How to enter into research? Please comment to orient me

[hospitalist1day]

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I am a non-traditional student starting my pre-med school career at a community college. I have absolutely no idea how to "get into" research. I am clueless at this stage because I started as a pre-nursing student and therefore limited my reach to nursing related issues.

I am just very curious now - I will pose this question to professors when I transfer to a 4 year school.

Thanks all who responds.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Get to know professors, ask about their research, see if they have any open spots or need assistants... It's pretty much all about networking. There's not really a "formal" way to get into research.

 

[Slickyfats]

Doctor Strange knows whats up.

Just be humble and ask about their work and see if they'd be willing to take you in. Make sure to ask a LOT of people though. Many labs don't have much funding so they're not willing to take someone with no experience, so don't get discouraged if you get turned down.

Honestly finding a lab is like finding a job, except you'll probably be working for free.

 

[911 Turbo]

Get to know professors, ask about their research, see if they have any open spots or need assistants... It's pretty much all about networking. There's not really a "formal" way to get into research.

You don't even have to get to know them... you can just find a list of professors in a department at your university using the internet and them email them a one paragraph statement asking them to join your lab as a researcher.

 

[ERMAHGERD]

You don't even have to get to know them... you can just find a list of professors in a department at your university using the internet and them email them a one paragraph statement asking them to join your lab as a researcher.

Heh, shotgun e-mails ftw. It's how I got my research experiences.

 

[SilverCat]

Just be prepared to email a lot of professors. I sent thirty emails before I received an offer. Don't get discouraged if you can't find a spot right away.

 

[TheShaker]

Just pimp yourself around as free labor until someone takes you. When that happens, just work hard and be ambitious and try to get some independence. The more trust you gain, the more valuable the experience will be.

 

[Contemplating]

Heh, shotgun e-mails ftw. It's how I got my research experiences.

Just pimp yourself around as free labor until someone takes you. When that happens, just work hard and be ambitious and try to get some independence. The more trust you gain, the more valuable the experience will be.

+1. There you have it, OP.

 

[mzarrowsmith]

Sometimes lab assistant jobs are advertised, but usually it's a matter of emailing every PI in the biology department asking of they need a part-time assistant.

I did this the summer before college, got interviewed, but did not get hired. I ended up finding a lab to work in through the work-study program sophomore year. In retrospect, I should have emailed more people the first time around.

There are also summer research opportunities through NIH and other places, but I don't know much about those. Probably quite competitive.

 

[hospitalist1day]

Doctor Strange knows whats up.

Just be humble and ask about their work and see if they'd be willing to take you in. Make sure to ask a LOT of people though. Many labs don't have much funding so they're not willing to take someone with no experience, so don't get discouraged if you get turned down.

Get to know professors, ask about their research, see if they have any open spots or need assistants... It's pretty much all about networking. There's not really a "formal" way to get into research.

You don't even have to get to know them... you can just find a list of professors in a department at your university using the internet and them email them a one paragraph statement asking them to join your lab as a researcher.

Wow. Simple. I'm glad I asked. I want to build upon my initial question now. How would I move from working in a lab to publishing material? This would no doubt be a discussion I would have with the professor in whose lab I'd be working.

Thanks for the responses. Because I scour these boards for information, I have been intimidated by statements from pre-meds such as "I am thinking of doing some sort of biomedical research this coming quarter" and "I've been looking for some options to get some more research and perhaps a publication in addition to the lab I'm already working in."

Well, I've also been thinking about doing some sort of biomedical research.....nah. When I said this, before this post, I realized I needed more info.

Thanks, all.

 

[heartshaped box]

Don't even bother applying to paid research positions--there are tons of pre-meds who are better qualified (simply because they picked the appropriate major! Not because they are smarter etc. Also schools really prefer to pick their own students, if only for administrative/red tape purposes).

 

[Domino2178]

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