How do I get research experience??!?!?!

[SusGob711]

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I've talked to my advisor and I've e-mailed every faculty member in my bio dept. and I've gotten only a few bites and no leads 🙁 We do have a couple summer research programs but applying doesn't guarantee anything. Did anyone else have a hard time obtaining a research position?

**A friend of mine who was accepted to our med school actually told me she got started by simply e-mailing everyone so I'm not sure why I'm having a hard time finding a willing victim to let me turn their lab upside down

 

[4LoveoftheGame]

I've had trouble too, but more due to the fact that my undergrad is a small liberal arts school. Literally my only shot at research is going to be SURP style programs. Good luck to you though.

 

[wingiv]

If you're at a large university, talk to your TA. I'm sure that they know which labs are accepting and how to do it at your university.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I go to a HUGE public school. I had trouble getting responses both times I applied for positions. Stress you're looking for volunteer type stuff, that helped me.

 

[unluckybanana]

To find research opportunities there are 3 ways.

1. Emailing many professors (That is what I did)
2. Start out as a lab aide, and eventually ask for research
3. Take a class with a science Professor, get to know him/her very well. Then ask for research opportunity at end of semester. (Note: this may not work out all the time because there lab may be full or they are not looking for undergrads)

Whichever way you approach professors about research, make sure that you appear like a good candidate as opposed to just another person looking to improve their resume. That means:

- Commitment (At least one year, some research projects take months to complete. Professors don't want you teach you how to do things, for you to leave in 3 months.)
- Interest (Professors want individuals that do research because they are interested in learning the subject. They do not like people that do it just to put on resume.)
- Classes taken (If you are doing research for biol dept, having taken Biology or Genetics is a plus but not always necessary)

 

[BBender716]

Also, professors talk. If you sent out an email that wasn't tailored specifically towards each research project, and sent out a general form letter to each professor, it may seem like you aren't genuinely interested in his/her research because they all heard about your email.

Follow the guidelines above. Ask if you can come in and further discuss the research and your interest in X.

 

[Electronegative]

I'm also in same position, I emailed all of Biology dept. research groups and couldn't find position yet. If you haven't try emailing chemistry/biochemistry research groups If you don't find any position NIH has paid summer internship program for undergraduates. The applications for next summer opens in november I think.


EN

 

[ScarletKnights]

I went to a large public university with alot of research going on but still had a great deal of trouble finding research for myself. I emailed EVERY science professor that was conducting research online regardless of what field it was in. A little tip to show you're interested is to read about their research then mention some important stuff about the research in the email. Also ask for a meeting to talk about the research further and then ease into asking for research. Also mention you are dedicated to conducting research for several semesters. They dont want to train someone for only one semester of work.

 

[rxnfiend]

I'm also in same position, I emailed all of Biology dept. research groups and couldn't find position yet. If you haven't try emailing chemistry/biochemistry research groups If you don't find any position NIH has paid summer internship program for undergraduates. The applications for next summer opens in november I think.


EN

DO THIS! I applied to the NIH SIP and got accepted. I am currently in Bethesda conducting research and it is seriously an amazing campus. So many resources here that you can take advantage of. They also treat the summer students really well by giving tons of seminars, talks, how-to-do workshops dealing with the MCAT, admissions, research, etc. Not to mention the campus is beautiful and has a ridiculous budget so you can get almost anything you want. I just ordered 8000 dollars worth of antibodies for my project that I started on Monday... NIH is baller!

 

[schrizto]

Try outside your school's bio department.

 

[aidama]

Try outside your school's bio department.

This.

Depending on the area where you live there are lots of opportunities to get summer research experience. I know in the Bay you can always find some program looking for a research intern. Some research hospitals might even let you volunteer to assist them in their labs.

I wasn't able to get any experiences at my first university (it was a huge state school), but I had much more success when I transferred to a small liberal-arts college where I was able to befriend professors and work on their research/do my own. But you have to be proactive... sounds like you won't have trouble with that 🙂

Keep trying!

 

[riverjib]

To find research opportunities there are 3 ways.

1. Emailing many professors (That is what I did)
2. Start out as a lab aide, and eventually ask for research
3. Take a class with a science Professor, get to know him/her very well. Then ask for research opportunity at end of semester. (Note: this may not work out all the time because there lab may be full or they are not looking for undergrads)

Whichever way you approach professors about research, make sure that you appear like a good candidate as opposed to just another person looking to improve their resume. That means:

- Commitment (At least one year, some research projects take months to complete. Professors don't want you teach you how to do things, for you to leave in 3 months.)
- Interest (Professors want individuals that do research because they are interested in learning the subject. They do not like people that do it just to put on resume.)
- Classes taken (If you are doing research for biol dept, having taken Biology or Genetics is a plus but not always necessary)

EXACTLY. You can't email professors...most full-time faculty get dozens to hundreds of emails a day. Even the nicest one will probably ignore someone who hasn't bothered making a real connection with them.

You need to do some homework. Figure out who is doing research you think is really interesting, talk to classmates in labs to learn about their experience, and then start knocking on doors. Ask for meetings with professors conducting research. Don't clutter their email in-boxes...show up (at a time that is convenient for them) with your CV in hand, and sell yourself to them personally.

It's not like applying for a job. Most research faculty run their labs with grad students and post-docs. They don't need you, and in most cases, training a new student is a time liability for them...directly or indirectly, since you might monopolize a grad student's time. You need to show your enthusiasm by proving you know what's going on in the lab, and telling them that you've acquired some skills (PCR, SDS-PAGE, etc.) in your own college labs and telling them directly that you're willing to invest whatever time it takes to LEARN through papers and hands-on experience.

Best of luck! No more emails 🙂

 

[SusGob711]

Thanks guys...we have SURF and other summer programs but I was hoping to commit to something a little more long term-although I haven't ruled them out yet. The reason I e-mailed is because said friend suggested it--she said that's how she got into a lab. I will definately try outside the bio department and start talking to professors in person once classes start again in the fall.

 

[NickNaylor]

1) Talk to professors at your school
2) Summer programs (see here: http://www.aamc.org/members/great/summerlinks.htm)

 

[moxche]

If you email, make sure to include your resume, no matter how crappy it is (try to make it as good as possible though). Anything that makes you seem more professional/focused/serious than a typical undergrad will help you stand out from the crowd.

 

[Xiao]

For a first time experience, I think the following really helps:

1) Mention you are not looking for pay, but for a learning experience
2) Be specific about why you are interested in this lab (i.e. topic of research really interesting? You have the skillset or background knowledge to quickly become productive?)
3) Be clear about what you hope to get out of the experience (i.e. knowledge? independent project? rec letter? pay?)...although it's probably best to mention things like rec letter and pay at interview
4) Try to be honest and realistic about what you want out the experience and what you can accomplish. Be enthusiastic, but don't be too gun-ho (sp?) as I think this is actually a turn off.
5) At your interview, try avoid being too formal/stiff. Don't sell yourself short, but be honest. i.e. Don't pretend you know a technique really well when you've only done it once in some school lab.

I would highly suggest getting some background knowledge on the PI's research first. This is pretty easy to do quickly if you skim (don't read whole thing!) 2-3 review/key papers from the lab. I only emailed 5 PI's whose work I was really interested in...and I received 3 interviews and 2 position (unpaid) offers. I think being specific and honest really helped.