Starting off my summer Research Internship - making a good impression on my PI and other advice?

[ClimberOnCoffee]

Hi! Long story short, I'm currently set to do a summer internship at a hospital where along with clinical observation, I'm set to conduct clinical research under a PI (to whom I've already been assigned), which I'll be presenting to the staff as well as my fellow interns at the end of my internship.

Having never done clinical research (in fact, any form of research before), I'm a bit unsure of what to expect jumping into an internship as intense as this. I've heard a lot about basic laboratory research, but not much about clinical research itself.

I have about a week until my internship starts and I'm trying to get as much prep in as I can. To those who have done clinical research before, do you have any suggestions that you could give to a person jumping into this sort of thing? Also, although I haven't formally met my PI, I'll be introduced to him via email and in person soon - would it be weird/too forward if I went ahead and read all of his publications (just to get an idea of what I'll be working with) before meeting him?

I believe the interns with the best projects are sent to a conference so they can be presented. I'd love to have the opportunity to do something like that - but moreover - I'm just trying to make this experience as fruitful as possible. I realize that I may be worrying over nothing (classic Pre-med habit I suppose) at this point, but being that this is my first internship ever and my first time doing research ever, anything helps!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have 🙂

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[SpartanWolverine]

Absolutely read at least some of the papers that your PI has published. Preferably recent ones. They'll probably send a couple papers your way in their introduction e-mail, but getting a little jump on things wouldn't hurt. If you go into it knowing just a couple of things, know:
1) What their current research interests are (e.g., are they a geriatric neurologist interested in AD progression? What are they trying to accomplish with their research?)
2) What kind of research methods they use and the science behind it (e.g., do they use MRI and PET? If so, how does this technology work? What role does it play in their work?)
3) What is the basic science/pathology underlying their research interests (e.g., what's the pathophys of AD? How does it present clinically? What are the current treatment options?)

Hopefully you enjoy your internship!

 

[FourniersGreenGang]

Absolutely read at least some of the papers that your PI has published. Preferably recent ones. They'll probably send a couple papers your way in their introduction e-mail, but getting a little jump on things wouldn't hurt. If you go into it knowing just a couple of things, know:
1) What their current research interests are (e.g., are they a geriatric neurologist interested in AD progression? What are they trying to accomplish with their research?)
2) What kind of research methods they use and the science behind it (e.g., do they use MRI and PET? If so, how does this technology work? What role does it play in their work?)
3) What is the basic science/pathology underlying their research interests (e.g., what's the pathophys of AD? How does it present clinically? What are the current treatment options?)

Hopefully you enjoy your internship!

+1 this is excellent advice. If you really want to blow your PI's socks off, see about obtaining a small grant. PIs love grants. Mine basically threw me a party when I got one.

 

[Doctor-S]

Hi AddictedToCaffeine:

First: congratulations on being selected for a summer internship to participate in some type of hospital-based clinical research. Well done!

Here are some general suggestions:

1. Be punctual; and be willing to devote extra hours, above and beyond the normal call of duty. Your positive attitude, enthusiasm, work ethic, and willingness to do a great job, will get you noticed in a favorable way.

2. It's advisable to review the PI's publications before you meet with the PI in person. In so doing, you can also look at the PI's manuscripts or conference notes that might be listed on "ResearchGate."

3. If you're being assigned to a particular research project, it's useful to conduct a mini-literature review concerning that type of project. In so doing, you'll have a basic idea of *what* has already been investigated in the past, as well as different findings, and other meaningful data. You'll also become more familiar with the leading names in those types of studies. So, when your PI talks about "Dr. So-and-So," you'll recognize the name. It's always nice to speak the "same jargon" with your PI, so that your PI doesn't lose valuable time trying to refresh everyone's memory, day-after-day ... week-after-week.

4. Since you're a newcomer to the internship, it is likely that other people (e.g., MD-residents, Fellows, PhD-students, post-docs, research staff) will need to take time away from their own busy duties and responsibilities to bring you up-to-par in connection with the clinical research/project to which you might be assigned (or which is ongoing in the PI's lab). So, listen carefully, ask sensible questions, and be willing to help them, too.

