Individual Research

[kelminak]

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I'm hoping this isn't legendary levels of stupid, but I know absolutely nothing about research. From what I know at my university, most professors expect you to have a 3.0 GPA in order to be in their lab, which I fall slightly under (hopefully there after this semester). I am interested in getting some research experience before I apply to DO schools in the 2017/18 cycle (not just to slap on applications, genuine interest), but I have absolutely no idea how I could do this if professors aren't going to be interested in me because 1) my GPA is still being repaired and 2) I'll likely only be around for 1 year, so the time they spend training me won't be that useful.

All of that said, my question is: Is it possible to do research without being in the lab of a professor? How would I go about even getting started on something like this if it's possible? I'm not even sure what to search for, and getting pointed in the right direction would be appreciated. If I'm being dumb or there are better options, I'm all ears!

 

[mw18]

If you mean performing your own research, I will leave that to others who know more about people's level of success and the credibility attributed to it.

But as far as research experience, I just asked an individual professor if he was doing research and he gave me some projects to look at. This was outside of the basic sciences, though, so maybe look to some of the softer sciences where there aren't as stringent of requirements.

 

[kelminak]

If you mean performing your own research, I will leave that to others who know more about people's level of success and the credibility attributed to it.

But as far as research experience, I just asked an individual professor if he was doing research and he gave me some projects to look at. This was outside of the basic sciences, though, so maybe look to some of the softer sciences where there aren't as stringent of requirements.

Yeah I guess I mean performing research without needing to be in a professor's lab. I'd like to focus on biological research if possible and I don't think I'd be qualified to do much outside of that realm.

 

[Dr. Death]

Come up with an idea for a project and write a grant proposal. No professor will turn you down if you have an idea pending funding. It shows you are serious and that you aren't just trying to piggyback to get something to put on an app.

 

[Cardboard101]

Yeah I guess I mean performing research without needing to be in a professor's lab. I'd like to focus on biological research if possible and I don't think I'd be qualified to do much outside of that realm.

How will you get access to equipment?
If you have a research proposal outlined, just go to a professor and ask. They'll likely let you work in their lab while doing your own research.

 

[eugnandez]

It shows you are serious and that you aren't just trying to piggyback to get something to put on an app.

 

[AlteredScale]

All of that said, my question is: Is it possible to do research without being in the lab of a professor? How would I go about even getting started on something like this if it's possible? I'm not even sure what to search for, and getting pointed in the right direction would be appreciated. If I'm being dumb or there are better options, I'm all ears!

Can you do research without being in the lab of a professor? Sure. But you really shouldn't try to. The point of being underneath a PI is to have directed mentorship through the research project. They have years upon years of understanding the scientific method, grant writing, manuscript writing, and obtaining NIH funding. Additionally they know how to comb through the literature (PubMed) in a logical way that helps them decipher what their next project should aim for. You doing research on your own may come off as you stating "I'm good enough and learned enough to do independent research with no help from a PI" and in many ways, you'll need something to show for it (poster at a national or regional conference at the least to a manuscript which is very hard to successfully do on your own without your PIs guidance).

If your GPA is below the cutoff, I would suggest focusing on your grades and when they get up, then apply. If it means pushing everything back one year then do it as it would be the smarter thing to do if research is that big of an importance (for many DO schools, research is suggested but not required. Different from DO/PhD, MSTP, or top-tier MD schools that are research intensive).

 

[kelminak]

Can you do research without being in the lab of a professor? Sure. But you really shouldn't try to. The point of being underneath a PI is to have directed mentorship through the research project. They have years upon years of understanding the scientific method, grant writing, manuscript writing, and obtaining NIH funding. Additionally they know how to comb through the literature (PubMed) in a logical way that helps them decipher what their next project should aim for. You doing research on your own may come off as you stating "I'm good enough and learned enough to do independent research with no help from a PI" and in many ways, you'll need something to show for it (poster at a national or regional conference at the least to a manuscript which is very hard to successfully do on your own without your PIs guidance).

If your GPA is below the cutoff, I would suggest focusing on your grades and when they get up, then apply. If it means pushing everything back one year then do it as it would be the smarter thing to do if research is that big of an importance (for many DO schools, research is suggested but not required. Different from DO/PhD, MSTP, or top-tier MD schools that are research intensive).

Understood. I think in that case my chance to do undergrad research has passed and I'll just need to let it go. I'll have other extracurriculars for my application (500+ volunteer hours hopefully), so I'll just let go of the idea of doing research before I apply next year and await perhaps a different opportunity to do so (maybe in medical school). My focus should be getting my GPA up anyway, so perhaps this isn't the worst thing. 🙂

 

[IslandStyle808]

Can you do research without being in the lab of a professor? Sure. But you really shouldn't try to. The point of being underneath a PI is to have directed mentorship through the research project. They have years upon years of understanding the scientific method, grant writing, manuscript writing, and obtaining NIH funding. Additionally they know how to comb through the literature (PubMed) in a logical way that helps them decipher what their next project should aim for. You doing research on your own may come off as you stating "I'm good enough and learned enough to do independent research with no help from a PI" and in many ways, you'll need something to show for it (poster at a national or regional conference at the least to a manuscript which is very hard to successfully do on your own without your PIs guidance).

If your GPA is below the cutoff, I would suggest focusing on your grades and when they get up, then apply. If it means pushing everything back one year then do it as it would be the smarter thing to do if research is that big of an importance (for many DO schools, research is suggested but not required. Different from DO/PhD, MSTP, or top-tier MD schools that are research intensive).

Going off of what Alteredscale is saying, being the PI of your project is extremely difficult. It is not just the research experience, but also grants are not usually given to those who are non-faculty or even non-PhDs for that matter. If it is a project on humans, I believe you need a PhD who is apart of an institution, to get IRB approval (well of course this applies to MDs, Vets, etc. who have doctoral degree). So in other words you will have difficulties trying to get a project going with out a faculty member to back you up.

I published a review article several years back, which is by far the most non-PI related project that is even publishable. However, in the end, I still needed his guidance and in no way would a publisher take my work seriously if I weren't back up by a Ph.D. who is also a faculty member of a school.

 

[JDunc]

As a graduate student (M.S. and PhD) I will say this.

Coming up with original research takes time. You need to read original research articles from peer reviewed journals and find the gap in the research and come up with a way to fill that gap. Being your own PI is very difficult especially since you have no experience. You will need MD/DO or even better, a PhD. Reason for this is because they know the protocols for the experiments and they have the training and expertise to know WHY they are doing the research they are doing.

Honestly, just go ask a professor. If it is a professor who is highly involved in research at your university then they probably would not mind help.


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[AnatomyGrey12]

If you really want to do research then find a professor that focuses on something you like and set up an appointment with him to explain how you want to work in his lab. Most professors I have met don't really care about the grade cutoff and want people who will enjoy doing their research and be productive.

 

[GrumpyMS]

Go to the department website and look up the research focus of the labs. Find one that interest you. Go see said professor. Be professional and ask him/her if you could work in his/her lab. Usually they would say yes because...free labor... Once in, absorb the research, don't go in guns blazing.