How hard is it to get a research position? How do you do it?

[grindtime1]

I never knew it was actually difficult to get a spot for research.

What do I have to do to get a spot? Someone told me that they don't accept anyone who just applies for a spot and that you need to have certain qualifications. What are these?

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[divideby0]

I go to Wayne State for undergrad and they offer research as a course for students in the honors college. Six months before i enrolled, I looked for profs at the school conducting research. I found a researcher of interest, read all of her publications, sent her an email outlining who I was, my academic experience, my aspirations and what I learned from her papers. She asked for a copy of my transcripts, interviewed me and i earned a research position under her. Once six months passed, I simply enrolled in the course and continued my work.

 

[DrMaximus]

I'm from Tennessee Tech University & I'm doing biomedical research this coming spring. I saw some of the students in the research group do as presentation, and they said if anyone was interested to go speak with the instructor. So, I did such & he said he would find me a spot in his research next semester.

 

[URHere]

What do I have to do to get a spot? Someone told me that they don't accept anyone who just applies for a spot and that you need to have certain qualifications. What are these?

This depends partially on the lab and partially on your own expectations. If you are willing to start as a lab assistant (making solutions, doing dishes, etc), it is usually pretty easy to find a lab and work your way up to conducting experiments. If you would prefer to start on experiments directly, you just need to contact faculty, send out your resume, and schedule meetings...eventually someone will bite.

Based on my experience, you will probably find it easiest to join labs that:

1) Use techniques and focus on areas that you have studied.
2) Are large and well-funded, with plenty of graduate students, post-docs, techs, etc.
3) Are very small and looking for students.

However, if you make a good impression on a PI, you stand a chance at labs that don't fall into the above categories. Just make it clear that you are responsible, motivated, and willing to work.

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

I never knew it was actually difficult to get a spot for research.

What do I have to do to get a spot? Someone told me that they don't accept anyone who just applies for a spot and that you need to have certain qualifications. What are these?

Are you still in undergrad? If so, try the hospital system and science departments affiliated with your undergrad institution. If not, you can try the closest hospital system or university in your area. Check hospital websites for openings within each department if you are looking for a full time job then apply with specific goals and a cover letter. For undergrad research, emailing faculty will probably serve you best. Talk about your interest in (insert type) research and their specific research topic, your qualifications if you have any such things and show some curiosity/exuberance. You may be able to get a volunteer job if this is your first experience so you can get acclimated to a lab environment, wash some dishes and work your way up with good performance to better jobs like running gels or experiments. Most labs that you want to get into will ask that you have basic coursework (shown some proficiency in it) or knowledge in their field and be able to demonstrate it or references from other faculty of your intelligence, curiosity, ability to work independent of others, etc. Good luck!

 

[grindtime1]

How important is your GPA? If they see good grades, are you more likely to get a spot?

Please understand that I am only doing this because medical schools want us to. I know it may annoy some of these people that some of us are just doing it (research, volunteering, etc.) to meet medical school requirements, but that's too bad because that's what medical schools want.

So when you suggest to try and do something I'm interested in, please understand that I don't really care what type of research it is. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, whatever. As long as I can get 1-2 years of the type of research that medical schools like to see.

 

[TurkSurg]

I never knew it was actually difficult to get a spot for research.

What do I have to do to get a spot? Someone told me that they don't accept anyone who just applies for a spot and that you need to have certain qualifications. What are these?

I checked out the website of biology and chemistry departments in my college and found a list of the professors that were doing research. Then I narrowed the list down to couple professors' research groups that interested me. After I decided on one, I just went to the department, got the contact info, office hours etc. and just went to the professor and talked to her. I didn't have to apply for anything, she just told me to start attending the weekly group meetings and I got an idea of what each person was doing in the lab, etc. etc. Now its been almost 2 years and I love it!😉

Maybe talk to other professors and see what type of research they are doing...and ask them if they require certain qualifications?

 

[JJMrK]

How important is your GPA? If they see good grades, are you more likely to get a spot?

