TIPS for getting an undergrad research position

[Anthodite]

Sharing this because I hate gatekeeping culture

Hey guys so I somehow ended up in a super senior RA/undergrad researcher role in my lab and as well as getting other lab positions for the past two summers and lemme tell ya, cold emailing was the WORST way for me to do so. Why? Scientists and physicians are busyyyyy, you think they wanna read your email? no(most ghost). Here are some alternative ways me and my friends go research positions, especially volunteer positions:

• Talking to your professor, office hours, tell them you like research and read up on their work which they are usually first or last author on(researchgate, selected publications on school website, google scholar page...)
• GRAD STUDENTS GRAD STUDENTS GRAD STUDENTS: you can email them or linkedin message them but the best way to get their attention is during your labs with GTA positions. Many of the GTAs are PhD candidates who are desperate for volunteers, be nice and if they can't take you as a volunteer they can tell you who to reach out to.
• School research center or equivalent, they usually have a work study thing going around hidden in their website that tells you work study associated lab roles
  • Sometimes they also have NSF scholarships for students with little to no research experience so that's always a bonus as well
  • They have resume workshops and career development stuff.
• Emailing to MEET and discuss research interests about the field of the PI(principle investigator aka the person who runs the lab) you think is wow, then at the end of the meeting be like "omg I loved your work, can you connect me to someone who could help me get involved in that research or learn more about it" they will likely say "omg meee" or "I know a post doc.."
• POST DOCS The newer, the better your chances of getting a role since many are underfunded. Many love bright-eyed people that want to help out and learn from them, they are less picky than PI's as well.
• Resident Researchers a bit harder to figure out how to contact to help out since there so little of them, but once you find their email just ask to meet with them about their research. One of my friends had a success with this, she works with a resident to do research under an attending PI.
• Institute coordinator/outreach director emails some research institutes or research hospitals will have admin who is listed as a contact for general internship/training opportunities and these people can guide you to see who can help you. Many of them specialize in science outreach and have a linkedin presence.
• Research Classes some coursework such as seminars/capstones or specialized research classes can help get you involved in poster sessions or even put you in touch with experts at your school. It is important to talk to people who previously took these classes to see if it was merely doing a class literature review or the chance to do hands on work beyond just a literature review poster.

Most importantly: at least have some interest in the work these people are doing, scientists I know love premeds who love putting the work but absolutely hate the ones that don't care to learn anything about their lab or experiments. Remember to value these peoples times and works as they are taking the time to discuss with you.

I do not know if research is a hard-fast rule for medical schools as a requirement since I'm no adcomm, but if you desire to be a part of it. If you have any more tips or I missed/totally misrepresented lemme know.

Best of luck,
Anthodite

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[Mr.Smile12]

If you want to draft an article up for us, let us know! We do have a few articles about getting a research position, but it doesn't hurt adding to the wisdom of the years.

 

[Anthodite]

If you want to draft an article up for us, let us know! We do have a few articles about getting a research position, but it doesn't hurt adding to the wisdom of the years.

I would be honored to!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would be honored to!

Writing for SDN - SDN

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[FlowRate]

Good advice. The research experiences I had were through doing strong work in my professors' classes and then getting to know those professors and making it known that I was looking to get involved in research.

I think it varies by university but, at the university I attended, most basic science (chem, bio, etc.) research positions were volunteer until you had worked for the lab for quite a while and were harder to get. As an engineering student, research experiences were generally paid and there was less competition. Also, somewhat funny anecdote, one of the PChem professors had some work he wanted me to do in one of his labs and I said that I thought the work sounded interesting but I needed pay, so he called up my ChemE advisor (and research PI), who told him he was paying me more than he was, so I ended up with a pay bump switching over to the PChem lab.