Research

[stucoman675]

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Is it bad to do two different research projects with two different professors? I initially planned on doing cancer research with a physics professor, and I really want to do it. It's essentially blowing up cancer cells using nanoparticles and lasers. : ) BUT, my biomedical engineering professor wants me to do biomechanics research too. I reallyto do both. Is this ok or should I focus on one thing?

 

[Dartmouth2005]

Is it bad to do two different research projects with two different professors? I initially planned on doing cancer research with a physics professor, and I really want to do it. It's essentially blowing up cancer cells using nanoparticles and lasers. : ) BUT, my biomedical engineering professor wants me to do biomechanics research too. I reallyto do both. Is this ok or should I focus on one thing?

Can you handle both at the same while in school and still get good grades? I don't know the answer but you should take that into consideration.

 

[theVster]

Is it bad to do two different research projects with two different professors? I initially planned on doing cancer research with a physics professor, and I really want to do it. It's essentially blowing up cancer cells using nanoparticles and lasers. : ) BUT, my biomedical engineering professor wants me to do biomechanics research too. I reallyto do both. Is this ok or should I focus on one thing?

Uh... are you even going to be able to do both?

I don't see why it's a bad thing to do both though, at least on paper... if the two schedules clash that's a different story as it will definitely have a negative effect but in itself it's not a bad thing

 

[stucoman675]

Alright. Each project will probably only require 2 hours per week, so I'm not really concerned with the time issue. I just don't want the med school admissions committee to think I was doing multiple solely to look good on paper.

 

[JJMrK]

I'd try to focus on one or the other. The most important factors are, IMO:
1) Is one of them just housekeeping, or will you actually be planning experiments and analyzing data?
2) Do either of them pay?
3) Which is more likely to result in a publication.

IMO the best way to get really good at your research and produce something meaningful is to focus on one lab and spend a lot of your free time there. I'm not sure that you are really going to be able to accomplish anything in 2 hours/week.

 

[mitl]

I have been working in three labs for about a year and a half now...I am a double major in CS and Neuroscience

-Bioinformatics
-AI Research (Honors Thesis)
and
-Psychology

To be honest I got offered these jobs and I just could not resist..I also have to take around 20 credits a semester to graduate on time (double major in fields that do not overlap at all)

I spend a lot of sleepless nights and work about 5-6hrs a day and almost never get to go home...in addition to 5-6 hrs of classes and its rough

My advice DONT jump into into start with one lab this semester build up your endurance and work ethics to manage time well and be able to work 10-11hrs w/o burning out and then take the other job

ITS WORTH IT THOUGH that feeling of achievement at the end of the semester !
(My GPA did take a hit 😳) but it makes up for the feedback that I get from adcoms...it shows you can do s*itload of work and still pullthrough..! not to mention you can churn out papers which are really helpful if you are interested in MD/PhD track 🙂

GoodLuck!

 

[Fishin316]

IMO the best way to get really good at your research and produce something meaningful is to focus on one lab and spend a lot of your free time there. I'm not sure that you are really going to be able to accomplish anything in 2 hours/week.

I agree with JJMrK, you will really not accomplish much in two hours a week. Of course we do not know the exact situation but you should try to get permission to spend more time in one of the labs.

If, on the other hand, you are trying to just get a foot in the door and are unable to get more time in the lab, then ask both of your professors if they think that it would be appropriate for you to be working in both labs. If they consent, then you would have exposure to both labs which sound completely different. After the semester, you could then make a informed decision as to which lab you would prefer to work in and then you could focus your energy in that one lab. But there is no way that you could be significantly involved in two labs (assume signifiant involvement requires 20 hours+/week).