Difficulty joining a lab in medical school because you were a nonscience major?

[Evergrey]

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Hey guys,

I am starting medical school next fall, and in the meantime I've been looking into how I can get involved with research in med school.

I was a humanities major in undergrad, so I have a (comparatively) poor science background. However since I began taking science classes I've realized I am very interested in research that involves benchwork with direct clinical application. I'm especially interested in gene therapy/stem cell therapy research. I was really intrigued by MD/PhD and MD/MS programs but didn't really have the background to apply to them -- I might still go for a MS later on, but I want to focus on getting involve with research in med school before I move forward with something like that.

I'm worried though that I will have trouble starting research in the type of lab I'm interested in due to my nonscience background. I have basically NO exposure to cellular or molecular lab techniques -- the extent of my knowledge is a basic familiarity with things like gel electrophoresis and PCR. Although I'd like to take a lab course during the next few months to get some more technical knowledge, that doesn't seem like an option due to the course offerings of nearby universities.

Have you guys had success getting involved with research despite not having much experience? Or am I screwed?

 

[sunset823]

Hey guys,

I'm worried though that I will have trouble starting research in the type of lab I'm interested in due to my nonscience background. I have basically NO exposure to cellular or molecular lab techniques -- the extent of my knowledge is a basic familiarity with things like gel electrophoresis and PCR. Although I'd like to take a lab course during the next few months to get some more technical knowledge, that doesn't seem like an option due to the course offerings of nearby universities.

Have you guys had success getting involved with research despite not having much experience? Or am I screwed?

Everyone has to start somewhere, so you should be fine. I'm an M2 who was a non-science major who has still never done a day of bench research in my life (I have a lot of research under my belt, but it's all been in the social science, clinical end of things). I think that it would be a good idea to find something in your undergrad institution and just get involved with a project, even if it is only for a few months, because although many lab research projects in med school don't require previous research experience, I'm assuming they believe you have a certain level of lab experience from having been a biological science major of some sort. Then target faculty who are doing things in the areas you're interested in early on in med school (aka first semester). You won't ever have as much time as you do first year, trust me.

 

[Evergrey]

Thanks! I don't think it's possible for me to work/volunteer in a research lab.. I went to school far away from where I live now and the closest universities to me are big public schools. I applied to 40-50 research jobs at the medical school here, and even though I now hold an acceptance for the school, I got rejected from all of the research positions. Maybe it would make a difference if I were trying to volunteer and told them I had already been accepted there.

I also just found out that there's a cell/molecular bio lab course that I can take, I don't meet the prereqs for it but I'm gonna see if I can take it anyway. The consensus then is that I really should know those lab techniques before searching for a lab in med school? Tuition is expensive and my job does not pay very well..

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

You are not screwed. My school has plenty of students who majored in the Humanities and participate in various types of projects. Just make sure your PI understands this and is a good enough PI to help guide and support you in the beginning.

On the other end of the spectrum, I was a hardcore science major, love the basic sciences and still sucked at research.

As for learning techniques, it is all protocol! Don't worry. You'll get a step by step list of what you need to do when running gels, PCRs, assays etc.

 

[GoodmanBrown]

You are not screwed. My school has plenty of students who majored in the Humanities and participate in various types of projects. Just make sure your PI understands this and is a good enough PI to help guide and support you in the beginning.

On the other end of the spectrum, I was a hardcore science major, love the basic sciences and still sucked at research.

As for learning techniques, it is all protocol! Don't worry. You'll get a step by step list of what you need to do when running gels, PCRs, assays etc.

+1

Jobs are one thing, but unless your school is vastly different than mine, they welcome all stripes of med students in. No one in my school is having trouble finding research if they want it. Just wait until school starts and then start asking around.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Let me also stress that my school is notorious for letting in humanities major and have a program that is specifically for humanities major and bans them from taking the MCAT or upper level bio and chem courses. There are plenty of students who got in through the program that found an interest in research and are currently pursuing it via a year off.

 

[ar2388]

Let me also stress that my school is notorious for letting in humanities major and have a program that is specifically for humanities major and bans them from taking the MCAT or upper level bio and chem courses. There are plenty of students who got in through the program that found an interest in research and are currently pursuing it via a year off.

hmm.. mssm?

 

[sunset823]

Thanks! I don't think it's possible for me to work/volunteer in a research lab.. I went to school far away from where I live now and the closest universities to me are big public schools. I applied to 40-50 research jobs at the medical school here, and even though I now hold an acceptance for the school, I got rejected from all of the research positions. Maybe it would make a difference if I were trying to volunteer and told them I had already been accepted there.

I also just found out that there's a cell/molecular bio lab course that I can take, I don't meet the prereqs for it but I'm gonna see if I can take it anyway. The consensus then is that I really should know those lab techniques before searching for a lab in med school? Tuition is expensive and my job does not pay very well..

I think if you ask to be a volunteer at whatever research labs are available in the large public university near you, they will take you on. Yes, paid jobs are harder to get if you don't have bench experience, but they'll always need volunteer lab rats.

I wouldn't worry about taking the cell/molecular bio course, waste of time and money, you really don't need it once you start school.

 

[gravitywave]

Thanks! I don't think it's possible for me to work/volunteer in a research lab.. I went to school far away from where I live now and the closest universities to me are big public schools. I applied to 40-50 research jobs at the medical school here, and even though I now hold an acceptance for the school, I got rejected from all of the research positions. Maybe it would make a difference if I were trying to volunteer and told them I had already been accepted there.

I also just found out that there's a cell/molecular bio lab course that I can take, I don't meet the prereqs for it but I'm gonna see if I can take it anyway. The consensus then is that I really should know those lab techniques before searching for a lab in med school? Tuition is expensive and my job does not pay very well..

huge difference. no one wants you if you're about to go M1 and quit on them in a few months anyway. if you plan to volunteer, you should have no trouble. skip the mol bio course.

and honestly, just put the brakes on and enjoy life from now till July. there's plenty of time for research later. half the faculty here tell us that pursuing research first year is a waste of time, the other half are telling us to apply for summer fellowships 🙄 but the universal is that no one gives a **** what your pre-med background was, it's a very level playing field.

 

[Evergrey]

Thanks guys, that was really encouraging and helpful. I looked into doing volunteer research at the local public research university and my chances seem good. I'm not sure what I'll follow through on, but it's nice to know that I will be able to do the kind of research I want when I get to med school. And maybe it would be nice to take it easy 🙂 If I work extra I might be able to afford to travel the month before school starts!

 

[geogil]

It's not really an issue what your undergrad major was. I was a history and french major in undergrad. I worked in a lab between Ms1 and Ms2 doing wet bench research. I didn't take any upper level labs in college beyond the required organic lab and microbiology lab. As long as you have common sense, you will be able to perform the protocols you need to. ASK your lab mates or PI questions if you don't understand why or how to do something.