How do I do research?

[TooMuchPressure]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Where do I start? Do I talk to previous professors who do research or is there a website I go to to apply or do I talk with an adviser. I have no idea.

 

[deleted407021]

Start with your professors and go from there. If they don't have anything to offer they will almost certainly refer you.

 

[chiefscribejake]

Navigate through your university's website to the department of chemistry, biology, or whatever your interested in. Find a professor and briefly read the abstracts of their listed research papers.

After this, find something that you will be interested. E-mail the professor and ask if you can meet with them to discuss the possible opportunity/details of what research includes. Read up on some of their research before meeting and have an understanding/concept of what goals they're aiming to achieve.

You may need to have taken some certain classes to be capable of the work. My virologist preferred I took human genetics and cell biology (both with labs) before I enrolled in her section.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I started with the professor I was taking a class from and he let me right in, been doing research with him ever since. I got lucky though; not all professors have openings right at a particular point in time. Just have to keep asking if the first few don't have a spot.

If your professors aren't taking people or if their research doesn't interest you, find the professors whose research does interest you (usually on the school website) and try calling them or visiting their office.

 

[deleted577188]

Just ask. If you're close to professors in a specific department, ask in person. I found this to be much easier and had better luck than via email. If you're not particularly involved or you don't know a particular professor or professor/advisor within a department who can direct you to someone more informally, get to emailing tons of people. Now is the time where professors are looking for positions to be filled by upcoming students since it's around graduation time. Good luck!

 

[Jagon]

 

[TooMuchPressure]

So for example my orgo 2 professor does research. Should I read up on some of her work and email her saying if she has any research opportunities for students on (insert specific subject here that I read about) instead of just asking if I can do research with her? Or would it be fine to just ask by being straightforward?

 

[Pusheen]

So for example my orgo 2 professor does research. Should I read up on some of her work and email her saying if she has any research opportunities for students on (insert specific subject here that I read about) instead of just asking if I can do research with her? Or would it be fine to just ask by being straightforward?

You might just ask what opportunities are available and then go from there.

 

[TooMuchPressure]

You might just ask what opportunities are available and then go from there.

Alright thanks