How does one obtain research from a community college?

[SexyDoctor]

I go to a community college right now, and I'm having difficulty landing a research position. I live near CSUN, and I'm not sure how I'd go about asking CSUN professors if they need help from a community college student with their research. It seems a bit awkward and forced. Are there any institutes near CSUN that I could possibly apply to get some research in? My CC isn't very helpful on this topic either. I really don't want to start my research when I transfer to a UC because I'll only have one year under my belt. The help is appreciated! 🙂

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[the duck]

I go to a community college right now, and I'm having difficulty landing a research position. I live near CSUN, and I'm not sure how I'd go about asking CSUN professors if they need help from a community college student with their research. It seems a bit awkward and forced. Are there any institutes near CSUN that I could possibly apply to get some research in? My CC isn't very helpful on this topic either. I really don't want to start my research when I transfer to a UC because I'll only have one year under my belt. The help is appreciated! 🙂

You don't. I'm just gonna start when I transfer to UC this fall. Try to get clinical experience, and community service work now, since that stuff you can obtain easier at a CC

 

[SexyDoctor]

You don't. I'm just gonna start when I transfer to UC this fall. Try to get clinical experience, and community service work now, since that stuff you can obtain easier at a CC

I'm sure there is a way. I'm hoping.

 

[30Percent]

I had a professor that taught at a CC and researched at the local university. He offered an opportunity to 2 students every summer to go research with him. You might try talking to your CC professors about your interest in doing research.

 

[CaliGirl14]

Would love this information as well

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

I went to a CC my first two years...it was very hard. Also, there are FAR less opportunities (the only one at my school that even remotely pertained to biology was some field work in botany). I would advise you to do more clinically related stuff (volunteer in ER, neo-natal) or community service activities and wait until you transfer to do research at a 4 year university.

From experience, I was ASKED by one of my organic professors to take on a major research position with him. I also ended up working in a microbiology lab and I have really learned a lot and gained meaningful experience. Personally, from experience, I find that it is far easier, and more beneficial, to do research at a four year because :
(1)it is not stigmatized, whereas it probably, most likely (I know, its unfair) would be if it came from a community college, and thats just the truth
(2) it will give you more time to find out what kind of research you are interested in.

furthermore, make sure you do research that is MEANINGFUL to you. Do not join the first lab that pops up, but instead search and keep your options open. Some people will do research, just to say they did research and this will become apparent in an interview ( I would imagine). I personally declined to do chemistry research when offered by my prof and instead looked for a lab more focussed on biology. I would advise you to do the same.

 

[SexyDoctor]

I went to a CC my first two years...it was very hard. Also, there are FAR less opportunities (the only one at my school that even remotely pertained to biology was some field work in botany). I would advise you to do more clinically related stuff (volunteer in ER, neo-natal) or community service activities and wait until you transfer to do research at a 4 year university.

From experience, I was ASKED by one of my organic professors to take on a major research position with him. I also ended up working in a microbiology lab and I have really learned a lot and gained meaningful experience. Personally, from experience, I find that it is far easier, and more beneficial, to do research at a four year because :
(1)it is not stigmatized, whereas it probably, most likely (I know, its unfair) would be if it came from a community college, and thats just the truth
(2) it will give you more time to find out what kind of research you are interested in.

furthermore, make sure you do research that is MEANINGFUL to you. Do not join the first lab that pops up, but instead search and keep your options open. Some people will do research, just to say they did research and this will become apparent in an interview ( I would imagine). I personally declined to do chemistry research when offered by my prof and instead looked for a lab more focussed on biology. I would advise you to do the same.

So there's no way I could possibly hit up a CSUN professor, and ask him to do some research? Does that seem weird? Do people even attempt that? 😕 Thanks for the input though!

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

So there's no way I could possibly hit up a CSUN professor, and ask him to do some research? Does that seem weird? Do people even attempt that? 😕 Thanks for the input though!

I wouldn't advise. Are you a freshman or sophomore? bio or chem major? and if you are a bio major, what bio classes do you have under your belt?

 

[sector9]

It is possible at some junior colleges to do research. My lab has an NSF grant we share with Fresno City College, and some of their students have publications under their belt (including one student as first author)

The Fresno Bee just did an article about the lab
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/14/2350869/little-invertebrate-gets-big-attention.html

 

[sector9]

Also, my lab has had some high school kids work there over the summer, so it isn't impossible to do research in a university lab even when you aren't a student there. It all depends on the PI. It is going to take some extra effort on your part to find a lab though

 

[deleted357625]

I go to a community college right now, and I'm having difficulty landing a research position. I live near CSUN, and I'm not sure how I'd go about asking CSUN professors if they need help from a community college student with their research. It seems a bit awkward and forced. Are there any institutes near CSUN that I could possibly apply to get some research in? My CC isn't very helpful on this topic either. I really don't want to start my research when I transfer to a UC because I'll only have one year under my belt. The help is appreciated! 🙂

yea it's hard, not really any options except summer programs. I just got accepted to a university (transfer from CC), I'll be starting research hopefully this summer over there

 

[stefspets]

Why not try emailing PIs and offering to volunteer in their labs? The worst they can say is no.

