Advice/Input on Research Experience

[Nkakar1]

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Hi. I'm currently a Freshmen (undergrad) about to start my second semester. I've gotten experience at a couple Vet Hospitals working with small animals but I know I need to work with large animals and gain research experience. I was wondering if people had any advice for what type of research experience I should try to get. If anyone could discuss their research experience what they liked, what they didn't, what they would suggest. Would you recommend experience in marine biology? Environmental research? Disease control?
Any input would be great! Thanks.

 

[hoodle]

Whatever you find most interesting, with friendly people, convenient time/location, and a good atmosphere!

 

[pupsforseeing]

It seems like (and I could be wrong) that it doesn't really matter the area of your research, but rather that it's something that you find interesting and enjoy. For the last two summers I worked in a lab studying neuronal development in mice. While doing undergrad, I've been involved in a project studying mitochondrial biogenesis in cancer cells. I'm not sure one experience was better than the other, but I have come away with a better understanding of how to design and conduct experiments and analyze data, not to mention collaborate with others, spend long hours in a lab without windows, etc 🙂

So, all that to say get involved in whatever research experiences you find interesting and is available to you!

 

[clawsbeatskin]

If you attend a larger university with a strong science departments, it should be really easy to find a volunteer position at the very least. Even if you have to start by washing glassware, do it. Hit up your professors for opportunities, and if they don't have any, then hit up your lab instructors/grad students. When I was working on my M.S. I loved when students from the lab sections I taught volunteered even an afternoon in the field. Grad students LOVE free labor. 😍

You're still early in your undergrad, so there should be a ton of opportunities to advance and maybe even work on a project of your own later on.

 

[BobDog]

My best advice for anyone pursuing research is to find a place where you will be happy. I know this echoes the above posts, but it is absolutely essential. Find a mentor that will help you understand what you are doing. It is almost pointless to go into a lab and not understand what you are doing. You won't get much out of the experience and if you don't understand what you are doing, you are unlikely to be able to troubleshoot/improve your techniques. I am biased towards basic science/bench work, but I bet this is true no matter what type of research you do.

So, first find a lab that will take you and seems like it will provide you with guidance, but then you have to read and study up on the science you will be doing. Come in with questions about why you are doing things the one way as opposed to another. Good mentors love this. It helps them think about things, too. Even as a lowly freshman undergrad you may be able to find small problems with projects, which will help strengthen the lab. Be careful not to constantly point out problems, though.

The undergrads and 1st year grad students that have gotten good marks in my book have been: 1. Consistent - show up ready to work and with at least a rudimentary knowledge of what you are doing. 2. Friendly - don't be afraid to talk to people in the lab (when appropriate, don't bother people in the middle of experiments). 3. Helpful - step up when there is some grunt work to be done. Grad students, post-docs and most importantly faculty are very busy and are very appreciative when an undergrad steps up and takes on some of the load of keeping the lab running!

I spent alot of time as an undergrad grunt in a lab and slowly worked my way into a position where I had my own project. I loved what I did so much that I went on to do a PhD (and almost forgot about the DVM part! ), so if you really like research (which you will soon find out yes or no) then you are about to embark on a life changing experience!!

BTW, even basic science research (as long as it is original research conducted under the direction of a PhD, MD, DVM etc...) counts as vet experience hours on the vet school applications. Research is very important to the future of any health-related field and vet med is no different.