Roommate needs a 2nd opinion on whether to accept this research position

[Vader1990]

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Mr roommate at JHU recently got offered a research position at the Hopkins Medical Institute working with a doctor [PhD] doing research on genomics. The researcher said that my roommate would have to work about 10 hours a week MIN, and for at least 2 terms. The guy said that he would have to do extensive background reading, learn techniques, help with existing projects and do an individual project over the two terms. Most of the work is with genetics and its association to modern medicine and identifying genes in chronic diseases.

My roommate is wondering if this will be worthwhile, med school applications wise. He knows nothing about genomics, but he is very interested to learn more. He wants to know if his time is better spent doing this or something else?

The doctor also offered research credit for this. I'm assuming that he might also be able to get a letter of rec possibly if he's good.

So basically he wants to know if this kind of thing will look any good or expected on his application at reasonably decent medical schools.

I recommended he go for it, b/c med schools love this kind of stuff, then again, what do I know, lol

Opinions?

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[CoolWhipp]

Your roommate is welcome on the forums.

 

[not so calm now]

Mr roommate at JHU recently got offered a research position at the Hopkins Medical Institute working with a doctor [PhD] doing research on genomics. The researcher said that my roommate would have to work about 10 hours a week MIN, and for at least 2 terms. The guy said that he would have to do extensive background reading, learn techniques, help with existing projects and do an individual project over the two terms. Most of the work is with genetics and its association to modern medicine and identifying genes in chronic diseases.

My roommate is wondering if this will be worthwhile, med school applications wise. He knows nothing about genomics, but he is very interested to learn more. He wants to know if his time is better spent doing this or something else?

The doctor also offered research credit for this. I'm assuming that he might also be able to get a letter of rec possibly if he's good.

So basically he wants to know if this kind of thing will look any good or expected on his application at reasonably decent medical schools.

I recommended he go for it, b/c med schools love this kind of stuff, then again, what do I know, lol

Opinions?

Thanks for the help guys!

Go for it if it's something he's interested in professionally. It sounds like a great opportunity. The whole "med schools love this kind of stuff" makes me a little sick inside.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Sure, go for it. While I wouldn't do it just because "med schools love this kind of stuff," it'll give him a chance to see if maybe he wants to involve research in his career eventually or not. Plus, it will for sure get him a good letter.

 

[TopSecret]

You're a good roommate.

 

[hop2it]

Whose lab at Hopkins?

 

[TexasPhysician]

sounds good to me too

 

[musafirah]

um.. 10 hrs a week is hardly anything for research. and all research involves background reading and learning techniques, lol. does he/you think this too much time investment? unless he has multiple projects to pick from, i don't see what the dilemma is.😕 take the opportunity! i mean if he wants to do research.. its stupid to even have to ask a forum.

all i can think of is to let him know that the "minimum" 10 hrs won't be enough and he should expect to do at least 15 hrs if he's serious and wants to have his own project. more hours (at least 20) when he's not in school.

 

[schrizto]

DO IT DO IT!

Your roommate should be jumping on this.

 

[oaklandguy]

Doing research with a med-school, especially Hopkins' med-school is probably a very very good thing. Sounds like a solid opportunity, it's going to be a lot of work but it will pay off in the end.

 

[Vader1990]

Right, he's just worried that he will work his butt of for this research, but the not get rewarded in his med school app round.

 

[DendWrite]

Right, he's just worried that he will work his butt of for this research, but the not get rewarded in his med school app round.

What does "get rewarded" mean? If you mean get into JHU med school, uh, odds are slim to none that this position will make any difference in his app. If you mean get rewarded in having a boost on his application for performing research, then yeah, some people will probably like that. But it sounds like he is already looking at this job as something that is a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. PI's can see right through this, and I know many who don't want pre-meds in their lab for this reason. I'd recommend that your friend only take the job if he is genuinely interested in the research, or is willing to fake it. Also, I'd mention to your friend that since he knows "nothing about genomics" and is only going to be working 10 hours a week, it's going to take a WHILE to get proficient. If he doesn't have any previous lab experience, there's a very good chance that it could take 2 semesters of 10 hr/week work just to perfect the techniques, much less conduct one's own experiment. Just be forewarned.

 

[fl322]

I enjoyed the first two one-sentence responses the most.

(To your roommate) I think it is a very good opportunity.