My plan of action regarding research?

[htdt]

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I'm a sophomore and currently taking 2 Intro to Research classes, one is traditional lab research and the other is clinical research. For both classes, we're connected with a faculty mentor in order to put together a research proposal and apply for UROP, which is basically a grant for undergrad to do research. The clinical research project is guaranteed funded while the other project is not. So here's my plan of action:

For this semester, I don't plan to go to lab and actually do lab work because of my heavy course load and other commitments. All I am doing now is coming to lab every other week and briefly meet with my faculty mentors to discuss the progress of writing my 2 proposals as well as to address any questions I have during the process of writing. For the Spring semester of my sophomore year (Spring 2014), I'll come to lab 10 hours/week to complete the clinical research project. Except it's not really a lab but more like an office because my clinical research project is mainly looking at survey and data already generated from patients and analyze them. Since I am actually not working in a "wet" lab and do any of the pipetting, I am just wondering if this is considered legitimate research experience or not? Just to clarify, my mentors gave me a bunch of papers to read, and I write the proposal going off from the future research direction of one of the papers. I haven't finished it though so I am not sure how it will look like.

And then in Summer or Fall 2014, I'll hopefully do the yeast evolution project if I get the fund for that. This looks more like "actual research" since I'll be going into a lab and streak yeasts on petri dishes. However, as I am writing up the 2 proposals right now, I feel that my interest lies more toward the clinical research project and not so much for the Evolution one. I eventually want to stay in a lab for a long-term basis to write my Honors senior thesis, so which lab should I choose to stay after finishing my 2 projects? Would med schools prefer one type of research over another, or are they viewed equally?

One last question: How much of research would med schools like? Would they like semesters after semesters of research, or would 1 or 2 simple projects like the ones I'll be doing be enough of the research experience section in the pre-med checklist?

 

[deleted530324]

Except it's not really a lab but more like an office because my clinical research project is mainly looking at survey and data already generated from patients and analyze them.

So, my impression of research performed by medical students is this ^. Based on the schools I've attended Q and A's at, when I ask how there will be time for research they say, "Oh! You'll get one afternoon a week" or "One month of the year" or "The summer" for student research. I'm pretty sure they're just doing database sifting (something I have no experience in). So if you've got experience doing that, I imagine it's a plus for med schools that have students doing that kind of research. It's definitely legitimate. And if you can publish anything, even better.


It seems to me most medical schools do clinical research, and less "wet lab". BUT, it absolutely depends on which school, so I suggest looking into the ones you'll want to attend.

As far as asking whether it's better to stick with a lab for a few years or do a quick project with a mentor, it depends on what you want. Here's me 2 cents about sticking with a lab:

If you stick with a lab for a while, and the scientists and PI are good (DON'T STAY WITH A BAD LAB) you're guaranteed some good research LORs. Unless you're an unlikable person and do poor work, haha. Besides the LORs, the longer you're at a lab the more likely you will be given projects attached to publications. In that light, look for which labs are putting out the most publications. If a lab is publishing a lot of research at the moment it's likely you'll get a chance to be included in that work and given recognition. Another tip, when you're interviewing for a student position, be genuinely interested in learning the ropes of research. When we hire students in my lab, we usually tell them they'll get a project after at least one year of work, in order to deter the students who feel privileged and deserving of a project despite their lack of experience. But, if they work well we usually give them a project around 6 months.



Best advice of all though, is do what you like. If you like the clinical side, get into it and be passionate about it.

 

[Mr Avante]

Classes don't count as research

 

[Aerus]

I eventually want to stay in a lab for a long-term basis to write my Honors senior thesis, so which lab should I choose to stay after finishing my 2 projects? Would med schools prefer one type of research over another, or are they viewed equally?

Either one works. Pick the one you enjoy more and are willing to dedicate more hours to without being miserable. Any hypothesis driven research that encourages independent thinking is excellent and a lot better than the typical "clean flasks and make gels" kind of tasks you see the majority of pre-meds do.

One last question: How much of research would med schools like? Would they like semesters after semesters of research, or would 1 or 2 simple projects like the ones I'll be doing be enough of the research experience section in the pre-med checklist?

Medical schools want to see you doing something you're passionate about. But if you're going off the mere checklist mentality, most applicants to mid tier to top schools have at least a year of research.

Classes don't count as research

Research taken for credit is fine.

 

[htdt]

So, my impression of research performed by medical students is this ^. Based on the schools I've attended Q and A's at, when I ask how there will be time for research they say, "Oh! You'll get one afternoon a week" or "One month of the year" or "The summer" for student research. I'm pretty sure they're just doing database sifting (something I have no experience in). So if you've got experience doing that, I imagine it's a plus for med schools that have students doing that kind of research. It's definitely legitimate. And if you can publish anything, even better.


It seems to me most medical schools do clinical research, and less "wet lab". BUT, it absolutely depends on which school, so I suggest looking into the ones you'll want to attend.

As far as asking whether it's better to stick with a lab for a few years or do a quick project with a mentor, it depends on what you want. Here's me 2 cents about sticking with a lab:

If you stick with a lab for a while, and the scientists and PI are good (DON'T STAY WITH A BAD LAB) you're guaranteed some good research LORs. Unless you're an unlikable person and do poor work, haha. Besides the LORs, the longer you're at a lab the more likely you will be given projects attached to publications. In that light, look for which labs are putting out the most publications. If a lab is publishing a lot of research at the moment it's likely you'll get a chance to be included in that work and given recognition. Another tip, when you're interviewing for a student position, be genuinely interested in learning the ropes of research. When we hire students in my lab, we usually tell them they'll get a project after at least one year of work, in order to deter the students who feel privileged and deserving of a project despite their lack of experience. But, if they work well we usually give them a project around 6 months.



Best advice of all though, is do what you like. If you like the clinical side, get into it and be passionate about it.

Thank you for your advice. Yes, we currently have a 2nd year medical student working alongside with me. He is basically doing the exact same thing I did, and he only comes for one 8-hour shift per week. But he also designed the database that I use to enter data. So I guess this is indeed the kind of research done by med students (maybe?). I am thinking about MD/PhD, so what exactly should I do for research?

Oh, and I absolutely HATE pipetting and running gels, so I guess the lab-bench type of research is not for me...