Animal Research (Psychology)

[The Deep]

It's my first time posting on this forum so forgive me if I accidentally violate a rule.

I am a Sophomore pre-med student and I was interested in doing aquatic animal research (sensory perception when introduced to various stimuli). The available description for the lab I got an offer from says "We use a variety of techniques to probe the relationship between nervous system structure and sensory function, ranging from studies of peripheral sensory structures and the organization of sensory processing in the brain, to behavioral and physiological studies of sensory abilities." I'm going to assume it isn't a regular wet lab. In the case that it isn't a wet lab, will medical school admissions hold it against me that I didn't do wet lab research? I'm also not sure on how to connect animal nervous systems to anything a doctor would do. Any thoughts?

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[crazymedguy123]

Honestly as long as your research uses the scientific method you are fine

 

[Goro]

It's my first time posting on this forum so forgive me if I accidentally violate a rule.

I am a Sophomore pre-med student and I was interested in doing aquatic animal research (sensory perception when introduced to various stimuli). The available description for the lab I got an offer from says "We use a variety of techniques to probe the relationship between nervous system structure and sensory function, ranging from studies of peripheral sensory structures and the organization of sensory processing in the brain, to behavioral and physiological studies of sensory abilities." I'm going to assume it isn't a regular wet lab. In the case that it isn't a wet lab, will medical school admissions hold it against me that I didn't do wet lab research? I'm also not sure on how to connect animal nervous systems to anything a doctor would do. Any thoughts?

Anything that teaches you about the Scientific Process is fine, even if it means studying clams in Tahiti.

 

[The Deep]

Thank you so much for your advice! I was also just offered a Lab Volunteer position at a Cancer lab. In this case, would It be wiser to choose the Cancer lab or should I stuck with the one I’m slightly more interested in?

 

[LizzyM]

Thank you so much for your advice! I was also just offered a Lab Volunteer position at a Cancer lab. In this case, would It be wiser to choose the Cancer lab or should I stuck with the one I’m slightly more interested in?

Go with the lab that you find more interesting. Research is a long slog and doing what captures your interest makes it bearable.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm also not sure on how to connect animal nervous systems to anything a doctor would do.

As you educate yourself on the topic and read background papers, you'll find out.

 

[The Deep]

Just to add on one more thing: The animal research is at my current school (a state school), while the cancer research is part of Cornell’s Belfer Research building. If I’m aiming for Cornell for medical school, will they prefer me having done research at one of their facilities? I’m just trying to weigh in all of the factors before committing to a lab for 2-3 years. Thanks again!

 

[Hawkenthesky]

Just to add on one more thing: The animal research is at my current school (a state school), while the cancer research is part of Cornell’s Belfer Research building. If I’m aiming for Cornell for medical school, will they prefer me having done research at one of their facilities? I’m just trying to weigh in all of the factors before committing to a lab for 2-3 years. Thanks again!

I 100% think you should do the research you’re more interested in! The only benefit that I can think of for specifically working at Cornell versus your home institution is that when you eventually apply, an adcom member might give slightly (slightly!) more weight to the letter of rec from your research mentor, but only in the case that they specifically know your mentor and particularly trust their judgement. Weill Cornell is a big institution and chances are that members of the adcom won’t even know your research mentor personally, so it may not make much of a difference at all.

I def think just go with what you’re more interested in! You’ll be able to speak about it more passionately in future interviews and it will be more rewarding to you personally. That being said, I would also take into account which research option has a better chance of giving you a more long-term/in depth experience. If the research at your school is with a prof who’s going on sabbatical next year, while the research at Cornell has the opportunity to turn into a summer research project or may be continued into next year, then that may be the better option (and vice versa, if the aquatic animal research has a better chance of being a long term opportunity, go with that).

(Sorry this response is so long-winded, I’m on my phone and too lazy to try and edit it down)

 

[The Deep]

I 100% think you should do the research you’re more interested in! The only benefit that I can think of for specifically working at Cornell versus your home institution is that when you eventually apply, an adcom member might give slightly (slightly!) more weight to the letter of rec from your research mentor, but only in the case that they specifically know your mentor and particularly trust their judgement. Weill Cornell is a big institution and chances are that members of the adcom won’t even know your research mentor personally, so it may not make much of a difference at all.

I def think just go with what you’re more interested in! You’ll be able to speak about it more passionately in future interviews and it will be more rewarding to you personally. That being said, I would also take into account which research option has a better chance of giving you a more long-term/in depth experience. If the research at your school is with a prof who’s going on sabbatical next year, while the research at Cornell has the opportunity to turn into a summer research project or may be continued into next year, then that may be the better option (and vice versa, if the aquatic animal research has a better chance of being a long term opportunity, go with that).

(Sorry this response is so long-winded, I’m on my phone and too lazy to try and edit it down)

No, thank you, I really appreciate the long reply! I will try to ask about the potential for poster presentations at conferences, eventual publications, intensive summer research opportunities, and the like. I’ll try to figure out how to word It correctly so they don’t become hostile toward my goals (if they prefer someone to not ask about publications so early on).

 

[Hawkenthesky]

No, thank you, I really appreciate the long reply! I will try to ask about the potential for poster presentations at conferences, eventual publications, intensive summer research opportunities, and the like. I’ll try to figure out how to word It correctly so they don’t become hostile toward my goals (if they prefer someone to not ask about publications so early on).

I think asking about the likelihood or possibility of having opportunities to present your work and be involved in publications is definitely reasonable. All PIs know that undergrads working in their labs are at the beginning of their research training, and good mentors should be encouraging of you to take advantage of opportunities to further your training and gain more experience. If you phrase it like “I’m really interested in your work, and I’m really interested in gaining meaningful research experience and I’d love to have the opportunity to attend or present at conferences, is that something undergrads are typically able to or encouraged to do in your lab?”, they shouldn’t be hostile toward that.

Edit: if they are hostile toward that, then it might be a sign that the lab is not a good fit! Having a mentor who is supportive of your goals is honestly more important than the research itself, especially at the undergrad level. I think working with a big name PI who never directly interacts with you and to whom you are simply cheap labor is much less beneficial than working in a small lab with an attentive PI (or post doc) who wants you to succeed and works with you to really hone your skills, particularly if you’re just getting started in research. This is all just my personal opinion but I’ve worked in both kinds of labs during and since undergrad and most of my more “impressive” accolades (presentations and pubs) have come from the latter!

Edit again: wow sorry again for the insanely long, word-vomitty response but hopefully my insight is useful!