Finding Quality Research Opportunities!

[fantasticman221]

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Hi!

I'm currently an M1 student whose looking into finding summer research. I was just wondering what are some things that I should consider in finding quality research opportunities? Is any sort of research experience good, or do you have to have to get a publication out of out? How can you spot the difference between a good and a notsogood opportunity? Sorry for the questions, the only research I've done revolves around basic data collection and screening. If it's worth anything, I'm leaning toward radiology as my specialty of choice, and would like to work at an academic center and teach.

 

[hunttr16]

Hi @fantasticman221, I've done a lot of research myself and have been compiling my experience, tips, and advice in a column these past few months on SDN. Much of the info is introductory and would pertain to a lot of your questions, at least as an introduction. Give them a read (I suggest going chronologically - start with "Research Basics" which is a broad overview and then dive into each monthly column article as they are following an overall arc) and then please feel free to PM me or post here after and we can discuss further. I'm no expert, just a student mind you, but I've learned a lot of these lessons the hard way so if I can help you avoid that and jump right into success in research I'm more than happy to do that. Cheers!

Articles: You searched for trevor hunt | Student Doctor Network
Twitter: @TrevorHunt_ECU

 

[aldol16]

It depends on how competitive the specialty you want to go into is. I think radiology is up there in terms of competition, interventional radiology more so (according to the NRMP at least). The more competitive the specialty, the more important it is to have productive research. The days where pubs don't matter that much and it's all about the experience are behind you - that's the standard for pre-meds. For competitive residencies which tend to be at highly academic institutions, research productivity is going to matter. And it'll matter afterwards too, for fellowship. Your publication list follows you forever. It's easier to start earlier rather than later with being productive.

Regarding how you discern between a good and bad opportunity, you can look at the PI's publication history and see if they are with med students or mainly residents/fellows, etc. Two tips - 1) if the PI isn't the last author on the pub, it's more likely that they were simply consulted during design/writing and didn't play the primary role in the project so look for pubs on which they are in the senior authorship position and 2) if they don't have recent pubs/don't have an extensive list of past pubs/don't have med students on their pubs, then it's probably not a very high-yield opportunity. There are obviously exceptions like newly hired professors straight out of fellowship who don't have that extensive research experience but in general, the above rules apply.

But research << Step 1 score. I would spend some time over the summer consolidating your knowledge from MS1 (especially if you started organ blocks already). From everyone I've talked to, it seems like people can overlook minor things if you aced Step 1. But if you didn't do well on Step 1, it will always be an uphill battle even if you're a research superstar with tons of pubs to your name.

 

[fantasticman221]

It depends on how competitive the specialty you want to go into is. I think radiology is up there in terms of competition, interventional radiology more so (according to the NRMP at least). The more competitive the specialty, the more important it is to have productive research. The days where pubs don't matter that much and it's all about the experience are behind you - that's the standard for pre-meds. For competitive residencies which tend to be at highly academic institutions, research productivity is going to matter. And it'll matter afterwards too, for fellowship. Your publication list follows you forever. It's easier to start earlier rather than later with being productive.

Regarding how you discern between a good and bad opportunity, you can look at the PI's publication history and see if they are with med students or mainly residents/fellows, etc. Two tips - 1) if the PI isn't the last author on the pub, it's more likely that they were simply consulted during design/writing and didn't play the primary role in the project so look for pubs on which they are in the senior authorship position and 2) if they don't have recent pubs/don't have an extensive list of past pubs/don't have med students on their pubs, then it's probably not a very high-yield opportunity. There are obviously exceptions like newly hired professors straight out of fellowship who don't have that extensive research experience but in general, the above rules apply.

But research << Step 1 score. I would spend some time over the summer consolidating your knowledge from MS1 (especially if you started organ blocks already). From everyone I've talked to, it seems like people can overlook minor things if you aced Step 1. But if you didn't do well on Step 1, it will always be an uphill battle even if you're a research superstar with tons of pubs to your name.

Hi @fantasticman221, I've done a lot of research myself and have been compiling my experience, tips, and advice in a column these past few months on SDN. Much of the info is introductory and would pertain to a lot of your questions, at least as an introduction. Give them a read (I suggest going chronologically - start with "Research Basics" which is a broad overview and then dive into each monthly column article as they are following an overall arc) and then please feel free to PM me or post here after and we can discuss further. I'm no expert, just a student mind you, but I've learned a lot of these lessons the hard way so if I can help you avoid that and jump right into success in research I'm more than happy to do that. Cheers!

Articles: You searched for trevor hunt | Student Doctor Network
Twitter: @TrevorHunt_ECU

PM'ing you guys

 

[Lnsean]

A lot of research by med students are bs and fluffers. PDs know this. It's important that you have it to be on par with other students and to show initiative, but you should focus on your boards and getting honors on rotations and good letters.

 

[fantasticman221]

A lot of research by med students are bs and fluffers. PDs know this. It's important that you have it to be on par with other students and to show initiative, but you should focus on your boards and getting honors on rotations and good letters.

Even for the more competitive specialties? If so, good to know! I've been doing Lightyear/lolnotacop and been focusing on board questins since halfway last semester. Feeling like the only one in my class that does this. Hoping it pays off in the long run.

 

[RedRoses]

Regarding how you discern between a good and bad opportunity, you can look at the PI's publication history and see if they are with med students or mainly residents/fellows, etc.

Do you have an efficient method of determining this? I am currently looking through a lab's recent pubs and notice a couple publications have some BS/MS authors with the address of the affiliated medical school, but most authors are designated to be affiliated with the research department.