Please understand that I am only doing this because medical schools want us to. I know it may annoy some of these people that some of us are just doing it (research, volunteering, etc.) to meet medical school requirements, but that's too bad because that's what medical schools want.

So when you suggest to try and do something I'm interested in, please understand that I don't really care what type of research it is. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, whatever. As long as I can get 1-2 years of the type of research that medical schools like to see.

Don't waste your time. This will show, your PI will figure out your game, and you'll waste the time of all parties involved. Do things you enjoy doing.

 

[FrazzleSnazzle]

What JimmerJammerMrK said. Research isn't the only thing that med schools look at. Why not focus your time on something you enjoy doing, i.e, clinical volunteering, tutoring, community service, etc.

 

[Mopp22]

How important is your GPA? If they see good grades, are you more likely to get a spot?

Please understand that I am only doing this because medical schools want us to. I know it may annoy some of these people that some of us are just doing it (research, volunteering, etc.) to meet medical school requirements, but that's too bad because that's what medical schools want.

So when you suggest to try and do something I'm interested in, please understand that I don't really care what type of research it is. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, whatever. As long as I can get 1-2 years of the type of research that medical schools like to see.

If you continue like this you will become a terrible doctor, if you even make it that far because med schools will see right through you. You obviously don't understand the reasons WHY they require clinical experiences in the first place. You are giving the impression that you want to be a doctor purely for the money,prestige, etc......and not because you want to heal people and have a career that that works so hard every day to improve the health of people and save their lives. Also I bet your patient care skills are 👎 Good luck on your admissions essay and interview.

 

[grindtime1]

What JimmerJammerMrK said. Research isn't the only thing that med schools look at. Why not focus your time on something you enjoy doing, i.e, clinical volunteering, tutoring, community service, etc.

Because I want to get into a top 20 medical school.

Top medical schools require 2-4 years of research. Blame the schools for making it a requirement.

Do you know what it's like to get into medical school in other countries? The best and the brightest (the people who get the top scores) are the ones who get in, not the ones who do garbage like volunteering, leadership, research and all sorts of other stuff that U.S. medical schools want you to do.

Once again, I hope to get into a top medical school. If this could be achieved simply by getting good scores, I wouldn't even bother with volunteering and other stuff.

But what choice do I have when medical schools REQUIRE (not recommend) this? None.

 

[GregoryMD]

Because I want to get into a top 20 medical school.

Top medical schools require 2-4 years of research. Blame the schools for making it a requirement.

Do you know what it's like to get into medical school in other countries? The best and the brightest (the people who get the top scores) are the ones who get in, not the ones who do garbage like volunteering, leadership, research and all sorts of other stuff that U.S. medical schools want you to do.

Once again, I hope to get into a top medical school. If this could be achieved simply by getting good scores, I wouldn't even bother with volunteering and other stuff.

But what choice do I have when medical schools REQUIRE (not recommend) this? None.

Again, you're looking at this stuff as a means to an end. U.S. medical schools want more well-rounded students who not only excel in academics, but show the initiative to help their community, are still interested in the field even after being exposed to the less glamorous parts of medicine, and among other things.

Good grades alone don't make a good doctor if you don't have people skills, the motivation to do things like volunteering, clinical exposure, etc. Those alone may not be substantial in your future merits as a doctor, but they are indicators that you are more passionate about it than others. If you can find another way to show this to adcoms, by all means go for it. But good grades alone and "I want to be a doctor, and I have good grades" doesn't cut it. Everyone who wants to be a doctor has that.

 

[GellaBella]

As someone about to get their PhD I can tell you that there is a gap between research based science and the medical field - a gap that people are constantly trying to find ways to fill.

It's really important for a doctor to realize exactly what goes into doing research, not only the actual experiments (although learning how disappointing/frustrating research can be is also very beneficial), but how to read scientific papers, how to discuss ideas and think critically.
I think it's important for anyone in the sciences to realize how much time and effort goes into being able to make a single statement in a textbook.

