Research Experience Help

[timothy786]

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I dont know which research experience to go for. One is dealing with preclinical trials while another is on chemistry and nanoparticles while a third is more peer research review on articles. Does one count over another? Should I pick the one which will give the most publications?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If there is a "should," pick the one who can get a strong LOR reliably early. Which has the strongest mentor?

A Strategic Guide to Letters of Recommendation - SDN

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Publications don't matter unless you are headed to a PhD.

 

[AJS59]

Pubs are helpful but not strictly so. Pick whatever interests you the most.

 

[Rachapkis]

First, I would pick what interests you, not what you think ad coms will want to see. Second, I would try to get a sense of the PI/mentor to determine whether you will work well together. Third, I would try to get a sense of what the timeframe to publication for each project is estimated to be. Fourth, I would try to find out whether the PI/mentor has a good track record of getting students published.

 

[LizzyM]

I'd also ask what skills you are expected to use for the project and what skills you can expect to acquire/sharpen. In the end, that is really the most valuable aspect of research.

 

[ablanco]

If you do research, people will ask about it. If you don't care about it or it didn't really impact you, it will show and likely show poorly.

 

[timothy786]

I'd also ask what skills you are expected to use for the project and what skills you can expect to acquire/sharpen. In the end, that is really the most valuable aspect of research.

only one has publication but they want me to work full time. the other one seems more chill but it is research for chemistry and i was thinking my researchc has to be bio and clinical related to show interest for medicine

 

[LizzyM]

only one has publication but they want me to work full time. the other one seems more chill but it is research for chemistry and i was thinking my researchc has to be bio and clinical related to show interest for medicine

The point of research as an undergrad or recent grad is not to show interest in medicine but to show an interest in scientific inquiry, curiosity about the natural world, and to become familiar with the scientific method (which may have been introduced to years ago in middle school or junior high "science fair").

The idea is that you or someone else has generated a hypothesis, you test that hypothesis by the systematic collection of observations intended to create new knowledge. It is a way of determining if perhaps your interest in scientific inquiry would be better suited to a career in research, or a career mixing research and clinical service, or if you are best suited for a career in clinical service alone but with an understanding of the scientific method which underpins clinical care. As a physician and life long learner you will be, at the very least, a consumer of scientific papers and having some background in the scientific method is helpful in determining if a research paper is valid.

 

[AJS59]

only one has publication but they want me to work full time. the other one seems more chill but it is research for chemistry and i was thinking my researchc has to be bio and clinical related to show interest for medicine

I got in with the only research to my name being in organometallic chemistry. Not very medical related

 

[Mr.Smile12]

In this week's article, I talk about research experience for prehealth students at small liberal arts colleges (really small ones) with one of our 2024 Advisors of the Year. Read the article and watch the video. Tease: she mentored an aspiring physical therapist working in her lab... which is focused on ants.

Building a Prehealth Foundation at Small Colleges: A Conversation with Dr. Chloe Lash - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net