My Undergraduate Research

[FT 9]

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okay guys, I know you've probably seen BILLIONS of these kinds of questions, but can you still help me out?

I'm currently a sophomore (undergrad) at the University of Cincinnati. I just got a wonderful opportunity to research breast cancer at UC College of Medicine with the professor of molecular and cellular physiology - the department is ranked 6 in the nation in terms of faculty productivity. He was voted the best graduate mentor and teacher at UC. I am thrilled to be working with him.

So about my work: I work with a cancer cell line, MDAMB231. The lab has identified 4 serotonin receptors and my job is to try and identify whether these receptors are susceptible to various medications. Nothing too hard at first.

The thing is, this research is quite time consuming - i have to dedicate between 15-20 hours a week so I don't really have time to volunteer at hospitals. Would this hurt my chances since I won't get much volunteer experience? Is a balance more beneficial?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

you're only a sophomore. you have plenty of time to volunteer later.

 

[schrizto]

are your summers free? you can always volunteer then. your research opportunity is too good to pass up.

 

[shiftingmirage]

Granted, one can get accepted without volunteering, don't expect research to be your excuse. Previous posters on SDN have commented that they worked full time, attended school full time, and volunteered.

 

[strummin]

No. DO IT!! The fact that you're thrilled to work in his lab AND that he's such a great mentor/researcher/PI is a very unique combination and opportunity. Don't waste amazing opportunities like these just so you can have the typical med school application.

Squeeze in about 50hrs of volunteering over the next two years and you should be more than fine. 15-20hrs/week of research is not even that bad.

Don't. Waste. This. Opportunity.

 

[jjmad1201]

oh sheezit dude im a sophomore at UC too!!!
sounds like some decent research but us undergrads have plenty of awesome research opportunities, congrats by the way and cya in genetics and o chem tomorrow(assuming you are a bio major)

 

[CoolWhipp]

Do it. I work with ESCs, and they are such a pain. You look at them and they start differentiating. With cancer cells you can treat em like crap, and they still do there thing. It's hard to be involved and not commit at least 15 hours. I'm in the lab about 25 hours a week. A large portion of it is just feeding, maintaining, and passaging cells, but its got to be done if you have cells.

I would do research and leave volunteering for later. I volunteer 10 hours at a hospital, but in order to do what I'm doing you have to make certain sacrifices. I get 5 hours of sleep every night, and I don't work out because, with the sleep I get, it totally drains me.

 

[FT 9]

No. DO IT!! The fact that you're thrilled to work in his lab AND that he's such a great mentor/researcher/PI is a very unique combination and opportunity. Don't waste amazing opportunities like these just so you can have the typical med school application.

Squeeze in about 50hrs of volunteering over the next two years and you should be more than fine. 15-20hrs/week of research is not even that bad.

Don't. Waste. This. Opportunity.

oh really? I thought med schools want to look at 200-300 hours. I've got 60 hours done freshman year. I still have time to do volunteer work at hospitals around once a week though. 3 hours a week for about 30 weeks = 90 so i guess i can manage.

Thanks!

And there is no way i'm going to let go of this research - worked too hard getting it lol

 

[FT 9]

Do it. I work with ESCs, and they are such a pain. You look at them and they start differentiating. With cancer cells you can treat em like crap, and they still do there thing. It's hard to be involved and not commit at least 15 hours. I'm in the lab about 25 hours a week. A large portion of it is just feeding, maintaining, and passaging cells, but its got to be done if you have cells.

I would do research and leave volunteering for later. I volunteer 10 hours at a hospital, but in order to do what I'm doing you have to make certain sacrifices. I get 5 hours of sleep every night, and I don't work out because, with the sleep I get, it totally drains me.

thanks! i'm working with mdamb231 mammary gland carcinoma and like you said, feeding and maintaining does take a long time. I pretty much have a full schedule... taking 18 creds on top of the research which I don't mind. I'm just worried about how many volunteer hours i do.... i'm doing 3 per week atm. the full year should get me close to 90. People keep on telling me you need around 300 over 3 years... i'll have 120 by then end of this year.

 

[FT 9]

oh sheezit dude im a sophomore at UC too!!!
sounds like some decent research but us undergrads have plenty of awesome research opportunities, congrats by the way and cya in genetics and o chem tomorrow(assuming you are a bio major)

really? that's sweet. I'm already beginning to hate genetics. Paquin doesn't know how to teach at all. I haven't learned a single thing... 50% of the time she talks about the YFG project, 20% on actual material, and 30% on 2 prs questions... on top of this, the book is useless on gaining useful info. It talks about too many methods and experiments!

 

[CoolWhipp]

thanks! i'm working with mdamb231 mammary gland carcinoma and like you said, feeding and maintaining does take a long time. I pretty much have a full schedule... taking 18 creds on top of the research which I don't mind. I'm just worried about how many volunteer hours i do.... i'm doing 3 per week atm. the full year should get me close to 90. People keep on telling me you need around 300 over 3 years... i'll have 120 by then end of this year.

You don't have to get any amount of hours. As long as you are getting it done, 3 hours a week works. You are just putting more concentration on research, which is fine. I'm doing the basically the same thing. Most people only do 4 hours a week. It's better to stay at 4 hours, imo, and if you have extra time to spare do some shadowing.

 

[jjmad1201]

really? that's sweet. I'm already beginning to hate genetics. Paquin doesn't know how to teach at all. I haven't learned a single thing... 50% of the time she talks about the YFG project, 20% on actual material, and 30% on 2 prs questions... on top of this, the book is useless on gaining useful info. It talks about too many methods and experiments!

wow i couldnt say it any better it feels like were learning nothing but experimental procedure and the book is horrible, i miss conover