I know right now you're looking at this as a means to an end, but I hope that if you do try to get a research position that you embrace the learning experience. It will be a small glimpse into a completely different world and who knows, maybe you'll like it. Especially if it's applicable to what you're interested in doing. My dissertation will be on antibiotic resistance in bacteria. It's fun to know that I am doing research that could be used by doctors to really help a lot of people. So anyways, give it a chance.

But again like others said, if you really aren't into it, don't waste a PI's time. It is too expensive in terms of other lab members time to train someone who doesn't care. It will be obvious and you most likely won't come out on top in that sort of situation.

 

[JJMrK]

Because I want to get into a top 20 medical school.

Top medical schools require 2-4 years of research. Blame the schools for making it a requirement.

Do you know what it's like to get into medical school in other countries? The best and the brightest (the people who get the top scores) are the ones who get in, not the ones who do garbage like volunteering, leadership, research and all sorts of other stuff that U.S. medical schools want you to do.

Once again, I hope to get into a top medical school. If this could be achieved simply by getting good scores, I wouldn't even bother with volunteering and other stuff.

But what choice do I have when medical schools REQUIRE (not recommend) this? None.

Top 20 schools are research institutions. Why do you want to attend one if you have no interest in research?

It's my understanding that medical school admissions in this country used to be very much like you described, but some of the doctors that this system produced could not be bothered/did not know how to be friendly to patients. In a field that has so much interaction with others, a robot with no personality and no humanistic interests may not be very successful.

 

[randombetch]

Top 20 schools are research institutions. Why do you want to attend one if you have no interest in research?

It's my understanding that medical school admissions in this country used to be very much like you described, but some of the doctors that this system produced could not be bothered/did not know how to be friendly to patients. In a field that has so much interaction with others, a robot with no personality and no humanistic interests may not be very successful.

Top 20 > not top 20 when it comes to residency match.

 

[mrivera]

I go to Wayne State for undergrad and they offer research as a course for students in the honors college. Six months before i enrolled, I looked for profs at the school conducting research. I found a researcher of interest, read all of her publications, sent her an email outlining who I was, my academic experience, my aspirations and what I learned from her papers. She asked for a copy of my transcripts, interviewed me and i earned a research position under her. Once six months passed, I simply enrolled in the course and continued my work.

please tell me a few interesting things about WSU.. I am interested in going there

 

[sunshinevet]

Because I want to get into a top 20 medical school.

Top medical schools require 2-4 years of research. Blame the schools for making it a requirement.

Do you know what it's like to get into medical school in other countries? The best and the brightest (the people who get the top scores) are the ones who get in, not the ones who do garbage like volunteering, leadership, research and all sorts of other stuff that U.S. medical schools want you to do.

Once again, I hope to get into a top medical school. If this could be achieved simply by getting good scores, I wouldn't even bother with volunteering and other stuff.

But what choice do I have when medical schools REQUIRE (not recommend) this? None.

Those schools have those research requirements not because they want you to go "waste" your time in a lab and add an extra hoop to the process - but because they want students who are interested in pursuing research further. Even if you DO manage to find a PI who will take you, and he DOES put up with your lack of enthusiam for 2 years, it will come through in the interview that you're not that into it. What happens when they ask you why you chose that field of research? What happens when they ask you about potential future directions for your projects? What happens if they ask you what direction you see yourself taking your research in the future? You can't say you just did it to look good - and they will know in an instant if you lie.

And honestly, I can't imagine a PI putting up with someone so apathetic and unenthusiatic about research in general, and their research, for very long, let alone two years, LET ALONE turn around and give you a halfway useful LOR for it!

I feel your time could be better spent doing some hell-impressive volunteer work. Find a cause you are REALLY passionate about and gun that, take some initiative, do something big. It will look way better to an adcom than a couple of years of begrudging research.

 

[csmittyB]

If you continue like this you will become a terrible doctor... Also I bet your patient care skills are 👎

Gotta love Burnett's law 🙄.

You obviously don't understand the reasons WHY they require clinical experiences in the first place.

Where did the OP even mention clinical experience😕. He's asking about research.

 

[csmittyB]

Because I want to get into a top 20 medical school.

