Research at UG or NIH

[Rodgerstheone]

Hey guys, so I'm a 3rd year (undergrad) at a T20 and have been researching on campus since the summer before sophomore year. I have previously worked in a biomedical eng lab (fluid stuff) and am now working in a computational lab. I went on 2 conferences and with posters with the first lab. And have also gotten a poster for the 2nd lab. I plan on continuing with the second lab until I graduate, but I was wondering if it is wise for me to work for a NIH lab offcampus over the summer. I wanted to do something more clinical or related more to medicine just for a summer and return to my old during the school year. Any thoughts would be appreciated, and happy holidays.

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[camnewton1]

I was in a similar spot the last two summers. A few things you might want to consider:

- continuity in one lab vs. just 3 months at the NIH lab (potential for more involvement and papers/posters)
- taking a break from what you're currently researching to trying out new areas of research
- environment with which you are familiar with to a new, possibly more enriching environment

I personally decided to stay on at the lab at my undergrad, as this enabled me to be more deeply involved over a long period of time, leading to more papers. I also decided to stay on because I was working on medical school applications, and staying on at the undergraduate lab gave me more flexibility in this regard. Ultimately, it all depends on what you want out of research, and what you hope to gain from the summer!