So after getting rejected at a bunch of summer programs...

[shindotp]

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I think I'm going to start sending emails to professors asking if they want to hire me for the summer to help with their research.

Has anyone done this successfully? Any advice?

Someone showed me this link: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/
Definitely helpful.

I really hope I have something to do this summer 🙁

 

[dr zaius]

I wouldn't ask them to hire you. Ask if you can volunteer to work as an undergrad researcher. If you do well this can turn into a paying gig. Either way you get research experience, which was what you really want.

 

[shindotp]

I wouldn't ask them to hire you. Ask if you can volunteer to work as an undergrad researcher. If you do well this can turn into a paying gig. Either way you get research experience, which was what you really want.

That's definitely what I really want.. It's just that I don't think I'd be able to do it without having financial assistance...

 

[tiedyeddog]

I went through this process TWICE so far in undergrad and I must say it really pissed me off and made me very anxious for weeks on end. Also, I go to one of the biggest universities in the nation, not some small school with a small amount of research labs, so I thought it would be a breeze to find a PI who would take me in. Not so much. Even after more than a year of research experience and a poster presentation/research awards I still had trouble when I did this the second time.

Here are things I found out the hard way:
1. Don't be too picky about what research you will do. At first I only wanted to be in a neuroscience lab but that changed when I didn't get a response from any lab. Had to eventually head into biochem.
2. DON'T mention working for payment in your e-mail to the PIs. Talk about volunteering. Once you get a response, then casually mention eventually working for payment.
3. It is a serious plus to make connections via professors who taught you. A professor mentioning your name is worth a lot, as many P.I.'s don't take on undergrads because of how most undergrads are super flaky and a waste of time.
4. Really chalk up being able to stay around for long periods of time. Many professors really only see it worth their time or their grad students time if you're around for a year or more.
5. Talk about applying to university grants for undergrads, if they exist at your school. P.I.s want work that isn't paid by them.
6. Email a ton of people and remember that too many responses is not a bad thing, it just gives you choice.

Good luck and don't give up! I found both of P.I's i've worked with so far and they have both been awesome and generally interested in my growth in the lab.

 

[Stixman28]

Someone showed me this link: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/

Quick and simple, Crisp works. I have gotten two PAYING jobs through plain old carpet bombing PI's in the area's Ive lived, or, been willing to move to. I had extensive lab experience for only one of these jobs, but all have been in the same field.

It can be harder with no experience, but if you truly are willing to work for free, you will have no trouble finding a volunteer position in a lab. Just email everyone, especially the ones who have most recently received funds, (the PIs higher on the list).

Good luck and PM me if you need further guidance.

 

[Conky]

That's definitely what I really want.. It's just that I don't think I'd be able to do it without having financial assistance...

then volunteer part time and work part time.

 

[shindotp]

Thank you guys so much for the encouragement and advice. I really needed it!

 

[shindotp]

then volunteer part time and work part time.

Yeah, I think it may have to come down to this. Hopefully I can use my school's name to get a bunch of $30/hr tutoring jobs like I did as a senior in hs (so far it's been pretty useless for anything else).

 

[135892]

I think I'm going to start sending emails to professors asking if they want to hire me for the summer to help with their research.

Has anyone done this successfully? Any advice?

Someone showed me this link: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/
Definitely helpful.

I really hope I have something to do this summer 🙁

Definitely try e-mailing researchers, its worked for me in the past. I was actually quite surprised at how responsive some profs are. I wouldn't count on getting paid right away though. Generally, they'll only start to pay you after you've been in the lab for some time, but its not unheard of to start getting paid as soon as you start. Although if you say that you want to get paid right off the bat, you most likely will have trouble getting responses. Offer to volunteer first, and see where it goes from there. If you absolutely need money, then try getting a job somewhere else (i.e. not in research). And you don't necessarily need to use that website, you could just try directly e-mailing profs whose research you find interesting (which you could find by browsing your school's departmental websites)

 

[gsquared]

I tried the whole email carpet-bombing strategy early on freshman year, and I had very little success. However, when I went to talk to my advisor about my interest and passion for research, she offered me a position in her lab on the spot!

