 'word' your interest when contacting professors? Does your major come into play when applying?

I tried e-mailing professors and they seemed open to the idea of me 'experiencing' some research. One told me to send in resume and essay, which I did. The other one told me he has a part-time position open. I responded that I am willing to do anything, even if I just get to see how a lab runs since I don't have experiences other than some orgo labs. All of these were like ONE MONTH ago. They seemed to just disappear after those conversations. How do I approach them about this without sounding like a desperate person? I really need those research experiences to apply for a Master's degree 😡
 
If this is your first lab job: offer to do anything for nothing in return.
If not: play up your previous experiences and show some knowledge/interest in the area of the prof's expertise.
 
I would state also that you are willing to volunteer for free - everyone loves free labor.
 
raltima07 said:
I would state also that you are willing to volunteer for free - everyone loves free labor.
Click to expand...

And also--in my experiences, don't say you're pre-med at first. Especially if the lab is not affiliated with a medical school. From the ones I've met, PIs seem to dislike MDs and pre-meds because they use research as a means to an end and have very limited ACTUAL interest in medicine. It's unfortunate but based on the attitude most pre-meds have towards research on their "checklist", it's not entirely unwarranted.
 
But, but, what if I'm not a URM. It's impossible to get into a lab then, right?

[/Sarcasm]
 
Mac Blade said:
But, but, what if I'm not a URM. It's impossible to get into a lab then, right?

[/Sarcasm]
Click to expand...

If your not URM, just give up. Like srsly, why would anyone want you??@?!@#? 😀

/sarcasm in response to your sarcasm
 
i googled a local hospital that mentioned about 4 words of undergraduate research lol. After that I was in.
 
I was reading posters in the hallway, came across the professors office, and just started talking to him about his research. I started the same day.
 
Exactly - getting a research spot is much easier than finding shadowing. My professor has kids walking in and out like every day. It's ridiculous.
 
Can one apply for positions outside of one's own university?
 
Yeah--it worked for me without much issue, especially since universities will often have tie-ins with nearby research facilities/centers. I go to a private school that's far from where I live though, and I found that universities near where I lived often favored their own undergrads over me when I asked about research opportunities.. so if you're in a similar situation, you might have some issues.
 
I found my research position when my molecular bio TA announced at the beginning of my lab class that his lab was looking for undergrads. I was the only one to go talk to him, and i started a few weeks later
 
I just approached a bunch of my professors and asked them if I could help them/get involved. My university is big on getting students involved/interacting with professors so I actually had my pick of like 6-7 labs.
 
Worked in the lab initially as a paid lab assistant, then jumped boats after 1 semester to involve myself in the lab's research after getting to know the lab well. The lab manager certainly wasn't happy with that, but I got the research position 😛
 
Before: I asked professors that taught me if they were doing any research/had any openings. some did, but I couldn't have the time for it.

After: I applied to a school's summer research internships, had to send in LoR and stuff, got in and now I'll start it this friday for 8 weeks 😀
 
Filled out every HR online application available in every major Health Science
Center in Texas
 
I walked into the office of a professor who taught a class I enjoyed, and asked if I could volunteer in their lab.

To get a paying job I sent out cold-emails with my CV to labs whose work interested me.

I think either method works, but if there's fierce competition for research spots at your undergrad you might want to consider asking professors who know your face.
 
raltima07 said:
Congratz! You know, as much as I bash you, you could craft a perfect application if you work hard!

Then accepted you 1 year in advance though?



I cold emailed my first professor to get the spot. After that, I won the Goldwater scholarship, and my next lab a professor asked me. Oh how the tables have turned haha.

When I emailed the professor, I made a really individual, specialized email for each professor and not a shot-gun letter. I wrote about what interested me in their research and how it help. PM me if you want the email - if I can find it.
Click to expand...

Yes, because I have to go to a stoopid CC for a year 😡...and UTA has strict policies regarding human subjects...
 
You're working on human experiments?
 
pfaction said:
You're working on human experiments?
Click to expand...

Yes. We mostly do postural control assessments and exercise interventions in older adults.

Edit:

Wait! That is clinical research, right? Hmm...Imagimne if I combine that with lab research...I'm getting chills just thinking about it...
 
That's damn awesome. I think that counts as clinical but I'm not sure.

EDIT

How are you a member of NCPA???
 
Swiss Medical said:
Yes. We mostly do postural control assessments and exercise interventions in older adults.

Edit:

Wait! That is clinical research, right? Hmm...Imagimne if I combine that with lab research...I'm getting chills just thinking about it...
Click to expand...


That is pretty cool.

But yea, what is with NCPA?
 
Doc of the Walk said:
How often did you guys work? What kind of labs where you in?
Click to expand...

I do Biomedical engineering. So, making artificial tissue and working on materials and polymers for drug release and cancer treatment.
 
NKChemEng said:
If this is your first lab job: offer to do anything for nothing in return.
If not: play up your previous experiences and show some knowledge/interest in the area of the prof's expertise.
Click to expand...


Having outside funding helps too.
 
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