Research Year - How do I find the ideal attending to work under?

[decgra]

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I understand EM doesn't care much about research, but being a FMG, I have to do everything I can. Looking for a research position, and confused about how I should go about it.

Trying to chose between an older senior attending prof who doesn't publish much, but does make phone calls (that work) for his students, to PD's during interview season; and a recently promoted associate attending (IMG) who publishes a hell lot every month.

 

[deleted547339]

I understand EM doesn't care much about research, but being a FMG, I have to do everything I can. Looking for a research position, and confused about how I should go about it.

Trying to chose between an older senior attending prof who doesn't publish much, but does make phone calls (that work) for his students, to PD's during interview season; and a recently promoted associate attending (IMG) who publishes a hell lot every month.

If you’re doing a year of research, your goal is to publish. If you finish a year or research with nothing to show for it, you are, by definition, unproductive. Find a way to work with both.

Whether or not an attending is an IMG or not is 100% irrelevant. What matters is that they have some credibility (I.e. are known in the community you want to match in).

 

[decgra]

If you’re doing a year of research, your goal is to publish. If you finish a year or research with nothing to show for it, you are, by definition, unproductive. Find a way to work with both.

Whether or not an attending is an IMG or not is 100% irrelevant. What matters is that they have some credibility (I.e. are known in the community you want to match in).

Thank you so much. Very helpful post.

Could I ask if there is a hack to find the most published faculty in a department? What I'm currently doing is going to the research section of the department website, and searching all mentioned faculty names in pubmed (hoping there is no namesake).

 

[TheComebacKid]

Here's a little secret that I learned the hard way.

People who publish a lot and are "big names" in their field, are notoriously difficult to get a hold of. Do you understand research methodology, how to analyze data and complete a manuscript on your own? If you do, great. If you don't, then you will need help. Sometimes junior faculty are more accessible, more likely to help you when you have questions. A senior faculty member who publishes 20 papers a year isn't always going to have the time to spoon feed you.

That being said, a junior faculty member may not be able to pull as many strings as a senior faculty member. It's a fine balance between finding someone who is available to you AND who will write you strong letters/pull strings.

Good luck.

 

[deleted547339]

Here's a little secret that I learned the hard way.

People who publish a lot and are "big names" in their field, are notoriously difficult to get a hold of. Do you understand research methodology, how to analyze data and complete a manuscript on your own? If you do, great. If you don't, then you will need help. Sometimes junior faculty are more accessible, more likely to help you when you have questions. A senior faculty member who publishes 20 papers a year isn't always going to have the time to spoon feed you.

That being said, a junior faculty member may not be able to pull as many strings as a senior faculty member. It's a fine balance between finding someone who is available to you AND who will write you strong letters/pull strings.

Good luck.

Agreed. You want successful mid career ideally. Senior faculty are too busy or checked out. Junior faculty still need to publish as a first author to give away their time and not be first; plus, they are less experienced. There are obviously exceptions, but that’s what I’d shoot for.

 

[tarsuc]

I've found this new faculty assistant proff, who is pretty amazing. Started publishing first author within months of joining the department.

Am planning to ask him for help/advice regarding few ideas for research that I have, or and also for his ideas that I could work on.

Just wondering how do I make sure I don't lose out on a first authorship on papers that I actively work for, and am prepared to write up for publication myself?

I'm unaware of how such matters work. Could you please advise?