Finding an entry into research

[commonwealth ki]

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I would like to do research in the M1-M2 summer break.

As a liberal arts major, I have little experience in biomedical research. Moreover, my interests are relatively broad at this moment (surgery, oncology, psychiatry, et al). I think the only thing I could feasibly do at this point would be chart / translational research.

How does one in this position go about finding a research topic? Do I approach a faculty member with an idea or quite directly ask for a project?

Being that I am relatively open minded in terms of specialty at present, should I pick a topic or proposal with broad relevance?

Any input would be kindly appreciated.

 

[njbmd]

Most medical schools will have a Dean of Research that will be your point source of information. If not, then check with some of the pre-clinical science professors. If you are looking to join a project in progress, check the NIH webpage. Every person who has an RO1 grant (or an R29 grant) will be listed by location. Find your medical school/location and make contact.

If you are just entering medical school, it's a little early to be trying to pick a research project based on perceived residency interest. Most people enter medical school with an interest in the lifestyle and surgical specialties only to find out they they are not going to be entering these specialties due to grades or lose interest after doing a clinical rotation. Residency program directors do not expect that you will have completed research in the a specific field in order to enter their programs, They are primarily looking at your academics/Board scores which again, may or may not be competitive based on the specialty that you are applying to. If your are not competitive, no amount of research is going to make you competitive.

From the nature of your question, it sounds like you need to approach your faculty adviser and seek some basic information. That's a good starting point too.

 

[wryandwatchful]

Get to know the faculty, especially the lecturers. Ask about what kind of projects they have going on and see if it catches your interest. Make some contacts through emails and even drop by labs to meet professors and see what they have going on. Do some shadowing if they are MDs. Through the first year, you'll start to figure out what you like, or at the very least, what you don't like. Then you can approach one or two of your contacts with a project or question in mind that you would want to tackle. They'll think it's cool that you're already synthesizing questions and will more likely take you in for the summer.

I don't think there is really such a thing as "broad" research, so my advice would be to meet lots of researchers and develop your interests through the first year, and then hone in on the mentors you wouldn't mind working for.

 

[commonwealth ki]

I comprehend the primacy of grades and board scores.

I've heard, maybe incorrectly, that residency programs only value research within their domain. To what degree is this true and how should it influence my plans?

The Match Report lists the mean number of research contacts of successful applicants. I understand this data can be skewed by individuals who have done extensive research balanced by those who have done none. Would anyone care to guesstimate what % of successful applicants to more competitive specialties do research? Moreover, what specialties generally de facto require research?

 

[DrJosephKim]

Do you currently have an area of strong focus? Also, I'm not sure that the M1-M2 period is the best time for research.

 

[dude1344]

Also, I'm not sure that the M1-M2 period is the best time for research.

Can you elaborate on this?

 

[Doublecortin]

Do you currently have an area of strong focus? Also, I'm not sure that the M1-M2 period is the best time for research.

I think that's the absolute best time to do research. Towards the middle/end of second year you'll be stressing over the boards so definitely no research there. And when you start your clinical rotations in the 3d year, forget about it, you'll be 10-12 hrs at the hospital, getting paged in the middle of the night. And towards the end of 3d year, it's probably too late to be starting something as you probably have to start putting your residency application together. So I think the first 2 years are the best time to accomplish something meaningful and establish strong relations with faculty in the department of your interest

 

[turkeyjerky]

Can you elaborate on this?

From what I've been told, a research rotation during late third year is probably the best for meaningful clinical research.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I got a fantastic research gig this past summer just by sending out an e-mail. I had already made the connection, but it wasn't like we were best buddies or anything. Not only did I get some great research done, but it looks like I'm going to get my name on it too. And it wasn't even at my school. It was at another one in the area.

 

[Peter Benders]

getting into medical research is a very good idea. we need new researchers in the field of medicine. hope you will have a good future

 

[kevster2001]

Do you currently have an area of strong focus? Also, I'm not sure that the M1-M2 period is the best time for research.

Unless people are willing to take time off, I can't imagine a better time than between M1-M2.

My school has a research program that provides funding. I contacted a MD that sponsored a project the year before and set up a project before the application even came out. I ended up applying for another source of funding that was NIH sponsored and actually gave me more money.

Talk to the academic dean or student affairs dean, someone can point you in the right direction.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

I would like to do research in the M1-M2 summer break.

As a liberal arts major, I have little experience in biomedical research. Moreover, my interests are relatively broad at this moment (surgery, oncology, psychiatry, et al). I think the only thing I could feasibly do at this point would be chart / translational research.

How does one in this position go about finding a research topic? Do I approach a faculty member with an idea or quite directly ask for a project?

Being that I am relatively open minded in terms of specialty at present, should I pick a topic or proposal with broad relevance?

Any input would be kindly appreciated.

1. Google "How to write a good resume"
2. Make one yourself and tailor what fits you. If you have absolutely nothing, puff it up with "experienced in MS Office, word, excel, and other vague skills" lol.
3. Walk around Campus.
4. If you see advertisements on bulletin boards for research, pull the tab that includes the contact info.
5. Talk to the department office
6. Google the department website, most have the link "research"
7. Stop professors when you see them.
8. Submit resume.


Its amazing what 30 seconds of critical thinking by yourself, doing some simple internet Googling, walking around campus, jotting down some info, and talking to people can get you amazing results. Amazing huh? If your chances of getting research = probability per application * number of applications. And if your probability per application is low because you lack experience, what is the logical thing to do? Boost your number of applications! Its simple probability here.