Light Research = Bad Research?

[jhenj529]

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Hi!

So it's pretty much set that I won't be able to find groundbreaking research over my M1 summer. I've been looking for many, many months at my med school (southern US). I did come across a small clinical research project. It doesn't sound too intensive, but the PI said he would be interested in publishing it within the next few years. It sound like this would yield a publication, but I can nerve be sure. How much would working on a small project like this hurt me for residency? Should I continue to push and find a case report at a different institution (even if I would have to pay for my own travels), or just be content with this. The only other alternative is doing basic bench research in rads, and the PI was very unclear at what I'd be doing as a non-engineering student. I was just going to use the extra time study for boards.I'm interested in either OBGYN/IM or Rads.

 

[mistafab]

Would not hurt

 

[TakotsuboOkazaki]

I think it is worth it. It is still early and I feel like if you get to the end of second year and that project isn't panning out, then you can always scramble for a case report or some resident/attendings' project to jump on in 3rd year.

 

[jhenj529]

I think it is worth it. It is still early and I feel like if you get to the end of second year and that project isn't panning out, then you can always scramble for a case report or some resident/attendings' project to jump on in 3rd year.

What's worth it? Scrambling to find another project or just doing the small one.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

I rank research higher (even if not published) than a case report.

 

[jhenj529]

I rank research higher (even if not published) than a case report.

Yeah the current thing I have wouldn't be a case report. I'm just asking if it's okay that the researxh opprotunity I have now is low commitment? Or should I try to find something else? I was just going to use thay extra time to study for step

 

[SurfingDoctor]

Yeah the current thing I have wouldn't be a case report. I'm just asking if it's okay that the researxh opprotunity I have now is low commitment? Or should I try to find something else? I was just going to use thay extra time to study for step

I mean, there’s no downside to having something that is low commitment. But of course, low commitment generally means low reward. If that’s fine with you... go for it. In addition, some research is better than no research.

 

[jhamaican]

it is only "bad research" if it doesn't get you what you are looking for.

I would rather have light published research with a recommendation letter than "heavy research" that was a failure and went nowhere.