help plz! need research year advice

[ANosyGuy]

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Hello everyone,

I'm taking a year off after M3 to do basic science research at a renowned academic center for multiple reasons (interest in academia, make self more competitive, waiting a year to couple match with SO, burned out). I am interested in general surgery.

It comes down to 2 labs.
1) ran by surgeon, associate professor at med school, chief of his service, but his lab is small with only 3 members and basically one big project that will most likely not finish by end of year.
2) ran by med onc, assistant prof, large lab, multiple projects going, good pub record. again no guarantee to pub but more freedom/choice in projects=high chance of pub/multiple pubs

Both labs do great research that I am interested in and both PIs are great people that are willing to mentor me for the year.

I figured the LOR will carry much higher weight coming from the surgeon, but should I be focusing on the research and pub aspect?

Thanks everyone in advanced

 

[eteshoe]

As biased as I am for med onc, it might be in your best (professional) interest to go with the surgeon since you're trying to go into surgery. Would you be able to get a poster presentation out of your research efforts? Though with the level competition for surgery I'm not absolutely sure which path would be the most high yield.

 

[ANosyGuy]

thx for the reply eteshoe, I'm sure ill be able to at least get a poster, and hopefully some clinical projects as well

 

[TBV]

Pubs are key med/onc and try to get involved in as many projects as you can handle