Research Year after M2 - Other School

[qw098]

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Hi guys,

I am interested in doing a research year, but not at my current medical school. I'd like to get some exposure at another medical school. School prestige is not high on my list in terms of where I do my research year. I am simply interested in finding a good supervisor with a chance for multiple publications.

I was wondering where I could get access to a database of such opportunities. Is this an easy thing to do? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Money isn't too much of an issue. So a year long research project with only slight remuneration is not a big problem.

Thank you kindly,
qw098

 

[DermViser]

What's your purpose in doing a research year?

 

[qw098]

What's your purpose in doing a research year?

1) I am not fully sure what I want to do once I graduate so it would be nice to have an extra year to "figure stuff out".

2) Pump out a few papers to render myself a little more competitive for the match.

3) Looking for a small break/vacation from school. Call it a "mini-vacation" while still being productive.

Any thoughts guys or gals?

 

[DermViser]

Most people take research years in a field they are shooting for. I don't recommend taking a research to "discover" yourself as far as specialty as that rarely happens.

 

[cbrons]

1) I am not fully sure what I want to do once I graduate so it would be nice to have an extra year to "figure stuff out".

2) Pump out a few papers to render myself a little more competitive for the match.

3) Looking for a small break/vacation from school. Call it a "mini-vacation" while still being productive.

Any thoughts guys or gals?

This seems like an awful reason to take a year off. You want to get multiple pubs packed into a single year's time but "want a vacation". Research isn't going to be a vacation if its meaningful. You think low quality fluff that you can rush through just to put some schlopp down on Eras is gunna make you more competitive? Idk if you thought this thru my good man...


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[DermViser]

This seems like an awful reason to take a year off. You want to get multiple pubs packed into a single year's time but "want a vacation". Research isn't going to be a vacation if its meaningful. You think low quality fluff that you can rush through just to put some schlopp down on Eras is gunna make you more competitive? Idk if you thought this thru my good man...


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

Depending on what you're doing it's probably better timing than clerkships.

 

[qw098]

This seems like an awful reason to take a year off. You want to get multiple pubs packed into a single year's time but "want a vacation". Research isn't going to be a vacation if its meaningful. You think low quality fluff that you can rush through just to put some schlopp down on Eras is gunna make you more competitive? Idk if you thought this thru my good man...


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

Why is this an awful idea? Research can be very relaxing. IMO, quantity > quality for the ERAS... as sad as it may sound.

I consider this year like a "deferral" year, but still doing some quality stuff.

 

[DermViser]

Why is this an awful idea? Research can be very relaxing. IMO, quantity > quality for the ERAS... as sad as it may sound.

I consider this year like a "deferral" year, but still doing some quality stuff.

You don't do research to "relax" although it might be a by product due to the inherent hours. You do it, to augment your CV in some way and for the match likely in a specialty you're shooting for.

 

[PL198]

lol I did research to relax during summer and now it's september and I'm not even close to ready to publish. I started something pretty involved but still, if you want to get real stuff done, it's going to take a decent amount of time and effort.

 

[qw098]

Thanks for the advice DermViser. However, do you know of a database of such opportunities? Where I can find potential supervisors? I'd apply for your typical awards but still need to find a supervisor to take me on.

Thanks guys/gals.

lol I did research to relax during summer and now it's september and I'm not even close to ready to publish. I started something pretty involved but still, if you want to get real stuff done, it's going to take a decent amount of time and effort.

Agreed PL198 🙂

 

[wanderer]

You should at least try to narrow down what you want into a couple of fields. Imagine you spend a year doing ortho research and you realize 6 weeks in you hate ortho; do you think that year will feel like a vacation?
Basically think of 2-3 fields you may want, that are competitive, and worst case scenario do some research that can apply to different fields. There's no database out there but consider finding a mentor at your school. Be wary that the mentor might see an opportunity for someone doing his/her scut for a year and may try to make you work for them even if they have nothing but crappy projects.

 

[qw098]

You should at least try to narrow down what you want into a couple of fields. Imagine you spend a year doing ortho research and you realize 6 weeks in you hate ortho; do you think that year will feel like a vacation?
Basically think of 2-3 fields you may want, that are competitive, and worst case scenario do some research that can apply to different fields. There's no database out there but consider finding a mentor at your school. Be wary that the mentor might see an opportunity for someone doing his/her scut for a year and may try to make you work for them even if they have nothing but crappy projects.

Thanks wanderer. I've already chosen medicine > surgery. I'm mainly look at IM and derm.

I am interested in a mentor who isn't at my home institution. Trying to explore other places.

 

[wanderer]

Between those two I'd do derm research considering how competitive it is. If you can find projects that somehow merge the two (e.g. medications that cause derm issues) that's ideal. By mentor I meant adviser, not a research mentor, just to clarify.

