Undergraduate Research Ideas/Proposals

[JPSmyth]

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I'm a sophomore biology major and in the near future I will be granted the opportunity to conduct an independent research project. I'm really interested in the human body, can you guys help give me some direction for what types of projects I should look into? thanks

 

[sinombre]

Don't you think this is a question you should be asking people in your lab and not random internet pre-meds who have no idea what kind of lab you work in or anything about you?

 

[Yorick]

There is a large number of projects you can undertake with the human body; care to be more specific? Read up on what you're interested on the body and see if you can come up with a reasonable proposal with the lab available.

 

[JPSmyth]

there won't be people in my lab, it is an independent research project that I design and guide myself.

 

[Jas1360]

there won't be people in my lab, it is an independent research project that I design and guide myself.

Do you know who your PI will be?

 

[JPSmyth]

Do you know who your PI will be?

no I do not, I'm transferring and this will be next semester at my new school. I just want to have a legitimate research proposal to suggest that isn't too unreasonable

 

[Jas1360]

no I do not, I'm transferring and this will be next semester at my new school. I just want to have a legitimate research proposal to suggest that isn't too unreasonable

Ok, you will want to look at what kinds of research the PIs are doing. Your project will need to be similar to one of their projects so that necessary resources are available.

Check out the websites for the labs that have a similar topics of interest and look at the papers of any PI that has similar interests.

 

[Jas1360]

Basically the PI will have to agree to allow you to use his resources and he will only agree if it will further research in his area of expertise.

 

[Plue00]

Basically the PI will have to agree to allow you to use his resources and he will only agree if it will further research in his area of expertise.

👍

 

[plumhill]

I'm a sophomore biology major and in the near future I will be granted the opportunity to conduct an independent research project. I'm really interested in the human body, can you guys help give me some direction for what types of projects I should look into? thanks

It might be better (and more beneficial) for you to find a lab to work in and jump on board with an existing project. Research funding is somewhat limited and you'll be hard-pressed to find a PI who will give money, space, time and other resources to randomly conduct a project about the human body (by the way, there are literally millions, if not more, projects about "the human body." I'm not saying this to mock you, but you need to focus in a lot). I don't know your research background, but its VERY difficult to come up with your own idea at this stage, especially if you're going to a new school.

So one place to start: At your new school (you mentioned you were transferring) look up PIs in various departments that interest you, and begin contacting them about joining their lab. Get experience in that lab for a little while, and then if you still want to conduct your OWN project, talk to your PI, once you have proved yourself.