Going about finding research

[hyrule]

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Hi, these might seem like basic questions, but I'm kind of clueless. I did research in undergrad, and just joined a lab and was unpaid.

How should I approach research in medical school (clinical)? I don't really know what I'm interested in... wide range: optho, radiology, cardiology. This summer, I plan to do research, and I'm supposed to pick one of these fields.

Also, I don't get the whole stipend/summer funding thing. Do you first just approach a doctor whose research you're interested in, join it, and THEN apply? Is funding pretty much guaranteed for medical students? How do you apply... I'm totally clueless. I am normally directed to outside websites/organizations that have nothing to do with my university. I'd think that the school itself would fund students?

 

[WellWornLad]

Clinical research is easy. Decide on what you want to do research in, then e-mail someone in that department who seems to be doing research (has recent publications). They'll either tell you to $%#& off or forward your e-mail to someone who could use your help. It helps if you read up on the subject beforehand - review articles, papers from the lab you're interested in, etc.

If you want to be funded for the summer, either your school has money for that purpose or it doesn't. SDN can't figure that out for you. Talk to your local friendly student affairs office/dean/etc. Some labs/researchers have money they might be able to spare to fund you, but again, SDN can't tell you that, you have to ask those people yourself.

 

[gaccboom]

Basic science research frequently can be the same way - just find someone whose work you're interested in and ask them how to get started. Most basic science departments have faculty listings where the faculty describe the focus of their own research (some clinical research groups may have this, too).

If you know a general field you want to do research in, see if there's a faculty member that you feel comfortable talking to/emailing to get some advice about who might want some medical student help with a project. Maybe there's someone who even just gave a lecture to your class that could contact?

Be bold!

 

[ZagDoc]

Clinical research is easy. Decide on what you want to do research in, then e-mail someone in that department who seems to be doing research (has recent publications). They'll either tell you to $%#& off or forward your e-mail to someone who could use your help. It helps if you read up on the subject beforehand - review articles, papers from the lab you're interested in, etc.

If you want to be funded for the summer, either your school has money for that purpose or it doesn't. SDN can't figure that out for you. Talk to your local friendly student affairs office/dean/etc. Some labs/researchers have money they might be able to spare to fund you, but again, SDN can't tell you that, you have to ask those people yourself.

Agreed. This was how I approached it. I just "cold-emailed" an attending I knew in the department and told him I was interested in getting invoved in some research. We set up a meeting, he outlined some of the things he had going or on the backburner, and also offered to set me up with meetings with other physicians in the department doing research if I was interested.

The most important thing is creating a first point of contact. For some, that's an attending in the department. Some schools have a person in the dean's office who knows the research ropes and can set you up. Plus keep your eyes out for flyers around campus, emails, etc. You'll find that once you get that first point of contact and commit to doing "some" research, there's a lot of wiggle room in what you end up doing.