 

[qw098]

Between those two I'd do derm research considering how competitive it is. If you can find projects that somehow merge the two (e.g. medications that cause derm issues) that's ideal. By mentor I meant adviser, not a research mentor, just to clarify.

Great idea wanderer! How should I go about finding projects?

 

[DermViser]

Thanks for the advice DermViser. However, do you know of a database of such opportunities? Where I can find potential supervisors? I'd apply for your typical awards but still need to find a supervisor to take me on.

Are you talking about with respect to taking a year off? I think first you need to decide what type of research you want to do clinical vs. basic science. Then you need to decide if you're doing it at your med school or somewhere else. Then you need to decide thru what mechanism: on your own year off, thru HHMI, thru Doris Duke, etc.
Hopefully this is in a specialty area you're going for (either IM or Derm in your case). Luckily for you, Derm has a lot of tie in with IM w/respect to disease processes (w/Rheumatology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, etc.) so it's fine.

 

[qw098]

Yes, Dermviser, I am talking about my year off which would hopefully be for the 2015-2016 school year.

I'd want it to be clinical and at another medical school. I am aware of HHMI and Doris Duke. However, my issue is how I should go about finding potential supervisors and projects outside of my current medical school.

I had the chance to do some oncology clinical research this summer. It was very relaxing, and I got to finish three projects. This positive experience is partially the reason I am interested in taking a year off for research.

 

[DermViser]

Yes, Dermviser, I am talking about my year off which would hopefully be for the 2015-2016 school year.

I'd want it to be clinical and at another medical school. I am aware of HHMI and Doris Duke. However, my issue is how I should go about finding potential supervisors and projects outside of my current medical school.

I had the chance to do some oncology clinical research this summer. It was very relaxing, and I got to finish three projects. This positive experience is partially the reason I am interested in taking a year off for research.

I would go to different Derm residency program websites and see which people there are involved in doing clinical research that you are interested in, preferably one that is productive as far as publications thru PubMed. Then email the person, that you're looking to take a year off from medical school. They will probably ask to see your CV up to this point, and might ask to see your grades preclinical/clinical, your board scores, etc.

If you have a home Derm program, you should also talk with your advisor on where they know places where prior students have done research, places they might know where research faculty take on students for a year, etc. You probably might want to build on your previous Oncology research and do research in skin cancer.

 

[qw098]

I would go to different Derm residency program websites and see which people there are involved in doing clinical research that you are interested in, preferably one that is productive as far as publications thru PubMed. Then email the person, that you're looking to take a year off from medical school. They will probably ask to see your CV up to this point, and might ask to see your grades preclinical/clinical, your board scores, etc.

If you have a home Derm program, you should also talk with your advisor on where they know places where prior students have done research, places they might know where research faculty take on students for a year, etc. You probably might want to build on your previous Oncology research and do research in skin cancer.

Thanks Dermviser! Great advice! Thanks a lot!

By your avatar and username I am guessing you are gunning for derm as well 😉 Best of luck!

 

[username456789]

Thanks Dermviser! Great advice! Thanks a lot!

By your avatar and username I am guessing you are gunning for derm as well 😉 Best of luck!

DermViser is actually a Derm resident.

 

[sinombre]

DermViser is actually a Derm resident.

Allegedly. I suspect he may actually SDN professionally.

 

[DermViser]

By your avatar and username I am guessing you are gunning for derm as well 😉 Best of luck!

Um, yeah. Thanks!

 

[DermViser]

Allegedly. I suspect he may actually SDN professionally.

Says the person who coughed up the cash to buy a gold donor membership.

 

[DermViser]

You should at least try to narrow down what you want into a couple of fields. Imagine you spend a year doing ortho research and you realize 6 weeks in you hate ortho; do you think that year will feel like a vacation?
Basically think of 2-3 fields you may want, that are competitive, and worst case scenario do some research that can apply to different fields. There's no database out there but consider finding a mentor at your school. Be wary that the mentor might see an opportunity for someone doing his/her scut for a year and may try to make you work for them even if they have nothing but crappy projects.

Exactly, wanderer. That's why most people that do a year of research, do it after MS-3 when nearly everything is completed not after MS-2 when you still have quite a bit to go in terms of rank. You'll also have a better idea of what to pursue. Nothing would be worse than jumping head first into a research year, and realizing 6 weeks in that you hate the specialty. Also, it's important to have a faculty mentor in the specialty you're seeking, in order to properly advise you as far the specialty, how many programs to apply to, etc.

I also think it's good to have separate mentors for application and research, if possible, so you don't fall in that trap that you mentioned. Good advice!

 

[DermViser]

lol I did research to relax during summer and now it's september and I'm not even close to ready to publish. I started something pretty involved but still, if you want to get real stuff done, it's going to take a decent amount of time and effort.

I was more talking about taking a year off for research to relax. Doing it after MS-1 summer is different.