M1 research question / FAQ clarification

[Diallelus]

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The FAQ says that basic research trumps clinical which trumps physics. However, it also says that, ideally, research should be in radiation oncology. I'm not sure what qualifies as basic research in RadOnc, per se. Does this refer to any molecular biology research related to cancer, as in "The effects of Transcription factor XYZ knockout in mouse liver cell line ABC," or other bench biochem research that happens to be relevant to cancer?

I'm an M1 interested in RadOnc, and after doing fine on 2 tests I feel like I have plenty of time (20 hours / week) to do research, but I want to maximize my benefit. I could almost certainly get involved in some clinical project at my local RadOnc department, but if it would be better to do bench research in a biochem lab I will do that instead.

TLDR: my school has a cancer bio. dept. with many basic biochem bench projects I could get involved in that are directly related to cancer. Should I do this or try to do clinical RadOnc research, given that I am only an MS1?

 

[Neuronix]

Should I do this or try to do clinical RadOnc research, given that I am only an MS1?

My advice is to do this, unless you are planning on taking a year or more out. Basic science is great, but it takes a year or more to get anything accomplished. You won't get much out of a basic science project in a summer or even in two summers. In contrast, getting a clinical research publication often isn't that difficult, and it helps you build connections within the department.

 

[Diallelus]

My advice is to do this, unless you are planning on taking a year or more out. Basic science is great, but it takes a year or more to get anything accomplished. You won't get much out of a basic science project in a summer or even in two summers. In contrast, getting a clinical research publication often isn't that difficult, and it helps you build connections within the department.

I appreciate your advice and quick response, but I should have been more clear. If I do the basic science route I will be doing it during the school year, as I currently have room in my schedule for it. I should be able to work on it at least part-time (15-25 hours / week) until at least MS2. I know I should also do clinical research, especially when I hit clinical years, but I was wondering if doing a basic science project for the next 2 years would be worth it, given that I have the time.

 

[Sheldor]

I appreciate your advice and quick response, but I should have been more clear. If I do the basic science route I will be doing it during the school year, as I currently have room in my schedule for it. I should be able to work on it at least part-time (15-25 hours / week) until at least MS2. I know I should also do clinical research, especially when I hit clinical years, but I was wondering if doing a basic science project for the next 2 years would be worth it, given that I have the time.

Just a word of caution: You may want to give it a little while longer before committing to a project for 20 hours a week. Believe it or not, most schools try to ease their students into the year and so the material may be a little easier now than it will become. Also, a lot of times the amount of BS that needs to be taken care of outside of studying increases as the year goes on, ie clinical medicine projects, preceptors, ethics papers, etc etc etc.

Getting involved with research if you have time is amazing, I would just hate to see you commit to more than you can handle and then have to cut back later once others are depending on you.

 

[Neuronix]

Your typical graduate student spends at least a year full time, typically two, before they are writing basic science papers in their thesis lab. The idea of doing that part-time during medical school is very optimistic at best. Rarely someone is handed a project that works quickly, but you can't rely on that. Keep in mind as well that you want to do as well in medical school as possible and score very highly on step 1.

As for doing clinical research when you "hit clinical years", you will have a few months during fourth year at most for that. The idea of doing clinical research on top of third year is laughable. Stay focused on getting clinical honors during third year.

 

[Diallelus]

Thanks for the advice, both of you. I genuinely appreciate it. That said, Neuronix, would I be correct in surmising, on the basis of your advice, that I would be better off with excellent Step 1 / class rank and decent research than with mediocre numbers and great research? I didn't think so at first, but now that I've read more about this (including your informative blog about how clinical medical people evaluate research and MD/PhD work). It seems, so long as one has some decent research of his/her belt, that a great Step 1 score would be more helpful than another publication or poster, yes?

 

[RadOncDoc21]

Thanks for the advice, both of you. I genuinely appreciate it. That said, Neuronix, would I be correct in surmising, on the basis of your advice, that I would be better off with excellent Step 1 / class rank and decent research than with mediocre numbers and great research? I didn't think so at first, but now that I've read more about this (including your informative blog about how clinical medical people evaluate research and MD/PhD work). It seems, so long as one has some decent research of his/her belt, that a great Step 1 score would be more helpful than another publication or poster, yes?

In a nutshell, yes! Just think you can always do research, you only get one shot at Step 1. Knowing this sooner would have made my life much easier.

-R

 

[AmericanMD]

The idea of doing clinical research on top of third year is laughable. Stay focused on getting clinical honors during third year.

Really? What if you haven't done any rad onc research yet, and you're interested in rad onc, and you're a new third year med student? You've got to have some rad onc stuff on your application before you apply for residencies right? I can't imagine that everyone knows they wanna do rad onc before third year, and already has some research under their belt.

 

[Neuronix]

I can't imagine that everyone knows they wanna do rad onc before third year, and already has some research under their belt.

As for doing clinical research when you "hit clinical years", you will have a few months during fourth year

You can take a year out if you like. It's not necessary, but will help you land a top program if the rest of your application is stellar. Also, RadOncDoc21 is spot on.

 

[Diallelus]

Thanks, Neuronix and RadOncDoc.

 

[Sheldor]

As a disclaimer, I'm still on the student side so take my thoughts accordingly!

One other piece of advice that no one offered me. As you getting ready to start research try and find a project that you can make your own. I lucked into an opportunity that was really just the germ of an idea so I was able to plan, organize and implement the entire project by myself. The pros to this were that I feel like I had a much more "real" experience, and enjoyed it a lot more. The cons were that because I wasn't the cog in a giant research machine i didn't get my name on a paper because of it. However, I feel like I will have a lot more to discuss during interviews.

All of this to say, try not to just be the guy to comes in and pipettes for a few hours a day. I found it much more enjoyable to be the one in charge of my project, and leading it towards completion. Good luck!

 

[Neuronix]

As you getting ready to start research try and find a project that you can make your own.

Again, you should only be aiming for this in the basic science world if you have at least a year full-time to dedicate to a project. Even then you may not get published, and it would be good to either get your name on another project or do clinical research as well to guarantee that you will get your name on something.

As much as it sucks, your primary aim should be to get published. You don't need to, but this field is so competitive and so "research" oriented that it's pretty helpful. If it's a clinical research project in a limited amount of time, make sure it's a project that already has the data collected and an IRB approved (or waived). If not, make sure you take care of that well in advance.