What do they mean research?

[TGibson81]

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How exactly did everyone gain research experience? I am interested in research (much more interested in clinical) but dont really know how I go about gaining this experience?

Anyone have any ideas? 😕

 

[saveourpens]

I at first wanted to do clinical but found it really hard to get set up with that. I went on my schools bio departement page and started calling and emailing all the faculty. I eventually got a spot to start out as a lab aide, then move on to research in a microbiology lab.

 

[Fiddlergirl]

Research means working in a lab, any lab. It doesn't have to be medical research. The best way to get a research position is to start cold calling researchers in your area of interest. For example, if you're a chemistry major then you could start asking to work in their labs. Also, you probably won't get paid at first (or ever).

 

[DrWookie]

My school has a summer research program that you can apply to. I applied and joined a lab after my freshman year and worked really hard. He ended up keeping me on every semester/summer after that until this past Friday when I had my honors thesis defense 😀 (Checking out of a lab you've spent 3 years in is really strange).

At my school you get paid over the summer, and you can get credit during the school year (though i never did since I didn't want to be officially "overloaded"). I'm on two papers, and I presented at an international conference.

 

[londongal]

I just got a research lab position at City of Hope for the neuroscience department. They are working on finding cures for treating brain tumors. The head of the team is a researcher and neurosurgeon. PRIT-T-COOL

 

[BORNagainSTDENT]

What if one is not a science major, but is now taking post bachelor classes in the Pre Reqs... can I do research?

 

[pietachok]

How do you get into clinical research:

Seek a position as a "clinical research coordinator" or "clinical research assistant." You *can* do this via typical job seeker portals.

Another place to seek jobs is the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, however I'm not sure how many entry level positions there are there (I've never used it).
http://www.acrpnet.org/

Obviously with the economy the way it is, getting a job isn't as easy as asking for it...

If you are near a hospital, you can see if they have a webpage that lists their active clinical trials. Contact the P.I. for each study in which you are interested and ask if they have a position (perhaps on a volunteer basis) for the above. Particularly if you are willing to work as a volunteer, you will probably find that many research coordinators could use an extra hand (we're generally pretty underpaid). Some positions are as "simple" as observing certain procedures in OR's or aspects of the ER and logging them...but they may involve administering pre- or post- procedure/service questionnaires that will get you more familiar with the clinical aspect and obviously give you far more patient interaction than benchwork. It may feel like you aren't doing something particularly clinical, but you aren't the dr., so you are pretty limited to collecting observations.

If you can't find such info on a hospital website, you can try looking at www.clinicaltrials.gov. This website lists ALL clinical trials in the U.S. approved by the FDA. You can search near your home and then contact P.I.'s that way. You can limit your search to State/Country, but you will need to put your city in as on of the keywords.

Good Luck!

 

[medicalmatins]

Thanks for the info about lab/clinical research. It seems like clinical research is generally regarded as less powerful as an EC than research in a lab. Is this true?

 

[zinciest]

How about research in the math or engineering department that doesn't have any sort of lab work?

 

[zetabetazeta]

We have a list of PI (including their contact information) and their research details on our school website. I sent out about 20 applications (w/ my resume), had a couple of interviews, and finally got a lab position 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks for the info about lab/clinical research. It seems like clinical research is generally regarded as less powerful as an EC than research in a lab. Is this true?

If you are just collecting data and handing it to a coordinating center for analysis, then "yes", it isn't as highly regarded as bench research because it isn't really research, it is more like clinical care except that you are observing subjects, not patients (subjects can be patients but don't confuse clinical research with clinical care).

If you were working with an investigator on retrospective chart review studies or small projects where you come up with the hypothesis, have some input in how the study is designed and conducted, and do some of the analysis yourself (even if it is only descriptive stats) then that sort of clinical research is as good or better than bench reserach. The point is, you should have some participation in the scientific method. Doing data collection on a clinical trial (where the sponsor provides you with eveything) is the clinical equivalent to washing labware.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

if you have to ask..

 

[UrsusHorribilis]

Extending the OP's question: does research in bioethics/medical humanities/history of medicine qualify as research for the purposes of medical adcoms? I know I personally have no interest in lab/hard science research, but I am interested in and spent my undergraduate doing medical humanities work (research assistantship, senior thesis, summer research etc.) and have always wondered whether that would count for anything.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Extending the OP's question: does research in bioethics/medical humanities/history of medicine qualify as research for the purposes of medical adcoms? I know I personally have no interest in lab/hard science research, but I am interested in and spent my undergraduate doing medical humanities work (research assistantship, senior thesis, summer research etc.) and have always wondered whether that would count for anything.

i think it would... what they generally care about is probably the intellectual qualities/skills gained in a research role, not actually the research itself... if you're meaningfully contributing to academia in an original way that's gotta count.

 

[LizzyM]

I agree. You are doing a systematic investigation resulting in new knowledge. That's research.

 

[grindtime1]

I also have a question:

When applying for a position, what should you give as your reason for wanting to do research?

I'd assume they wouldn't want to hear "to improve chances of getting into medical school."

 

[Az1698]

I also have a question:

When applying for a position, what should you give as your reason for wanting to do research?

I'd assume they wouldn't want to hear "to improve chances of getting into medical school."

you should say you are interested in the topic and want to extend your knowledge of the particular field.

 

[ahmcadams]

I also have a question:

When applying for a position, what should you give as your reason for wanting to do research?

I'd assume they wouldn't want to hear "to improve chances of getting into medical school."

In addition to expressing your interest in their field / research area, it's perfectly reasonably to mention that you're interested in medicine and want to pursue research in conjunction with that goal. All PIs know about the significance of research in med sch admissions, and they won't be offended that an unadulterated zeal for scientific inquiry isn't your lone motivation. If anything, it might help them better narrow what sorts of projects will best suit you.

 

[medicalmatins]

If you are just collecting data and handing it to a coordinating center for analysis, then "yes", it isn't as highly regarded as bench research because it isn't really research, it is more like clinical care except that you are observing subjects, not patients (subjects can be patients but don't confuse clinical research with clinical care).

If you were working with an investigator on retrospective chart review studies or small projects where you come up with the hypothesis, have some input in how the study is designed and conducted, and do some of the analysis yourself (even if it is only descriptive stats) then that sort of clinical research is as good or better than bench reserach. The point is, you should have some participation in the scientific method. Doing data collection on a clinical trial (where the sponsor provides you with eveything) is the clinical equivalent to washing labware.

Thanks for the response! That helps quite a bit.

 

[JJMrK]

Thanks for the info about lab/clinical research. It seems like clinical research is generally regarded as less powerful as an EC than research in a lab. Is this true?

Either is good as long as you actually do something productive.

How about research in the math or engineering department that doesn't have any sort of lab work?

That's good too.

I also have a question:

When applying for a position, what should you give as your reason for wanting to do research?

I'd assume they wouldn't want to hear "to improve chances of getting into medical school."

you should say you are interested in the topic and want to extend your knowledge of the particular field.

You should only say you're interested if you actually are, and you shouldn't waste a PI's time if you aren't.

 

[TexasPrincess]

The National Science Foundation makes possible a number of opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research projects each summer.

www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/reu/

I did 2. Fun, paid, and enriching!