what counts as research?

[Piyush]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I did a lot of research, about two full years worth of research, however, I dont know if all of it can be part of medschool app. I did two summers of research as paid work, so I know for sure that it counts for research.

For one course, called the biotechnology and molecular biology lab, we did only research. And this was primary research, not repeating experiments from a lab manual. We were assigned to a faculty lab based on the areas that we wanted to study, and then we got back together at the end of the semester to discuss and present what we did in the lab. It was like any other paid research job, but it was a research course. We set up our own experiments, implemented technologies, our own projects, and the works.

Another was my thesis project. It was worth about third if my final year's course load (three semestered courses out of ten) and its minimum requirement was to do 18 hours/week in the lab (which is same as working in a lab part time). Again, we found ourselves a spot in the department's labs, and worked on our projects in the labs, and then put up our work in the faculty's research day at the end of the year. Again, this was fully independent. We had monthny meetings with the PI in whose lab we did our work, but beyond that, this research was fully independent. In my case I was the only person in my PI's lab other than the PI herself, so I got to do a lot of research independently.

I dont know if those above cases could count as research. Anyone have any idea? What did you guys do in such cases?

Cheers
Piyush

 

[Concordia]

Tough one. I did some research as part of my graduation requirement (directed research) and it sounds like your thesis project. I have listed both projects I worked on as research experience (but I did do those for credit). My guess is you designed a project and prepared a proposal? If so, then I would list it as a research experience. I am not so sure about your biotech lab though. Quite a few upper class labs require students to work fairly independently and design their own experiments.
Does your school happen to have pre-med advisors who you can ask this? Or if your university has an affiliated med school perhaps you can schedule an appointment with somebody in admissions' office to talk about your application and research questions.
Good luck

 

[deuce924]

I would consider it research. You were in a lab conducting experiments. I don't think they will mind even if there was little professor supervision. If anything that should show that someone is comfortable enough with you to leave you alone in a lab.

 

[squat]

Do most schools expect research to be laboratory based? I did research for my master's thesis, but it was a retrospective review of charts. Any guidance from those with non-lab research that have gotten in?

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

Running experiments for other grad students, etc, is not research IMO. If you're involved in your own work and, more specifically, contribute intellectually to a project, then I would consider it as research. If you're just doing grunt work, I would not consider it conducting research (there's a huuuuge difference between contributing intellectually to projects and just running experiments for others).

 

[wanderer]

For most schools it doesn't even matter, as long as you can understand and discuss what you are doing research on. Perhaps you get "bonus points" for directing the research to some degree, but it's definitely feasible to get into schools outside the top 15 without that (and probably feasible to get into schools within the top 15 as well, but whatever).

 

[BiopsychStudent]

Running experiments for other grad students, etc, is not research IMO. If you're involved in your own work and, more specifically, contribute intellectually to a project, then I would consider it as research. If you're just doing grunt work, I would not consider it conducting research (there's a huuuuge difference between contributing intellectually to projects and just running experiments for others).

That kind of research, where you get first authorship, is rarely done at the undergraduate level. In fact ANY authorship is usually just generosity on the part of a professor. Even if you think you might have made significant intellectual contributions to the project... you need to remember that much of the foundation is set by the PI with the PhD. Most "original" undergraduate research is going to be a variation on something a professor is doing.

Granted, its one thing if all you did was clean glassware...

But running the experiments, collecting data, conducting the literature review, writing bits of the manuscript, and mastering the requisite skills to function in the laboratory still put you head and shoulders about people who have no exposure to research.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

Quick question, is "undergraduate research" in the same boat? As in, the ones that are credited towards your normal undergraduate major, are those too considered research that is a plus in the application?

 

[mtbtx]

I'd say it's all research. You have to spin it that way for your personal statement.

 

[Catalystik]

is "undergraduate research" in the same boat? As in, the ones that are credited towards your normal undergraduate major, are those too considered research that is a plus in the application?

Whether a research activity is volunteer, paid, or for class credit, it is appropriate to list it as Research on your med school application. You can make clear the level of your involvement from the name you give the experience and by your narrative description in the free-text box. All of them would be a plus for your application compared to someone who lists nothing.

 

[Catalystik]

Do most schools expect research to be laboratory based? I did research for my master's thesis, but it was a retrospective review of state-held documents related to health outcomes. Any guidance from those with non-lab research that have gotten in?

Research need not be science-based to have value on your application, so long as it is a scholarly approach to increasing human knowledge.