I haven't done any research post-bac but there must be a way to get in. You will probably have to work hard to find it but that doesn't mean there's no way.

 

[romanjetfighter]

Go to CSUN Bio department website, ask to be a volunteer in the lab. Show interest by looking the publications that lab has done on pubmed or whatever. Look up lab techniques on wikipedia like "western" "pcr" "protein column assays" that are relevant to the lab.

TONS of CC students do this over the summer at my CSU.

Professors at CSUs tend to have more undergrad researchers so are more willing to let you do research. However, many of them have time commitments, though it's not set in stone. This bitch I know got into the Lab I wanted to get into as a junoir undergrad at my CSU cuz she transfered from a CC summer program even tho her GPA was lower.

Again, CSUN Faculty Research page --> look up professors on pubmed/lab description --> look up techniques they use --> they may email you to "interview you" some of them are brutal interviews :X --> do a great job--> do research

I just got my own project today and my own keys to the lab to do independent research I am so happy 🙂

 

[SexyDoctor]

Go to CSUN Bio department website, ask to be a volunteer in the lab. Show interest by looking the publications that lab has done on pubmed or whatever. Look up lab techniques on wikipedia like "western" "pcr" "protein column assays" that are relevant to the lab.

TONS of CC students do this over the summer at my CSU.

Professors at CSUs tend to have more undergrad researchers so are more willing to let you do research. However, many of them have time commitments, though it's not set in stone. This bitch I know got into the Lab I wanted to get into as a junoir undergrad at my CSU cuz she transfered from a CC summer program even tho her GPA was lower.

Again, CSUN Faculty Research page --> look up professors on pubmed/lab description --> look up techniques they use --> they may email you to "interview you" some of them are brutal interviews :X --> do a great job--> do research

I just got my own project today and my own keys to the lab to do independent research I am so happy 🙂

Oh my gosh. I totally love you <3 🙂 Thank you so so much!!!

 

[AMLMDsurf]

You really have to take the time to put out a good resume. I currently attend a community college and because I put out a good resume I am currently involved in 2 research projects (basic science and human clinical trial), getting paid for my participation, and soon my PI will be giving me and a few residents the responsibility of conducting our own research project. I was in your boat and no one was there to help out but that resume got me all these projects. Med Schools understand our situation and when they see you were able to land a research job without any school connections they will give you a 👍. RESUME RESUME RESUME! And send them out to Research Hospital.

 

[CaliGirl14]

You really have to take the time to put out a good resume. I currently attend a community college and because I put out a good resume I am currently involved in 2 research projects (basic science and human clinical trial), getting paid for my participation, and soon my PI will be giving me and a few residents the responsibility of conducting our own research project. I was in your boat and no one was there to help out but that resume got me all these projects. Med Schools understand our situation and when they see you were able to land a research job without any school connections they will give you a 👍. RESUME RESUME RESUME! And send them out to Research Hospital.

Did you send your resume to research hospitals while you were at a community college? Or did you send them to your local university?

 

[Wafflyw]

Like many have said in this thread, the research opportunities at a CC are little to none, unfortunately.
Ask a counselor at your school; he/she might know of opportunities. I asked one of my counselors and I found out about one (although, it was just a summer program).

 

[obgyny]

In CC, I had a friend who got into a summer research program at UCSB. I think it may have been specifically for CC students, but I'm not sure. There are programs for it, but you just have to find them. I went to CC for a few years before transferring to a UC in my junior year. I didn't start research until my junior year.

 

[SexyDoctor]

In CC, I had a friend who got into a summer research program at UCSB. I think it may have been specifically for CC students, but I'm not sure. There are programs for it, but you just have to find them. I went to CC for a few years before transferring to a UC in my junior year. I didn't start research until my junior year.

Wow. I see that you have 3 years of research (sorry I looked on your mdprofile haha) Was that during your time at your university? Did you spend three years there?

 

[Frazier]

I know the opportunities must exist somewhere...

While reviewing chemistry literature last semester for a project, I came across a published manuscript that was authored by a professor at a community college.

n=1

That's all I know. 🙂

 

[obgyny]

Wow. I see that you have 3 years of research (sorry I looked on your mdprofile haha) Was that during your time at your university? Did you spend three years there?

Nope, I went to a few CCs for a few years, then transferred to UCI and graduated after 2 years. I began undergrad research at UCI in winter quarter of my junior year (Jan 2008), graduated June 2009, and have been working full-time in a different research lab since then (also at UCI). So 1.5 years in one lab during undergrad, almost 2 years in another lab during after graduation = almost 3.5 years of research.

 

[AMLMDsurf]

I sent my applications to Research Hospitals. For a student going to a CC you really have to find these opportunities on your own.