Advice on Research Year

[jbeastly123]

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I'm just finishing up my M3 year and I'm heavily considering a research year, but it seems I've made the decision a little last minute. Any advice on how to proceed in terms of finding research, grants, mentors, etc. I've read finding a proper research fellowship is the way to go for CV reasons, but it seems I'm about 6 months late for the applications for any that I have found. My current plan involves cold-calling the few attendings I know do research and academic institutes in the region, but I'm wondering if there is any hope for me doing something more official? Thanks in advance!

 

[Qwerty122]

What specialty are you looking to do a research year in?

 

[jbeastly123]

What specialty are you looking to do a research year in?

I'm really interested in anesthesia, artificial intelligence in medicine, CF, and T1DM, but I'm open to many fields!

 

[brownman23]

I'm really interested in anesthesia, artificial intelligence in medicine, CF, and T1DM, but I'm open to many fields!

Neither IM nor anesthesia require research years, unless you have low stats and will only be happy at an upper-tier academic program.

I’d recommend reaching to your school’s dean and discuss what your goals are.

 

[jbeastly123]

Neither IM nor anesthesia require research years, unless you have low stats and will only be happy at an upper-tier academic program.

I’d recommend reaching to your school’s dean and discuss what your goals are.

I know it's not required, but I'm only 23 and I've only done school my whole life, and I want a chance to do some research and volunteering work in my community before the rest of my life. It isn't conventional, but I need the time to grow.

 

[FalconSlice]

I know it's not required, but I'm only 23 and I've only done school my whole life, and I want a chance to do some research and volunteering work in my community before the rest of my life. It isn't conventional, but I need the time to grow.

Honestly, I think this is the reason that med students should have to do research... out of genuine interest, curiosity, etc. Alas, in the world we live in it's improperly used as a surrogate for "competitiveness" and "commitment" to a highly competitive feed which is beyond idiotic (sigh).

But you should narrow down 1-2 things you're really interested in (along with clinical stuff or basic science, for example), find a good mentor (i.e. with funding, good person, strong track-record of mentoring others, etc.), and have fun

 

[Qwerty122]

@jbeastly123 Hmm, can't really help you with anesthesia. But if you wanna do AI research, maybe you can look into this? Unsure about the due date for admission consideration though. AI in Medicine for Medical Trainees - Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering. Though this might be too structured for your liking. If that's the case, I would say go on twitter and reach out to people in the field of AI and anesthesia who has done interesting work. Twitter surprisingly was very helpful for me to find research mentors and projects.

 

[Banco]

I think even if you did it "unofficial" (i.e. did a leave of absence and did research for 1 year without a proper program in place), it's totally fine - I knew a couple of people who decided late on research years and simply did it that way and they had nothing but positive responses during residency interviews. You just need to figure out your financial situation.


I'd suggest looking at the websites of academic medical centers you're interested in and reaching out to potential PIs in the fields you're interested in. Make sure they are productive and you can come out with some posters/pubs.