internship/research/ec tips

[estradiol9]

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I just finished my freshman year as an undergrad. I currently am a volunteer on a first aid squad as an EMT. I have been contributing at least 12 hours a week since April and intend on staying on this squad for the years to come. I am also a member of a Biology Society club at school, and hope to run for an office this upcoming year. Other than that, I also am on the Dean's list, a member of a greek honor society, have a part time job and a 3.7 overall GPA as a full time student.

I have been looking for some sort of internship or research experience. I applied for a few for this summer back in the spring but didn't land any of them. (SMDEP and other similar ones included.) Does anybody have any tips for applying for internships and research opportunities? I feel like I will consistently get rejected because I don't have any internship or research experience.. but geez, we all start somewhere! 🙁

 

[runrunrudolph1]

I just finished my freshman year as an undergrad. I currently am a volunteer on a first aid squad as an EMT. I have been contributing at least 12 hours a week since April and intend on staying on this squad for the years to come. I am also a member of a Biology Society club at school, and hope to run for an office this upcoming year. Other than that, I also am on the Dean's list, a member of a greek honor society, have a part time job and a 3.7 overall GPA as a full time student.

I have been looking for some sort of internship or research experience. I applied for a few for this summer back in the spring but didn't land any of them. (SMDEP and other similar ones included.) Does anybody have any tips for applying for internships and research opportunities? I feel like I will consistently get rejected because I don't have any internship or research experience.. but geez, we all start somewhere! 🙁

you could try doing research with a professor at your college. Usually it's decent money, plus you will get close with the professor that will be writing your letter of rec. later on. That's a good place to start. You could also try calling physicians and seeing if they need any help on projects they are working on (volunteer basis). This is what I did my freshman summer and surprisingly a surgeon took me on. It doesn't hurt to try.

 

[estradiol9]

How did you go about choosing which physicians to contact? And I totally don't care about the money. I would work full time doing research for free at this point, lol.

 

[runrunrudolph1]

How did you go about choosing which physicians to contact? And I totally don't care about the money. I would work full time doing research for free at this point, lol.

I literally went on the hospital's website, looked at different physicians and wrote down the phone numbers/emails of all the ones in specialties I was interested in. Then simply called or emailed them. If you call, you're likely to have the most positive results because it's hard for them to ignore you if you leave a message or two with the secretary. But emailing is really almost as effective.

 

[Invictus146]

Completely agree with the above. I would think/imagine that your school likely has a consolidated list of labs looking for research assistant. Ask around and definitely check there first. Make sure you're interested in the work though! You might just end up staying around for a few years.

Alternatively, poke around your biology department website. Investigate professor's research that sounds interesting and send out mass e-mails. Definitely advise doing this now, while you hopefully have time during the summer and before any available positions are filled.

Good luck!

 

[sonia1177]

I just finished my freshman year as an undergrad. I currently am a volunteer on a first aid squad as an EMT. I have been contributing at least 12 hours a week since April and intend on staying on this squad for the years to come. I am also a member of a Biology Society club at school, and hope to run for an office this upcoming year. Other than that, I also am on the Dean's list, a member of a greek honor society, have a part time job and a 3.7 overall GPA as a full time student.

I have been looking for some sort of internship or research experience. I applied for a few for this summer back in the spring but didn't land any of them. (SMDEP and other similar ones included.) Does anybody have any tips for applying for internships and research opportunities? I feel like I will consistently get rejected because I don't have any internship or research experience.. but geez, we all start somewhere! 🙁

Yes exactly, we all start somewhere. How about in a lab with one of the biology Professors at your school who are willing to let some undergrads get their foot in their door? The topic of research doesn't really matter. Just start somewhere you think is interesting.