Research & interviews

[Mistress S]

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This isn't a big deal since I'm not even applying until next year, but I was thinking about my (very limited) research experience and what I need to know about it for interviews. I spent a summer at the NIH in 2000 (so the experience will have been 4 years old by the time I would be interviewing), I was a sophomore at the time with a limited science background and basically just did lab gopher work for a few months. It was a fun experience and I met some interesting people, but I wasn't heavily involved in the research--I just did things like preparing buffer solutions. I only remember the basic outlines of the research the doctor I was working with was performing. What level of knowledge will I be expected to have about this? I have heard that people are often grilled about research they were involved in, is this always the case or only if you emphasize your research experience on your app? I did get an LOR from the doctor I worked with. Obviously I will review the info I have about the research before I go on interviews, but I am a little worried that I'll sound like an idiot if they start asking me detailed questions about the experiements or my participation in them, since I didn't really do all that much of interest there.

BTW, I am a non-science major with no interest in doing research as a doctor; actually, my experience at the NIH, while positive overall, nonetheless solidified my intuition that research would not be the best fit for my personality. I know I will want to have enough knowledge about the work to give a general explanation of it and that I'll want to emphasize what I learned there despite my limited role, I just hope I'm not expected to come off like a whiz about research that I was involved with for 3 months several years ago. If that is the case, though, then I figure I best start boning up on it sooner rather than later so I don't get caught with my proverbial pants down when some PhD starts quizzing me about it at an interview.

 

[tms]

I can't believe that you used "boning up" in the same sentence as "having my proverbal pants down". That's too damn funny.

Anyway, they prolly won't ask you questions about "research" 4 years ago. If they do, just say that you worked in a very limited capacity and know what the P.I. was interested in. Additionally, say that this experience helped you in deciding that bench research is not for you, "Although, clinical research and academic medicine are very sexy and I am interested in possibly pursuing them!"

Good Luck!

 

[Trizi]

Yeah, I agree. Just say that you were more of a lab tech since you were only there for a summer...too short of a time for you to get too much done on any one project. Do say how the experience solidified your decision to become a doctor and yada yada. You can give him or her a general overview of the stuff your lab was doing at the time, 4 years ago, without giving too many specifics.