How did you guys get research experience

[Pocket35]

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Right now I’m in a lab that I’m starting to hate (all field work) so I’m looking to get involved in another lab.

My PI now is really young and laid back so all I had to do was email him and I was on the team. The other professor that I want to work with isn’t really like that. I emailed them and didn’t get a response. I’m going back and forth between sending another email and showing up to their office to ask them about their research. My concern is that I’ve never met this professor before and I don’t know if it would be rude or presumptuous to just show up unannounced and ask for a research position. On the other hand, I know that professors get dozens of emails from undergrads looking for research experience and this would be a way to stand out.

On another note: I’ve been in my current lab for about 1.5 years & 80 hours (2.5 years and x hours by the time I apply) and if I get into a new lab within the next month (ha) then that will be less than a year by the time of application and x hours. Is this a red flag or am I overthinking all of this?

 

[The Re-Animator]

I emailed them and didn’t get a response. I’m going back and forth between sending another email and showing up to their office to ask them about their research.

I would make an appointment to meet with them through their department if possible. This goes beyond just sending an email but also isn't as unpredictable as showing up unannounced.

On another note: I’ve been in my current lab for about 1.5 years & 80 hours (2.5 years and x hours by the time I apply) and if I get into a new lab within the next month (ha) then that will be less than a year by the time of application and x hours. Is this a red flag or am I overthinking all of this?

Most PIs want at least a year long commitment, so if you can continue to work with them during completing applications, there may not be a choice otherwise, depending on the PI. I would definitely keep that in mind when looking for a position.

 

[Pocket35]

I would make an appointment to meet with them through their department if possible. This goes beyond just sending an email but also isn't as unpredictable as showing up unannounced.




Most PIs want at least a year long commitment, so if you can continue to work with them during completing applications, there may not be a choice otherwise, depending on the PI. I would definitely keep that in mind when looking for a position.

Thanks, unfortunately I’m not able to make appointments with professors. Would emailing them asking to meet with them be good, or is that pretty much the same as another generic email?

 

[The Re-Animator]

Thanks, unfortunately I’m not able to make appointments with professors. Would emailing them asking to meet with them be good, or is that pretty much the same as another generic email?

If it has been a week-ish since you sent your last email, I would send another, short, follow-up email along the lines of "Hey, sent an email, just wanted to make sure that you received it, I'd love to meet with you on one of the following days" and give a list of 4-5 days w/ times you can meet.

 

[Medic741]

Did a biostat course, then some higher level stats. Got comfortable with them. Then offered those skills to PI’s and had more opportunities than I knew what to do with.

Tell them specifically “I have x hours per week that I’m looking to dedicate to research and I have a,b,c skills. I’m really interested in your work on G,h,I; are there any opportunities that might be a good fit for your lab?”

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

You need to be more specific why you want to do research in that particular lab and any relevant experience or course work. My son was able to get 2 offers from a near by UC as a HS junior after winning a state gold medal in a Science Olympiad event and targeting labs that are relevant. He was interviewed and offered. Prior to that he got zero responses to generic "I want to do research" emails. In college also he got good gig even before starting classes as freshman again due to targeted approach. GL!

 

[Future_Bone_Docta]

Right now I’m in a lab that I’m starting to hate (all field work) so I’m looking to get involved in another lab.

My PI now is really young and laid back so all I had to do was email him and I was on the team. The other professor that I want to work with isn’t really like that. I emailed them and didn’t get a response. I’m going back and forth between sending another email and showing up to their office to ask them about their research. My concern is that I’ve never met this professor before and I don’t know if it would be rude or presumptuous to just show up unannounced and ask for a research position. On the other hand, I know that professors get dozens of emails from undergrads looking for research experience and this would be a way to stand out.

On another note: I’ve been in my current lab for about 1.5 years & 80 hours (2.5 years and x hours by the time I apply) and if I get into a new lab within the next month (ha) then that will be less than a year by the time of application and x hours. Is this a red flag or am I overthinking all of this?

Largely University dependent. I go to a SUNY undergrad institute that is not very "premed oriented". I have 300 hours of research in an Anatomy lab (two poster presentations), and 300 hours research in a Biomechanics lab (one poster presentation). For me all it took was a quick email to each professor and they happily took me into their lab.

I have friends who go to a more prominent SUNY that is MUCH more premed oriented. They had to jump through hoops to get research opportunities.

As the wise Wayne Gretzky once said. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Resilience is an admirable trait, just go to his office and shoot your shot and see what happens. Worse he can say is he is not taking any students at the moment.

 

[Schadret]

As the wise Wayne Gretzky once said. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Resilience is an admirable trait, just go to his office and shoot your shot and see what happens. Worse he can say is he is not taking any students at the moment.

Lol I hate that quote.. you can't "miss" a shot that you didn't take.

On the topic at hand - echoing the earlier advice - my daughter didn't get any responses to generic "I want to do research do you have room in your lab" type emails, but as soon as she got a little more specific mentioning the type of research and why it interested her, she got responses. Could be the profs just want to see you cared enough to read their research interest web pages.

 

[keolu hills]

Years ago, I have found that if one has completed a lot of coursework in the sciences, some labs will just take you even if it is a generic request. The PI's weren't interested in whether or not one took physics (not physics labs), but at least courses such as orgo, general chem, cell and molec, biochem, etc.

 

[FreeGibbs]

Reach out to the grad students/post-docs in his lab. They will know more about the demands of the lab and are pretty responsive to emails. They will probably even end up being your mentor. Are you also applying MD/PhD or wanting to get into a research-heavy MD program with a thesis?

Research won't make or break an applicant. Only do it if you're genuinely interested in the work that you're doing. Not to get "X" amount of hours, or to fill out a checkbox in your ECs. Otherwise, you're wasting the time that could be spent focusing on Clinical Exp/GPA/MCAT/other ECs.