Hey guys, I was wondering how I would go about getting research experience during my undergrad studies. I am going to be starting my first year of university this September and I'd like to know what I should be doing in order to get valuable research experience.
How to Get Undergrad Research
- Thread starter RamanS
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Generally I try to find what professors are doing research in fields or topics I am interested in. If I am in a class with them, I try to get to know them and do well in the class. If we get along well, or if the professor is friendly enough, I ask if I can do research with them.
Another option is to ask friends (especially upperclassmen) who are working in labs already. They can possibly put in a good word for you with their professor and help you get a position as well.
Also, there's always the one or professors every student wants to do research with. So it's very difficult to get into their labs. However, you can sometimes find other lesser known professors doing similar projects. Since fewer students know about them, you can get involved in their labs more easily.
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Email email email - professors are always looking for help in the lab. Not just professors but many hospitals also have research programs. Google some of the local hospitals and see if they have research
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i wouldnt start doing research your very first semester. Maybe 2nd semester when you have more knowledge and lab experiences. Cold emailing lots of professor works, also ask your lecturer (this is best option since you have an idea if they are a nice person), also check your department website they might post research oportunities there.
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I asked a professor if she knew of anyone looking for research assistants. It just so happened she was looking, and her work was interesting to me. We had an interview two days later, and I got the job.
A lot of people have recommended email, but I suggest you approach professors in person. Know something about their research and what you want out of a research role and start a conversation. If they don't have a spot for you, ask if they know someone who might. Professors get an endless stream of emails asking for research positions. A face-to-face conversation that shows you've done your homework is more likely to land you a position than blanketing the department with emails, IMO.
A lot of people have recommended email, but I suggest you approach professors in person. Know something about their research and what you want out of a research role and start a conversation. If they don't have a spot for you, ask if they know someone who might. Professors get an endless stream of emails asking for research positions. A face-to-face conversation that shows you've done your homework is more likely to land you a position than blanketing the department with emails, IMO.
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I'd only do this if you are currently taking a class with the prof. Just showing up to a professors office unannounced is pretty rude, imo...not to mention that going prof to prof one at a time can be a huge waste of time if they all say no. Mass email is definitely the way to go. They'll usually invite you for an interview anyway if they're interested.
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At my school they offer research positions for credit. There aren't many requirements to start, so most people do one their second semester and get a bit of experience working with a phd student. You could look into that.
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You don't just want to send out a lot of random email to every person in your majors department looking for research as a Freshman. I would wait until Sophomore year, or maybe 2nd semester Freshmen year, to start looking. Start looking at professors in your departments' C.V. and find out what projects they are currently working on. It wouldn't be a good idea to get a lab job where the professor is doing something you don't give a crap about.
Take classes with the professor you want to do research for. For me it was Organic. Go to his/her office hours and get to know them better. I promise it will make the search for research opportunities easier and you will enjoy it a lot more.
Take classes with the professor you want to do research for. For me it was Organic. Go to his/her office hours and get to know them better. I promise it will make the search for research opportunities easier and you will enjoy it a lot more.
Thanks for all the replies guys!! I am definitely going to try emailing the professors and I'll try to wait until 2nd semester 🙂
I think talking face-to-face would be a better method, but how would I bring up the topic of research? Would I just go to their office and ask them about research opportunities? or would I have a conversation with them and then try to change the subject to research opportunities? If it's the ladder, how would I go about doing that? What would I say? 😛
Great advice, thanks!!!
I think talking face-to-face would be a better method, but how would I bring up the topic of research? Would I just go to their office and ask them about research opportunities? or would I have a conversation with them and then try to change the subject to research opportunities? If it's the ladder, how would I go about doing that? What would I say? 😛
Great advice, thanks!!!
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Last week I went onto the my school's biochemistry website and searched for professors that fit my research interests (Cross between EE and Bio). I took the time to read an article or two from each professor and then sent them all an email expressing my interests in their research. This may be rare but I ended up hearing back from all of the professors and I've been meeting with them all this week and last week and they've taken me around their lab to get a feel of what doing research with them is like.
I ended up choosing a research group and I start next week 🙂 Pretty excited. It's all about taking the initiative with these things. Lots of students think that they have to take a class with the professor to get involved with their research but that's not the case at all.
I think it helps to mention that you're looking to join a lab group for a long period of time (2-3 years) because the professors are usually eager to see if you'll end up having an undergraduate publication because it looks great for them.
I ended up choosing a research group and I start next week 🙂 Pretty excited. It's all about taking the initiative with these things. Lots of students think that they have to take a class with the professor to get involved with their research but that's not the case at all.
I think it helps to mention that you're looking to join a lab group for a long period of time (2-3 years) because the professors are usually eager to see if you'll end up having an undergraduate publication because it looks great for them.
Oh alright, thanks!
Also, if you do join a lab group for a longer period of time such as 2-3 years, would that prevent you from getting other research opportunities seeing as you would already be preocupied with another research project? Or would you be able to be working on 2 projects simultaneously, like one 2-3 year one and then one shorter one? I ask this because don't medical schools prefer more research experience?
A couple of undergrads just got into the lab I work at, and they do all the dirty work (cleaning, autoclaving, etc). I talked to them and they said they were trying to find research by just emailing. It's a start, but I wouldn't want to be in this situation where you don't do actual research. Make sure you don't get into this situation.