5. Expect some downtime. It happens to everyone. So, if you're not doing anything at 10:30 AM (through no fault of your own), and 250 beakers need to be lovingly rinsed with deionized water - offer to clean them, without being a martyr. Be a dedicated team player and "take one for the team" - even though secretly you'd rather be doing something much more exciting, such as winning a Nobel Prize! As a summer intern, you'll probably only be in the PI's research lab for 10-12 weeks - so make a positive impression with the team, from the beginning, until the end. For all you know, they might invite you back next summer, or provide you with a stellar LOR, or offer you a permanent job in the future. A positive attitude: it counts.

6. Listen ... be attentive ... and remain observant. Over time, you will probably become more deeply involved in the research itself. As a result, you should begin to develop keener research and clinical skills. At times, you might become especially interested in something related to the research and/or have some new ideas that might merit further discussion. In so doing, you are demonstrating an ability to "think" in a meaningful scientific/clinical manner. Perhaps, your comments or observations may significantly affect the research in some way, eh? Or, perhaps your ideas and observations might lead to a new research study, eh? If you don't speak-up, no one will ever know. On the other hand, if you do choose to speak-up, the PI might delegate greater responsibility to you and/or invite you to make a presentation at a weekly meeting, seminar, workshop, or conference. Once again, it's up to you. Some interns do not want to speak-up at all - especially if they're feeling anxious, bashful or insecure. Just so you know ... different strokes, for different folks.

7. Meet your deadlines whenever you've been assigned a deadline for completing a task. This is self-explanatory.

8. Be organized, oriented to detail, write well (use good grammar and proper punctuation) and exercise effective time management skills. Stay away from "drama." You don't need drama as an intern; you need valuable experience and on-the-job training as an intern.

9. Keep a notebook for notes or some type of log (and write questions in your notebook that you might want to ask your PI, or your supervisor, at weekly meetings). Later, when you're updating your cv, you can refer to your log to provide a detailed description of your summer internship (e.g., experience, hours, and responsibilities). You won't have to rely on your memory. This type of information can be very useful when you're preparing applications for admission to professional/graduate school, as well as for Fellowships and employment interviews.

10. Be professional, communicative, responsible and trustworthy. Give, and you shall (hopefully) receive -- and then your PI might select YOU to be a student-presenter at a conference. Hooray, you're on your way to bigger and better things, and that's what you wanted anyway. Have a wonderful summer!

 

[ClimberOnCoffee]

Hi AddictedToCaffeine:

First: congratulations on being selected for a summer internship to participate in some type of hospital-based clinical research. Well done!

Here are some general suggestions:

1. Be punctual; and be willing to devote extra hours, above and beyond the normal call of duty. Your positive attitude, enthusiasm, work ethic, and willingness to do a great job, will get you noticed in a favorable way.

2. It's advisable to review the PI's publications before you meet with the PI in person. In so doing, you can also look at the PI's manuscripts or conference notes that might be listed on "ResearchGate."

3. If you're being assigned to a particular research project, it's useful to conduct a mini-literature review concerning that type of project. In so doing, you'll have a basic idea of *what* has already been investigated in the past, as well as different findings, and other meaningful data. You'll also become more familiar with the leading names in those types of studies. So, when your PI talks about "Dr. So-and-So," you'll recognize the name. It's always nice to speak the "same jargon" with your PI, so that your PI doesn't lose valuable time trying to refresh everyone's memory, day-after-day ... week-after-week.

4. Since you're a newcomer to the internship, it is likely that other people (e.g., MD-residents, Fellows, PhD-students, post-docs, research staff) will need to take time away from their own busy duties and responsibilities to bring you up-to-par in connection with the clinical research/project to which you might be assigned (or which is ongoing in the PI's lab). So, listen carefully, ask sensible questions, and be willing to help them, too.

