Good with professors? I NEED ADVICE

[tayloreve]

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Hiii SDN family!

I am meeting with a professor Wednesday to talk to him about possibly joining on to his undergrad research team dealing with certain TMJ disorders. This is suchhhhh a hugeee deal to me, I've been wanting to do undergrad research since starting college (just didn't know where to begin). It's also a HUGE bonus to me that it's actually dental related! SCORE!!!! So excited/nervous/don't know what to think. I obviously have to make a really good impression on him because he already has 4 other undergrads working for him and I think he might be iffy letting me join on too. I know this might be silly, but I'm super nervous about going to talk to him. LOL.

Just wanted to reach out and see if anyone has any advice. I've never had this professor before, so he doesn't know anything about me or that I'm a hard-worker...should I print out my transcript? Or is this silly? I don't want him to think I'm a slacker, but that I can actually contribute to his research if he lets me on.

Have any of you been in a similar situation? What did you say to your professor if you ever asked them if you wanted to do some research for them? I'm going to be bummed if I make the wrong impression and he says no. Lol. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks guys!!!!😀

 

[Khal87]

Taylor,
Taking the transcript might be a good idea especially that he does not know much about you!
Share your interests with him, tell him what your plan is considering dental school READ ABOUT HIS RESEARCH and ask him cool questions about his research. For example, "I read your paper about TMJ.... and I thought it is was interesting that you used this procedure? Is there any reason that you decided to do that", that might have not been the best example, but I am sure u got my point 😉
Good luck and let us know how it goes
Khal

 

[Sapientiae]

Taylor,
Taking the transcript might be a good idea especially that he does not know much about you!
Share your interests with him, tell him what your plan is considering dental school READ ABOUT HIS RESEARCH and ask him cool questions about his research. For example, "I read your paper about TMJ.... and I thought it is was interesting that you used this procedure? Is there any reason that you decided to do that", that might have not been the best example, but I am sure u got my point 😉
Good luck and let us know how it goes
Khal

+1

Also, did he specify whether he wanted/cared about bringing someone on without experience? Often times it doesn't matter, that's the beauty of undergraduate research- it's where you get your start! Don't be afraid to be picky either- ornery stubborn P.I.'s are not enjoyable to work for 🙂

Just relax and be yourself. Be sure and update us on how it goes. TMJ research would be sweet!

 

[kaDa]

Hiii SDN family!

I am meeting with a professor Wednesday to talk to him about possibly joining on to his undergrad research team dealing with certain TMJ disorders. This is suchhhhh a hugeee deal to me, I've been wanting to do undergrad research since starting college (just didn't know where to begin). It's also a HUGE bonus to me that it's actually dental related! SCORE!!!! So excited/nervous/don't know what to think. I obviously have to make a really good impression on him because he already has 4 other undergrads working for him and I think he might be iffy letting me join on too. I know this might be silly, but I'm super nervous about going to talk to him. LOL.

Tell him/her this...they won't be expecting a lot of knowledge, just motivation. Try reviewing some of the recent papers they've put out and bring them along...ask questions. It's like interviewing for a job...usually a face-to-face means you have the qualifications to do it, it's just going to be a personality/vibe screening to make sure you're comfortable talking about the research (or what you don't know about it 😉) and working with others to run procedures or write up stuff. Relax and be yourself 🙂.

 

[DentalJedi]

You should also make it clear you're willing to do anything he needs. Most of the time when you start out you're mostly helping someone else, not that glamorous. If he knows you're willing to do grunt work at first it will show that a) you aren't going to complain and b) you really want to work with him