I'm sure there is some kind of moral in this story: from personal experience (anecdotal, I know), personal interactions are often a better way to convey interest/intent than a potentially impersonal emails.

 

[shindotp]

Quick and simple, Crisp works. I have gotten two PAYING jobs through plain old carpet bombing PI's in the area's Ive lived, or, been willing to move to. I had extensive lab experience for only one of these jobs, but all have been in the same field.

It can be harder with no experience, but if you truly are willing to work for free, you will have no trouble finding a volunteer position in a lab. Just email everyone, especially the ones who have most recently received funds, (the PIs higher on the list).

Good luck and PM me if you need further guidance.

It looks like Crisp organizes PIs by name, and I can't get it to organize by date of grant receipt. Is there any way to change this, or did Crisp just change format recently? Thanks.

 

[Double A]

I have found emailing researchers in my major-specific department to be very rewarding. I started just volunteering my time helping with research and it turned into a paid position. Working with a professor also helps you get to know other researchers who you might be able to get in with as well (or in the future). Just email them describing your situation, your desire to learn, and willingness to help. I think you'll be surprised how helpful most professors are.

 

[Stixman28]

It looks like Crisp organizes PIs by name, and I can't get it to organize by date of grant receipt. Is there any way to change this, or did Crisp just change format recently? Thanks.

Play around with "fiscal year" and "grant type". "new" in the grant type section will get you recently funded grants, but they are also on new projects for the lab, and may be more difficult for inexperienced lab personnel to pursue.

Also, the poster above who mentioned doing this as a freshman, if you don't have much experience, you really have to email everyone, and be very flexible. I would say I have gotten 1-2 emails back/every 25 I sent.

 

[harrothere]

I think that this year the Summer Research window will be open a lot longer. Grant money for hiring summer undergrads has just recently opened up (because of the stimulus bill). Non-formal programs, like you contacting a PI directly, will probably have great success this year. If a PI knows about the stimulus money, they will definitely take on an extra hand, it's cheap labor for them!

 

[chemolupusMD]

I think I'm going to start sending emails to professors asking if they want to hire me for the summer to help with their research.

Has anyone done this successfully? Any advice?

Someone showed me this link: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/
Definitely helpful.

I really hope I have something to do this summer 🙁

If you are looking in doing something meaningful this summer you have other options. Over spring break i went to this camp called Camp Boggy Creek. They are a summer camp for kids that have some kind of medical condition. When i went it was kids that where on ventilators, they have other weeks with kids with cancer or immuno suppress, etc. The point is, that if u sign up for the whole summer (early june to early August) they will pay you $3000. And they will give u all the living accomodations and food and stuff. I talked to them a couple of weeks back and they told me that they need volunteers and really need male volunteers. I had a great time over there taking care of the kids. This specific camp is near Orlando, Fl , but i heard there are others in other states. If you got rejected to all your summer programs (like me last year) you might want to go there for at least one week, believe me you wont regret it. pm me if u want more info or just google the name of the camp

 

[shindotp]

Well, so far I've gotten a lot of responses. Thanks for the tips!

Now I just have to transition to the "do you mind paying me too?" part.

 

[shindotp]

So I found a research opportunity at a medical school near where I used to live!

Except the PI seemed a little annoyed when I asked for funding... So I guess I'll have to work in his lab for free and get money from other jobs or tutoring. I was also hoping to get housing for myself, but it looks like I'm going to be sleeping in my friends' places >_<.

 

[rocketbooster]

So I found a research opportunity at a medical school near where I used to live!

Except the PI seemed a little annoyed when I asked for funding... So I guess I'll have to work in his lab for free and get money from other jobs or tutoring. I was also hoping to get housing for myself, but it looks like I'm going to be sleeping in my friends' places >_<.

yeah, i've been volunteering in a lab at the med school here for the past 6 months. i was expecting it to turn into a paying job, but he didn't get the grant he was trying to get so I got screwed. no job there. grrr....it's still research experience on my resume, though. better than nothing i guess.