Top medical schools require 2-4 years of research. Blame the schools for making it a requirement.

If you are not interested in research, why do you want to go to a top 20 medical school?

 

[randombetch]

If you are not interested in research, why do you want to go to a top 20 medical school?

So you're saying that it's illogical for someone to want to go to Harvard unless he/she's interested in research?

Top 20 > not top 20 when it comes to residency match.

 

[Evergrey]

Top 20 > not top 20 when it comes to residency match.

The irony of this statement is that, besides top-ranked medical schools, top-ranked residency programs are ALSO research-oriented... If you don't like research, then don't do research.

 

[randombetch]

The irony of this statement is that, besides top-ranked medical schools, top-ranked residency programs are ALSO research-oriented... If you don't like research, then don't do research.

So if you only want to be a clinician, there's no point in getting into a top-ranked residency program? They don't have better clinical counterparts?

I thought UWash was great at both?

 

[JJMrK]

Top 20 > not top 20 when it comes to residency match.

So you're saying that it's illogical for someone to want to go to Harvard unless he/she's interested in research?

Top 20 > not top 20 when it comes to residency match.

You keep saying this, but in reality if you go to a top 20 school, you may have a research component to your curriculum. If you can't deal with that, you're not going to perform well, and it may hurt you in the match.

Having said that, some top schools take people who don't have any research background at all because they want a diverse class. Others, however, want applicants to have research and have a research component to their curriculum. If you fake your interest in research and end up at a school like that, you'll be miserable.

 

[FuturaDocta]

How important is your GPA? If they see good grades, are you more likely to get a spot?

Please understand that I am only doing this because medical schools want us to. I know it may annoy some of these people that some of us are just doing it (research, volunteering, etc.) to meet medical school requirements, but that's too bad because that's what medical schools want.

So when you suggest to try and do something I'm interested in, please understand that I don't really care what type of research it is. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, whatever. As long as I can get 1-2 years of the type of research that medical schools like to see.

professors it when you are interested, not because people you feel obligated to impress the medical schools.

You shouldn't research unless you really want to. Besides, a few months of research really doesn't matter. You need to research enough to show that you really like it. It would suck if you spent all that time on something that you really didn't have any interest in. Not to mention, research doesn't guarantee an acceptance. So, that would blow even more.

 

[JonSwan]

OP, while I agree with above posters that you shouldn't do research if you're not psyched to do research, I'm more concerned that you think volunteering, holding leadership positions and ECs in general are a waste of time and are just hoops you need to jump through in order to get in.

If you're always saying to yourself as a premed, "I just need to bite the bullet and do this thing I don't like in order to get into med school", you're going find yourself saying, "If I can bite the bullet and get through med school then I can get to where I want to be" and, "If only I can suffer through residency then..." and so on. You will be miserable for a long time.

Med schools look for people who genuinely enjoy academics (and possibly research) and give their time and energy for others because they want to, not because they're required to. As a physician, you're expected to be an autonomous, caring person, not a robot who goes through the motions of caring as a means to an end.

Find something you love to do and put yourself into it fully. Serious commitment to a cause/hobby that may be an atypical premed EC is surely looked upon more favorably than doing research that you don't give two s**ts about.

 

[JJMrK]

I always wondered what if you did research at more than one lab? because to be quite frank, i'd love to do research at several labs just to get a different experience.

Probably not a good idea. To really get involved in a lab you're going to need to work at least 15-25 hours/week, for at least a year. If you don't like something after a week or so, by all means find something that you do, but don't list that experience on your AMCAS or anything. If you're working on a project, get some things done, and the grant runs out, that's a different situation.

 

[SlaskWroclaw18]

Just staying green and recycling an old thread. 😀 As undergrad, when should I start to consider research? I want to start early but I highly doubt professors would take freshmen in their fall semester. Maybe start applying spring semester or the summer?

 

[studmuffin]

Mopp22 hit the nail on the head. This is why us pre meds get a bad name. You are never going to make any kind of contribution in the lab if you're only doing it to get into med school. I wouldn't waste your time- You would make a horrible researcher. My 2$.