Researching vs Researching AND Publication

[Blondnuttyboy]

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Hey all,

So I am annoyed with the way researching can grant some students mad publications while others just never get there. Often times, from what I have learned, it isn't indicative of a students effort/skill, but more about the fundamental health of the lab and PI's reputation.

With that being said, I am researching this summer and will attempt to research during the upcoming MSII year to have that on my resume..I hear many comp. specialties need to see it.

But how much off will I be if I don't drop 4-7 publications like those damn plastics/ENT/etc matches average? I have a friend that has already published 3 times in first year because she got hooked UP with an awesome lab. Even admit to me she barely did sh--.

I'm just frustrated 😡 - thoughts?😕

~ BNB

 

[go lakers]

-find an awesome/productive lab
-have a good rapport with everyone in it
-put in work
-hope for the best

you're right though. the politics of research makes it so that it isn't always "fair" when it comes to publications. just gotta hope for the best!

 

[mmc386]

Also if your looking for publications, the type of research you are doing is important. From my experience in an x-ray crystallography lab, I can tell you there really isn't enough time in one summer to get anything publication worthy done (unless you get some type of gold mine project... which is pretty rare).

I'm not really sure what kind of research lends itself to quicker publications though... I'm assuming one of those types of labs that just slap a GFP on a protein and watch where it goes.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Hey all,





But how much off will I be if I don't drop 4-7 publications like those damn plastics/ENT/etc matches average? I have a friend that has already published 3 times in first year because she got hooked UP with an awesome lab. Even admit to me she barely did sh--.

I'm just frustrated 😡 - thoughts?😕

~ BNB

4-7 in med school? Seriously?

 

[Doublecortin]

Hey all,

So I am annoyed with the way researching can grant some students mad publications while others just never get there. Often times, from what I have learned, it isn't indicative of a students effort/skill, but more about the fundamental health of the lab and PI's reputation.

With that being said, I am researching this summer and will attempt to research during the upcoming MSII year to have that on my resume..I hear many comp. specialties need to see it.

But how much off will I be if I don't drop 4-7 publications like those damn plastics/ENT/etc matches average? I have a friend that has already published 3 times in first year because she got hooked UP with an awesome lab. Even admit to me she barely did sh--.

I'm just frustrated 😡 - thoughts?😕

~ BNB

You have to realize that a "publication" can be a very general term, which can on one hand mean a one or two paged review, which can be done in a couple of days, and on the other hand a basic science paper with tons of figures that takes many months if not years to put together.

I can with confidence say that the vast majority of those 4-7 publications are not Cell or Journal of Biological Chemistry caliber publications. Unless of course you are talking about an MSTP person.

I've heard that many program directors know a good publication, where you do some original research, from a fluff publication, like a case review or literature review.

 

[WellWornLad]

4-7 in med school? Seriously?

Most likely those "4-7" include abstracts and presentations, which are much, much easier to come by than publications.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Most likely those "4-7" include abstracts and presentations, which are much, much easier to come by than publications.

That's confirmed, the NRMP match data lumps almost anything into the publications category. First author peer reviewed publications are much rarer.

 

[Mr hawkings]

That's confirmed, the NRMP match data lumps almost anything into the publications category. First author peer reviewed publications are much rarer.

Ah. That makes sense now.

 

[tideleonheart]

So, if I understand correctly, all of these are considered "publications" according to the statistics...

Publications
Presentations
Abstracts
Case Studies

Would someone with experience in the matter mind commenting on HOW you go about doing these? For example, how do I go about starting them? From what I understand, getting a publication is mostly dependent on whatever lab you're working for and a little bit of luck. But the others?

 

[lildave2586]

Basic science research in a lab is going to be slow going as far as publication goes (for the most part). Try getting involved with clinical research, ie chart reviews, they tend to get published faster. I'm doing a project right now that will be about 4 months of work and will get published very quickly.

 

[sprinkibrio]

Research is not fair. I've seen it again and again and again. With time you'll see what tends to pay off over what doesn't.

It's my opinion that the people who at LEAST put out medical student abstracts and actually know what they are doing are way better off than people who did squat and got a name on the paper. You do the latter in college, you're supposed to be doing the former in medical school. It will help you SO MUCH down the road if you actually plan a project from scratch, do an IRB, the work, and learn to submit it yourself than rely on someone to do it all for you.

Try not to get jealous of other people getting papers published. It sucks when someone gets published right away, but sometimes you just need to stick with a department all four years on their time and get one before you graduate.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Research is not fair. I've seen it again and again and again. With time you'll see what tends to pay off over what doesn't.

It's my opinion that the people who at LEAST put out medical student abstracts and actually know what they are doing are way better off than people who did squat and got a name on the paper. You do the latter in college, you're supposed to be doing the former in medical school. It will help you SO MUCH down the road if you actually plan a project from scratch, do an IRB, the work, and learn to submit it yourself than rely on someone to do it all for you.

Try not to get jealous of other people getting papers published. It sucks when someone gets published right away, but sometimes you just need to stick with a department all four years on their time and get one before you graduate.

Generally they're not going to be first or second author by tagging along. Third and up authorships aren't much better off than abstracts.

 

[Blondnuttyboy]

Ah all these points make so much sense - the only reason I opened my mouth was after reading the avg. publication number per specialty. Succesful Plastics apps drop a bunch. And the process is so flawed - how do you weigh a 'publication' to meaningful basic science research that takes time and effort - like every other important research discovery in history.

I feel like backhanding an applicant that has 14 abstracts and thinks he/she is a badass.

Obviously I'm ranting - i'll just shut up and hope for the best!

thanks 😛

 

[dienekes88]

Also, it's much easier to get a pub if you're doing clinical research compared to basic science research.

I get the feeling that unless you're really committed to long term stuff, e.g. MD/PhD... participating in basic science research is a short road to becoming a pipette jockey or rat executioner.