How do you ask your proffessor to do research?

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Qarmonist

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First of all i'm confused about this whole research thing. what in the world is research it sounds so complicated. Do proffesors just randomly do test things to find out new things. Or do have ideas about something in thier field and go about testing it doing the whole hypothesis thing? If so thats really cool.

I know this might sound lame, but I really don't know how to ask my micro professor if I can do research (he is doing research). Am I supposed to know what research he is doing himself? most people tell me they don't know what the proffessors are up to until they accept you to help them with their research. I've never done research before, how do you ask if you can do research? I also got a B+ in his micro class. Its also my major
 
This is what I did-- I go to OSU, so I went to the OSU college of dentistry website and looked up all the faculty that is doing research. I emailed a bunch of faculty members and explained to them that I was interested in getting some BASIC research experience. Finally, I got an email back, and the professor let me work in his lab for a year. All you have to do is ask. Ask your professor what he is investigating/researching. Ask him if he has any room in his lab so that you can get some experience. Showing some initiation will go along way.
 
Qarmonist said:
First of all i'm confused about this whole research thing. what in the world is research it sounds so complicated. Do proffesors just randomly do test things to find out new things. Or do have ideas about something in thier field and go about testing it doing the whole hypothesis thing? If so thats really cool.

I know this might sound lame, but I really don't know how to ask my micro professor if I can do research (he is doing research). Am I supposed to know what research he is doing himself? most people tell me they don't know what the proffessors are up to until they accept you to help them with their research. I've never done research before, how do you ask if you can do research? I also got a B+ in his micro class. Its also my major


All you have to do is tell your professor that you want to get involved in research and that you are interested in his work.

Not a requirement, but this is what I did, I went to my department (biology) got a list of the professors with their research interests, and picked something that appealed to me. I then looked for publications that the professor had and read a little bit to get an idea. I then went and had a talk with the professor, let her know my interests, and mentioned tidbits from her publication. This will impress your professor and lets them know that you have a genuine interest in getting involved. Hope this helps!
 
DDSDOC said:
All you have to do is tell your professor that you want to get involved in research and that you are interested in his work.

Not a requirement, but this is what I did, I went to my department (biology) got a list of the professors with their research interests, and picked something that appealed to me. I then looked for publications that the professor had and read a little bit to get an idea. I then went and had a talk with the professor, let her know my interests, and mentioned tidbits from her publication. This will impress your professor and lets them know that you have a genuine interest in getting involved. Hope this helps!

This is a great question. I'm sure a lot of professors could use free labor. My friend just showed up to Colubmia and asked professors to do 'research' and they let him. He never even took a class there before. Anyway, what does research entail you to do? Can you be specific on what an average hour of research for you would entail doing?
 
DDSDOC said:
All you have to do is tell your professor that you want to get involved in research and that you are interested in his work.

Not a requirement, but this is what I did, I went to my department (biology) got a list of the professors with their research interests, and picked something that appealed to me. I then looked for publications that the professor had and read a little bit to get an idea. I then went and had a talk with the professor, let her know my interests, and mentioned tidbits from her publication. This will impress your professor and lets them know that you have a genuine interest in getting involved. Hope this helps!

Could have said it in a better way!!!
 
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