Research; dealing with semester expectations and future

[Dandine]

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I'm posting to get some feedback on how realistic these plans are, because although I know of people who have been in similar situations I don't know whether I might be thinking too far ahead.

I am planning on taking a year off for this semester. This semester I'm working on a research paper; it is also my last semester, and although I am interested in the general field of study, I was hoping that during my year off I could do some research or work in a lab that I've become interested in, considering that it is related to a medical specialty that I want to learn more about. To be brief, I'm currently in a lab that studies emotion disorders but I'm also interested in working with people with drug addiction.

However, there are a few things that are still nagging me:

• Timing: I was considering applying to medical schools this year. This is especially tricky because I'm planning on taking the new MCAT as well. In terms of preparation I have the time, but I'm much more worried about whether I can pull off work and applying at the same time. If anyone who has been in this position, I would appreciate your thoughts.
• Finding labs: My current strategy is to look for opportunities near my hometown (there's a university and health centers not far). However, I'm not sure how people will react to the fact that I don't have as much research experience in this field.
• Transitioning interests: Even thought there is overlap in my interests, I'm not really sure what would be the best way to move from one concentration to another. My paper is about emotion, not addiction, so would it be a bit of a stretch to tell my PI that I see myself working in a different field in the future? Part of me thinks that my PI would be able to point me in some direction, but at the same time I am bent on completing this paper. Or maybe I should just worry about this once I actually start looking for labs?

Any thoughts would be awesome! Thank you (as always)!

 

[Noctámbulo]

You don't have to work in your specific field of interest as an undergrad; no one expects that. Research at this stage is more about learning about the scientific method and proper experimental design and less about becoming an expert in a subspecialty.

 

[Dandine]

You don't have to work in your specific field of interest as an undergrad; no one expects that. Research at this stage is more about learning about the scientific method and proper experimental design and less about becoming an expert in a subspecialty.

That makes sense to me--but how do I go about explaining that I want to get more involved with a particular field, like if I'm applying for a job or even during interviews since I don't have anything to really back it up. It's more along the lines of "I really think this is interesting, so I'm planning to make this may next project" than "I am absolutely sure I want to pursue this field".

 

[deoxyribonucleicacid]

For me, I have been involved in research for years. I am an undergrad myself. I have worked in labs in which I held little interest in but now I work in a lab in which I have complete interest in. If you want to get more involved in a particular field, I would apply to a lab in which has the specialty in which you would like to further involve yourself. No previous experience is necessarily required, but most labs like to see you have a background in lab work whether it be from classes with labs in which you have taken or previous work in a lab. Or, simply as a professor of yours in which also conducts research. You do not necessarily have to be going into the field in which the lab is doing research. I have worked in a lab that involved fossils and animal biology and I am studying biology and chemistry. It was simply a position in which was open and I applied for it. In the beginning, I did the basic work, but in the end, I ended up getting heavily involved in the research in which resulted in a publication. I now work in a lab in which I am conducting biochemistry experiments for research - it is much more interesting to me than studying and analyzing a fossil. I do not plan to go ahead with my PhD - I want to get my MD, but that did not stop the lab from hiring me.
Like you, I find biochemistry interesting and I like doing work in the field, but I do not plan to pursue the field. But I still was able to land a research job in that area 🙂

 

[Osteoth]

• Timing: I was considering applying to medical schools this year. This is especially tricky because I'm planning on taking the new MCAT as well. In terms of preparation I have the time, but I'm much more worried about whether I can pull off work and applying at the same time. If anyone who has been in this position, I would appreciate your thoughts.

Take a practice test (are there any out there for the new MCAT?), see where you stand, then plan from there. Nobody has been in the position of studying for the new MCAT yet, so you're kind of navigating uncharted waters right now.

• Finding labs: My current strategy is to look for opportunities near my hometown (there's a university and health centers not far). However, I'm not sure how people will react to the fact that I don't have as much research experience in this field.

Some PIs will care, others will not and will be perfectly ok with training you. Most ugrads don't have many research skills.

• Transitioning interests: Even thought there is overlap in my interests, I'm not really sure what would be the best way to move from one concentration to another. My paper is about emotion, not addiction, so would it be a bit of a stretch to tell my PI that I see myself working in a different field in the future? Part of me thinks that my PI would be able to point me in some direction, but at the same time I am bent on completing this paper. Or maybe I should just worry about this once I actually start looking for labs?

You're an undergrad, nobody expects you to have figured it all out yet. Interests change, finish your paper then move on to something new if you are truly interested, before you commit yourself to a field that you're not that interested in.

Any thoughts would be awesome! Thank you (as always)![/QUOTE]