5. Expect some downtime. It happens to everyone. So, if you're not doing anything at 10:30 AM (through no fault of your own), and 250 beakers need to be lovingly rinsed with deionized water - offer to clean them, without being a martyr. Be a dedicated team player and "take one for the team" - even though secretly you'd rather be doing something much more exciting, such as winning a Nobel Prize! As a summer intern, you'll probably only be in the PI's research lab for 10-12 weeks - so make a positive impression with the team, from the beginning, until the end. For all you know, they might invite you back next summer, or provide you with a stellar LOR, or offer you a permanent job in the future. A positive attitude: it counts.

6. Listen ... be attentive ... and remain observant. Over time, you will probably become more deeply involved in the research itself. As a result, you should begin to develop keener research and clinical skills. At times, you might become especially interested in something related to the research and/or have some new ideas that might merit further discussion. In so doing, you are demonstrating an ability to "think" in a meaningful scientific/clinical manner. Perhaps, your comments or observations may significantly affect the research in some way, eh? Or, perhaps your ideas and observations might lead to a new research study, eh? If you don't speak-up, no one will ever know. On the other hand, if you do choose to speak-up, the PI might delegate greater responsibility to you and/or invite you to make a presentation at a weekly meeting, seminar, workshop, or conference. Once again, it's up to you. Some interns do not want to speak-up at all - especially if they're feeling anxious, bashful or insecure. Just so you know ... different strokes, for different folks.

7. Meet your deadlines whenever you've been assigned a deadline for completing a task. This is self-explanatory.

8. Be organized, oriented to detail, write well (use good grammar and proper punctuation) and exercise effective time management skills. Stay away from "drama." You don't need drama as an intern; you need valuable experience and on-the-job training as an intern.

9. Keep a notebook for notes or some type of log (and write questions in your notebook that you might want to ask your PI, or your supervisor, at weekly meetings). Later, when you're updating your cv, you can refer to your log to provide a detailed description of your summer internship (e.g., experience, hours, and responsibilities). You won't have to rely on your memory. This type of information can be very useful when you're preparing applications for admission to professional/graduate school, as well as for Fellowships and employment interviews.

10. Be professional, communicative, responsible and trustworthy. Give, and you shall (hopefully) receive -- and then your PI might select YOU to be a student-presenter at a conference. Hooray, you're on your way to bigger and better things, and that's what you wanted anyway. Have a wonderful summer!

Thank you so much! I'm already a week in, and I've tried to take it all in slowly. My PI has already stated that our work will go in a publication and will be presented at a conference - I'm going to ask him if it might be possible for me to present. Too excited!

 

[ukmedstudent1]

Hi! Long story short, I'm currently set to do a summer internship at a hospital where along with clinical observation, I'm set to conduct clinical research under a PI (to whom I've already been assigned), which I'll be presenting to the staff as well as my fellow interns at the end of my internship.

Having never done clinical research (in fact, any form of research before), I'm a bit unsure of what to expect jumping into an internship as intense as this. I've heard a lot about basic laboratory research, but not much about clinical research itself.

I have about a week until my internship starts and I'm trying to get as much prep in as I can. To those who have done clinical research before, do you have any suggestions that you could give to a person jumping into this sort of thing? Also, although I haven't formally met my PI, I'll be introduced to him via email and in person soon - would it be weird/too forward if I went ahead and read all of his publications (just to get an idea of what I'll be working with) before meeting him?

I believe the interns with the best projects are sent to a conference so they can be presented. I'd love to have the opportunity to do something like that - but moreover - I'm just trying to make this experience as fruitful as possible. I realize that I may be worrying over nothing (classic Pre-med habit I suppose) at this point, but being that this is my first internship ever and my first time doing research ever, anything helps!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have 🙂

Last year I had similar experience as you! I got an internship at p53 lab in singapore.

1. I asked the post-doc for research publications that would be relevant to the project I would be doing
2. I donot think that PIs or postdocs would expect us to know the procedures so just be curious! write down the procedures if you have to! just minimise being a trouble in the lab
3. Be hardworking! have a plan for your project, propose that plan. Do this even if you're not expected to come out with a study design.
4. offer to help in writing for the publication transcript (if you are able to finish your project)
5. offer to present your findings in lab meetings/ conference or seminars

most importantly, socialise! make friends and have fun!