Ill try and explain this the best I can with out too much info, I am an undergrad and the professor at the lab i work at approached me about starting a possible research topic (involving EEG) and said he would be willing to pay for the study, and he believed it could be publishable if i wanted to look into it and work on it. My research interest are severe mental illness like SZ. I have been doing EEG in this lab (unrelated to SZ). The fact he wants to back it up, pay, and believes it could be publishable makes me really want to do it. Thoughts on spending time on a project that is not related to my interests?
Should I pursue a project not in my field of interest
- Thread starter Dirkwww
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Go for it. I think gaining experience with regard to a narrow topic in UG is unnecessary. Quality experience is much more important. This sounds like a potentially very high quality experience where you would play and important role and could get involved in publication.
My UG research experience consisted mostly of work with an educational psychologist and a developmental psychologist (I was applying to clinical programs.) I actually spent only one semester in a lab that was very closely tied with my own interests because I felt I was just doing busy work and not learning much about research. I jumped ship there and found a lab that had better opportunities. The fact that my UG labs were only somewhat related to my interests did not seem to be a problem at all. (Not to toot my own horn) but applying straight out of UG, I had more offers than I knew what to do with.
Good luck,
Dr. E
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Absolutely! Research experience and publications in any area are good because they show that you can think and carry out research. You will also be using methods (EEG) that you can later use in those with severe mental illness.
I say go for it! It sounds like a great experience and you will probably learn a lot, even if the topic is not what you want to study. You might find ways to make it seem relevant in a personal statement / interview anyways, and an unrelated research study is way better than no research study.
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If you look at profs' CVs, you might notice that sometimes early journal publications aren't in the prof's current area of expertise. Not uncommon to work with a mentor early on in mentor's area, then transport those research skills into your own area of interest. I had several similar opportunities as an UG that I wasn't courageous enough to pursue--now of course I wish I had. Congrats on securing the confidence of a prof! Not every UG gets those kinds of offers. Now hit it out of the park so you can celebrate your co-publication!
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