How Do I Get Involved in Undergrad Research?

[metalgearHMN]

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I'm a Freshmen and I'm looking to get involved in some research. I know it may seem a little early but I'd like to get the whole dish-washing/pipetting phase taken care of now so I can do actual research sooner. For those of you involved in research, how did you learn about the opportunity, when did you start researching, what kind of application/interview process was there (if any)?. So yea, just give some basics on your experience in undergrad research.

 

[nonesuchgirl]

Try your school's website and/or career/pre-health advisor. A place like UW might have a ug research programme.

 

[Piyush]

e-mail every prof in the faculty to see if he/she would allow you to work in the lab...worked fine for me, lol

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I actually presented a poster, and one of the faculty really liked it and asked me to work with him. Yay!! I skipped the whole cleaning utensils step. My friend went around to a couple of the professors in the pharmacy school asking the professors what kind of research they were working on, he then asked the most interesting one if he would allow him to work on a project.

So you just got to get out there and ask around.

 

[Dendrite]

I'm a Freshmen and I'm looking to get involved in some research. I know it may seem a little early but I'd like to get the whole dish-washing/pipetting phase taken care of now so I can do actual research sooner. For those of you involved in research, how did you learn about the opportunity, when did you start researching, what kind of application/interview process was there (if any)?. So yea, just give some basics on your experience in undergrad research.

Take a class with a science professor that is involved in research (do a search on the school's website), do well in the class, and ask if you can work in his lab as an undergraduate research (i.e. volunteer).

Or, look on the school's website, and e-mail a bunch of professors/researchers that participate in research you are interested in, ask to speak with them, and bring along your GPA, resume, and prior experience working in something high profile.

Just make sure to show up ready to learn and clean up equipment, and if you earn it, you'll get a project to do a thesis on.

 

[Maxprime]

Take a class with a science professor that is involved in research (do a search on the school's website), do well in the class, and ask if you can work in his lab as an undergraduate research (i.e. volunteer).

Or, look on the school's website, and e-mail a bunch of professors/researchers that participate in research you are interested in, ask to speak with them, and bring along your GPA, resume, and prior experience working in something high profile.

Just make sure to show up ready to learn and clean up equipment, and if you earn it, you'll get a project to do a thesis on.

+1

A few other suggestions:

Look for a young (non-tenured) faculty member. While there is a greater risk that they may leave to a new position, they generally don't have a lot of students in their lab and have more opportunities for undergrads b/c PhD's are too scared to work in an non-tenure lab.

Email to ask if you can drop by to discuss their research with them and then ask them for a spot.

Make your goals very clear so that everyone is on the same page. Tell them "I want a publication or to do a thesis, etc." so that no one is screwed over.

 

[Perrotfish]

My interview process for undergraduate reserarch , as a freshman, with a well established professor, who I hadn't met or communicated with before this meeting, who's class I had never taken.

*knock on professor's door*

(It didn't occur to me this might a be rude way to apply)

*Professor partially opens door and sticks his head out*

(ME) Hi, you don't...
(Prof) Yes?
(ME) Hi, I was interested in doing undergraduate research in your lab and...
(Prof) Sure, start Monday?
(ME) Uh, Sure?
(Prof) Good

*Professor closes door*

Ended up being one of the coolest professors I would meet in college, too.

 

[Spin]

See whether your school has something like an undergraduate research database, where all the professors who are looking for undergrads post descriptions of their research and what kind of people they're looking for. Either way, find a professor whose research looks interesting and just email them saying you're interested in the research they're doing and would like to interview for a position in their lab if they have room for an undergrad. When you finally meet with one, definitely be sure to specify your goals, like Maxprime said to do.

Some schools will have scholarships for undergrads, so look into those and look into the requirements for doing research for credit.

Finally, don't get pushed into committing to the first lab you look at, especially if you have a bad feeling about it. Good luck!

 

[wryandwatchful]

It helps a lot if you read about the faculty's research before approaching them. Specifically, come to them with a question related to their work that you would like to investigate. You can even think up a little procedure you'd like to perform. Even if it's not at all feasible and the professor thinks your question is dumb, they'll be more open to working with you. They'll just say, "while that's a great idea, I could get you involved in this other project that I have going..."

That's what I did and what I tell my friends to do. It hasn't failed yet.

 

[scarterinscrubs]

Anyone has suggestions on getting involved in research after you have graduated?

Right now i am sitting a home bored (and studying for the MCAT). I graduated from a state school in the capital cityof my home state, but I want to assist in a lab at one of the two smaller schools in my home town.

 

[Quix]

Check the Chem/Bio/Psych/Neuroscience websites for professors research interests and contact those who interest you.

 

[resina]

I knew a few people who were farther ahead in their Biology degree and one got me a job in the lab he worked in. You might ask people in your class if they work in a lab (this can also sometimes be a good way to know what it would be like to work in that lab). You could also look for programs that help place students in research labs like the Howard Hughes or RISE programs.


If you have graduated you could try the same thing as far as asking professors if you can work or volunteer in their lab. I know there are some universities that offer post-bac internships where you work in a lab for about a year or two. Maybe the schools close to you have something like that.

 

[Concordia]

Anyone has suggestions on getting involved in research after you have graduated?

Check the employment opportunities listed for those schools. If they need people and have an HR department, they should have some stuff posted. I don't know if it would be the same for smaller schools, but that's what I did the summer after I graduated. Check for positions in labs to see if they are hiring research assistants.
Perhaps you can e-mail an old prof?

 

[nshams]

deleted for double post

 

[nshams]

Several things worked for me:

Back in my 1st semester, (when I was all gung-ho about school), I beat the crap out of a few of my classes & a couple of professors invited me to come work with them. So do well in your classes. (Unfortunately, I got real lazy real fast; wrote a grant, got some $, didn't do any work - got kicked out of the lab - terrible, terrible - don't do that).

Then, when I got to junior year, I needed cash & went on the Pharmaceutical Sciences Dept to check for professors (big tip: if your school HAS a school of pharmacy or medicine or something, see if you can work there - they have more $ than the bio or chem people usually & you'll have a better chance of getting paid). The first person I called was looking for someone (yay!)... (But unfortunately, I lost my work visa & had to either quit the job or risk deportation & I didn't believe in working for free back then).

So finally (after realizing that my visa situation isn't going to change anytime soon), I went to another school (another Pharmaceutical Dept) & I was reading one prof's poster to go ask him for a job when another one came by & asked if I wanted a job. I stuck that one out for a good 3months, got a SOLID letter (Took 4yrs & several professors I've worked with hate me now for the complete laziness, so if you can avoid the lazy-bit, you should).

So moral of the story: don't be afraid to ask people if you can work with them. I haven't had to do any glass washing & even though I've screwed up a lot (a LOT), every experience was valuable to me.