How to go about reaching out to programs at other institutions for research?

[EmptyStep]

I'm an M2 at a low tier MD school without our own surgical subspecialty programs. Our school offers absolutely no help with getting research opportunities, so I'm basically on my own trying to figure out how I'm supposed to make connections in my fields of interest for future LORs, get research, shadow, etc.

Fortunately I'm in a big city with more than 4 other medical schools, including a couple of Top 20 schools. My question is, what is the proper etiquette to follow when trying to find mentors/research? Should I send an email to each individual faculty member who is working on projects I'm interested in, or should I only email program directors to describe my situation and ask if they know of any opportunities for me in their department?

Also, whether I end up sending emails to individual faculty of PDs, is it customary to include an attached CV?

Thanks for any feedback!

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[Lya]

There are multiple ways to cold email faculties. If there are big name faculties that you really want to work with, I would email them separately. Otherwise, it’s okay to contact a program director who can refer you to faculties with research projects.

I would keep the emails short and concise. Mention which school you go to, the fact that you have no home program but remain interested in the specialty, ask politely if there are ongoing projects you can help with.

Many people would say you should include your CV in your first email. But as a M2 with limited exposure to the field, faculties don’t expect you to have many specialty-specific publications so I doubt they would even open that attachment to read the CV. So I usually don’t attach it unless they ask for it in their follow-up email. When they say no to your emails, it is usually because of logistics or unavailable projects, not the CV.

 

[JamesPotterMS-3]

I'm a DO school, so YMMV, but I was in a similar situation as you as an M2.
My only advice is that a polite, informed email goes a long way.. look up PDs in your area that do research in a field you are genuinely passionate about (clinicians, not PhDs, ideally). Look up their most recent work in PubMed and read-up. Then, if you are sill interested, send them an email asking to meet up and ask how you could be a part of their projects.

Nonetheless, my honest answer is even if you do get in a lab, doing anything meaningful while an M2 is nearly impossible, especially if you have boards in the Spring. Boards>>>"research." Doesn't matter if you're published in NEJM if you end up with a sub 230 because you were spending 20 hours a week doing research. My personal reccomendation would be to wait a couple of months until boards have passed than start contacting PDs. Personally, I have a ton more time now as an M3 to do research/meaningful activity than during M2.

 

[EmptyStep]

Thanks for the replies. I hear you on Step studying, but on the other hand what use is a high step score if you have absolutely nothing else to go along with it? That's the scenario I'm afraid of falling into, as implied by my username. I'm a pretty good test taker and I feel like my Step studying is going well. I'd obviously be risking a lower score by taking on research this late in pre-clinicals, but on the other hand I'd have basically no shot at a surgical subspecialty coming from a low ranking school with no home program if all I have is just a good Step 1 and no meaningful research and LOR writers anyway.

I guess my follow up question is what is a reasonable time commitment? If a faculty member replies back and asks me how much bandwidth I have to devote to a project, what's the minimum weekly commitment that I could quote without being laughed out of the building?

 

[Lya]

Thanks for the replies. I hear you on Step studying, but on the other hand what use is a high step score if you have absolutely nothing else to go along with it? That's the scenario I'm afraid of falling into, as implied by my username. I'm a pretty good test taker and I feel like my Step studying is going well. I'd obviously be risking a lower score by taking on research this late in pre-clinicals, but on the other hand I'd have basically no shot at a surgical subspecialty coming from a low ranking school with no home program if all I have is just a good Step 1 and no meaningful research and LOR writers anyway.

I guess my follow up question is what is a reasonable time commitment? If a faculty member replies back and asks me how much bandwidth I have to devote to a project, what's the minimum weekly commitment that I could quote without being laughed out of the building?

Can you do research electives at a different institution as a 3rd year?

Faculties already know you are busy due to board studying, so they have low expectations and do not expect you to contribute much. They would understand if you say 3-5 hours a week. I think the whole point of this is more about getting your feet wet early on, so that when you come back as a 3rd/4th year to do research electives or away rotations, they know you already and you have something going on now that you can continue to pursue next year or so. I don't know when your step 1 is, but I would do research here and there from now to February or so, and then study hard until step 1.

I totally agree with your point, though. It's so hard to go all in on one thing and do well, while programs are actually looking for the whole package.