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I think medical school mainly looks at your research experience in years. I don't think diversification of research labs will hurt you but switching labs every 6 months isn't going to accomplish much. I think it'll probably take me 3 months at least to get comfortable with all of the equipment in my lab.
Also if you're switching lab groups a lot then the chance of getting an undergraduate publication is pretty much zero.
My goals may be different than yours though. I'm strongly considering the MD/PhD route so having a publication as an undergraduate is almost necessary to get into the top programs.
That's true, I didn't consider that. And it makes sense that medical schools look at the number of years over the variety of labs. Plus I would rather work with the same group of people for a longer period than keep moving around. 🙂
Yeah, I definitely don't want to do that work; I'd much rather do actual research.How would I go about avoidiing this? Would I ask the professor what I would be doing during the research and make sure that he doesn't say cleaning test tubes and whatnot?
I was in 2 different labs because I was considering going into research and everyone told me to get my foot in at least 2 different labs so I knew what I was getting into.
It was great advice but very time consuming. To the point where I just kept 1 project and just helped on projects in the other lab.
Having 2 projects at once would have been too much to keep on top of. When it is your project, you have a lot more responsibility. Unless you are seriously thinking of going into research, stick with 1 lab and 1 project that hopefully will get you published but honeslty that has a lot to do with luck in finding the right lab.
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IMO you're probably going to start with the dirty work no matter what lab you get in to. It's part of being a freshman with no idea what's going on. Just make sure that the lab has a history of letting undergrads get more involved as time goes on
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My experience as well. You have to start doing those things because they require no skill. As you gain familiarity, post docs trust you to do things. Also, telling the PI you're in it for the long term and not having the first thing out of your mouth being "OH I'M PREMED" will be really helpful. Last, and certainly not least, your goal shouldn't be solely to get published. Publications are of course nice but by no means something you need. If you orient your goals around that, you'll be restricting yourself from maximizing time in the lab. It's about learning; you're pre med not a post doc.
Oh, okay, Thanks!
Also, it may sound like a dumb question, but how would you go about getting published? 😛
I guess I wouldn't mind doing the dirty work at first if I knew for a fact that I would be able to start doing actual research soon. 😛
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Even first year PhD students have to do a lot of the dirty work, it's just part of the process of joining a lab group 🙂
Don't know about the dirty work bit, I only got assigned some lab responsibilities after being around the lab a while. The scut work is pretty evenly distributed in my lab, with everyone, undergrads, grads, post-docs... pitching in.
As to finding a lab position, what got me interviews was reading about the lab's research then sending an email detailing why I was interested in that particular lab, and why they should be interested in taking me on. Bear in mind though that professors get lots of emails, if you want a response you may have to send a few emails...
As to finding a lab position, what got me interviews was reading about the lab's research then sending an email detailing why I was interested in that particular lab, and why they should be interested in taking me on. Bear in mind though that professors get lots of emails, if you want a response you may have to send a few emails...
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Take a class or two of subject you like, preferably with the same professor and do well (even better if you are majoring in the subject, but you aren't limited to research in your major). Talk to that professor when you are done with the class, tell them you are interested and hopefully they will let you get to work. Occasionally there is a requirement before they will let you, like it will have to be at the beginning of the semester and for psych majors you have to have psychological statistics or something along those lines.
If you're a guy, stalk your guy professor into the men's room. Once he's at the urinal, he can't go anywhere. Go to the stall next to his and tell him your life story. After he's done. Offer to clean his hands. On your way out, go ahead and mention the research.
He'll applaud your innovative approach and will desperately want someone as helpful as yourself into his lab.
🙂
He'll applaud your innovative approach and will desperately want someone as helpful as yourself into his lab.
🙂
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Or you know ...file a complaint against you for harassment
Blame it on the a-a-a-autocorrect.
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Does your school have an undergrad research program option? If so, I would start there.
If not, figure out what profs you like and ask them about opportunities. Network with other students and people from outside. If you are going to "cold call" to get a position, make sure you're being targeted and only approach people whose work seems interesting.
Depending on what kind of research you want to do, you can work on getting the skills early. If you're doing bench work, figure out what techniques you need to master to land something. (Hint: the school's career postings can point you in the right direction on this one). If you want to do clinical research with subjects/patients, get yourself familiar with things like HIPAA and basic FDA regulations for human subjects protections. Those will give you a HUGE leg up on other applicants.
If not, figure out what profs you like and ask them about opportunities. Network with other students and people from outside. If you are going to "cold call" to get a position, make sure you're being targeted and only approach people whose work seems interesting.
Depending on what kind of research you want to do, you can work on getting the skills early. If you're doing bench work, figure out what techniques you need to master to land something. (Hint: the school's career postings can point you in the right direction on this one). If you want to do clinical research with subjects/patients, get yourself familiar with things like HIPAA and basic FDA regulations for human subjects protections. Those will give you a HUGE leg up on other applicants.
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I also want to add that the kindness of your PI goes a long way. I have worked in two labs. The first was a clinical lab but the PI was a total bitch and never explained anything.
On the other hand, I joined another lab recently and thus far I have learned so much in my short time here that I regret not making the change to this lab sooner.
Tl;dr: Don't settle for a lab you don't want to be in
On the other hand, I joined another lab recently and thus far I have learned so much in my short time here that I regret not making the change to this lab sooner.
Tl;dr: Don't settle for a lab you don't want to be in
