Evaluating the quality of a research opportunity

[numbersloth]

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Basically, I interviewed for a research opportunity which is using sensors and wearables to track participants. At the end of the study the lab will do an analysis. I was excited about interviewing for a position in this lab, but when they talked about my role, they said it would mostly be recruiting subjects, gathering their sensor data, and running info sessions.

I want to get a quality research experience where I actually learn about how to do biomedical research. This opportunity doesn't really sound like something that would fulfill that. Am I over-reacting? Thoughts?

 

[wanderingorion]

Basically, I interviewed for a research opportunity which is using sensors and wearables to track participants. At the end of the study the lab will do an analysis. I was excited about interviewing for a position in this lab, but when they talked about my role, they said it would mostly be recruiting subjects, gathering their sensor data, and running info sessions.

I want to get a quality research experience where I actually learn about how to do biomedical research. This opportunity doesn't really sound like something that would fulfill that. Am I over-reacting? Thoughts?

We all gotta start somewhere.
What aspects of biomedical research are you interested in?

 

[aldol16]

This sounds a lot like any clinical research position - especially those at your level. Perhaps you enjoy basic research more?

 

[numbersloth]

This sounds a lot like any clinical research position - especially those at your level. Perhaps you enjoy basic research more?

I guess I'm just worried that I won't actually get the experience of the scientific method through this position. From my understanding, medical schools look for research so that we understand the scientific inquiry that drives medicine, even if that research isn't medically related. So I'm worried that I (a) won't really enjoy this position on an intellectual level and (b) won't get much out of it either.

 

[Goro]

Med schools want you to understand something about the scientific method. Period. We're not looking for grad students.

Basically, I interviewed for a research opportunity which is using sensors and wearables to track participants. At the end of the study the lab will do an analysis. I was excited about interviewing for a position in this lab, but when they talked about my role, they said it would mostly be recruiting subjects, gathering their sensor data, and running info sessions.

I want to get a quality research experience where I actually learn about how to do biomedical research. This opportunity doesn't really sound like something that would fulfill that. Am I over-reacting? Thoughts?

 

[aldol16]

I guess I'm just worried that I won't actually get the experience of the scientific method through this position. From my understanding, medical schools look for research so that we understand the scientific inquiry that drives medicine, even if that research isn't medically related. So I'm worried that I (a) won't really enjoy this position on an intellectual level and (b) won't get much out of it either.

If you don't do your homework on your projects, then you won't learn much about science at all from any project. It doesn't matter if it's clinical or not. You need to read up on the study you're helping carry out, what the literature is on the topic, what discrepancy in the literature the project is trying to address, and how it does so. That's science. People spend hours upon hours in lab and at the end of it, all they can say is that they washed glassware, prepared cultures, and autoclaved stuff. That's not science - they simply have not taken the initiative to understand the science they are a part of.

 

[BombsAway]

Med schools want you to understand something about the scientific method. Period. We're not looking for grad students.

The 2 bio labs, 2 physics labs, 2 ochem labs, and 1 biochem lab don't do the trick? Wish i coulda spent that time with 7 chocolate labs instead...

 

[ifnotnowwren]

I guess I'm just worried that I won't actually get the experience of the scientific method through this position. From my understanding, medical schools look for research so that we understand the scientific inquiry that drives medicine, even if that research isn't medically related. So I'm worried that I (a) won't really enjoy this position on an intellectual level and (b) won't get much out of it either.

I think you are expected to understand the realities of research. Scientific inquiry, yes. But also...how long it takes, how political it is, how much it costs, standards for data, standards for publication, standards for evidence, burden of proof, methodologies, and technologies. Some of this will be helpful for interpreting studies as an MD, some of this will be helpful just in understanding the field and how it works, why it takes the amount of time and money it does, why we have large bodies of research in some things and not others, etc which is also necessary.

Find work that interests you but also don't expect to have a huge, cool role right off the bat as an undergrad.

 

[Goro]

No, not at all. trying to isolate silver from a dime in Inorganic Chemistry lab is NOT the same as you working an a hypothesis and testing it.

The wise DrMidlife on research: “you've preferably had some exposure to research so you can be convinced that Wakefield used malicious dirtbag methods and is not the savior of the world's children.”

The 2 bio labs, 2 physics labs, 2 ochem labs, and 1 biochem lab don't do the trick? Wish i coulda spent that time with 7 chocolate labs instead...

 

[BombsAway]

The wise DrMidlife on research: “you've preferably had some exposure to research so you can be convinced that Wakefield used malicious dirtbag methods and is not the savior of the world's children.”

we covered that pretty well in our psych classes... and ethics... and research methods.

No, not at all. trying to isolate silver from a dime in Inorganic Chemistry lab is NOT the same as you working an a hypothesis and testing it.

The "research" opportunities at my uni are analogous to a professor handing you some crayons to scribble with, and some brushes to clean while they work on Starry Night. I'm sure I got more hypothesis/scientific method value from diagnosing and fixing my recent roof leak. Disarming IEDs felt more investigative/scientific than washing glassware, but i digress. This admissions game has its rules, and its safest to play by them. Found a clinical research gig with humans I start next week, thank god.

To ameliorate any ruffled feathers: if you're reading this, my opinions are not directed at you Your university is better than mine, your professors are smarter, your research has been incredibly meaningful, and you are altogether very impressive and good looking.