Real Research?

[BeastfromthEast]

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hey in my freshman year im doing research for a whole year. but im wondering whether its considered "real" research or not.

its a year long class (2 semesters) that i applied to when i was a senior in high school. like maybe 9 freshman got into it.

basically in the class we find phage, isolate the DNA, and later analyze the phage genome. we all have a good chance of each finding a unique phage (which isnt saying much because there is so many out there everywhere) which is pretty cool because we could name it whatever we want (i plan on naming it [insert my name here]us maximus). however, only one person's phage genome could get mapped, and in the second semester the whole class analyzes it and maps it. chance of getting published, doing presentation, etc.

but however, i am not conducting my own experiment that i planned out. everything is laid out and i am following instructions. so is this "real" research? how would med schools view it?

thanks!

program is HHMI NGRI Phage Genomics

 

[randomb]

Not real research, IMO.

 

[Hejman]

Not real research, IMO.

LOL wut?

It is real research. Don't listen to the noob. Take it from a published pre-med. (FWIW)

 

[familyaerospace]

It's good at this stage in your career. You are probably going to have better research experience than most premeds here. You're applying to medical school, not a research faculty position.

Not everyone is going to be a PI of their own research project and be in charge of everything from proposals to funding to designing, etc. That took me around 3 years to work up to and I had to start at the bottom. I'm still analysing and publishing data 3 years later. (Sigh).

 

[LoveTheRunner]

what you describe is how our biochem lab is set up. unfortunately, still a class. if you continue working with them following your course, definitely would improve its standing

 

[kami333]

what you describe is how our biochem lab is set up. unfortunately, still a class. if you continue working with them following your course, definitely would improve its standing

^^^ This

Good experience, but still a class (unless the title of the course is independent research or similar, is it?)

 

[Catalystik]

The "real" research experience you're gaining is well above test-tube washing and rat-cage cleaning, where some folks start. After you gain experience and the PI has learned to trust you, you can earn the opportunity to gain more control over a project. Take baby steps first, then walk, then run.

 

[BeastfromthEast]

what you describe is how our biochem lab is set up. unfortunately, still a class. if you continue working with them following your course, definitely would improve its standing

hmm unfortunately i cant continue working with the lab once the class is over. once its done, its done.

i havent seen the amcas application or anything, but would i be able to put this under research experience? or only under the classes?

 

[Catalystik]

hmm unfortunately i cant continue working with the lab once the class is over. once its done, its done.

i havent seen the amcas application or anything, but would i be able to put this under research experience? or only under the classes?

You would list it under Research, even though you got academic credit and it's on the transcript (just as you would if it were employment or a volunteer position). With this experience, you are more likely to be taken seriously when you inquire about positions in other labs. And maybe your teacher will suggest someone to you from his knowledge of who's looking for some help.

 

[IvyHopeful20]

hey in my freshman year im doing research for a whole year. but im wondering whether its considered "real" research or not.

its a year long class (2 semesters) that i applied to when i was a senior in high school. like maybe 9 freshman got into it.

basically in the class we find phage, isolate the DNA, and later analyze the phage genome. we all have a good chance of each finding a unique phage (which isnt saying much because there is so many out there everywhere) which is pretty cool because we could name it whatever we want (i plan on naming it [insert my name here]us maximus). however, only one person's phage genome could get mapped, and in the second semester the whole class analyzes it and maps it. chance of getting published, doing presentation, etc.

but however, i am not conducting my own experiment that i planned out. everything is laid out and i am following instructions. so is this "real" research? how would med schools view it?

thanks!

program is HHMI NGRI Phage Genomics

It's perfectly fine and real research.

LOL @ 'planning our your own experiment.' Most undergrads don't do that. Hell, even grad students don't do that initially.

 

[UnclePhil]

It's perfectly fine and real research.

LOL @ 'planning our your own experiment.' Most undergrads don't do that. Hell, even grad students don't do that initially.

That really depends, one of my PIs gave me my own project. I did planning, I chose how to move forward, I planned the experiments, etc. I did it for a year during u-grad and I work there now after graduating. It was a small lab though, it's just something I noticed, a lot of high profile labs will make you run PCR all day and clean while some smaller labs will give you more options and flexibility. Sure, you might not get a Nature pub out of it, but as far as the experience goes, it's better than genotyping for post docs.

 

[IvyHopeful20]

That really depends, one of my PIs gave me my own project. I did planning, I chose how to move forward, I planned the experiments, etc. I did it for a year during u-grad and I work there now after graduating. It was a small lab though, it's just something I noticed, a lot of high profile labs will make you run PCR all day and clean while some smaller labs will give you more options and flexibility. Sure, you might not get a Nature pub out of it, but as far as the experience goes, it's better than genotyping for post docs.

Hence 'most'. 🙂

I worked for four years at the same lab, my PI loved me and gave me an amazing LOR but the nature of our projects dictated that the time required to become a first author was beyond the time commitment that I was able to provide (you need 4-5 hours per day without break for months). I do know some people do have that independent experience, but it is not common.

 

[BeastfromthEast]

hey thanks for all the responses! btw would this research be considered an "ec?"

 

[Hejman]

10 characters

 

[saveourpens]

What you described sounds a lot like my biochem lab. I will not be listing it as a research experience on my app.

 

[JJMrK]

That's a good first step. Look for ways to present posters/give talks, get your name on a manuscript, etc.