What exactly is considered Research?

[fneverforget]

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I keep hearing people saying that they are "doing research". What exactly does that mean? For example, if you help out in a lab for a couple of hours every week, does that count as "research"? Or is research when you are actually performing and running your own experiments?


What I do is just help out in a lab, I usually can't make any intellectual contribution to the research project, simply because the the research is on a PhD level rather than on a level an undergraduate can understand. Usually when I am just helping out in a lab, its just a bunch of people with PhDs just telling me to make simple buffers or other simple tasks, while they do the more important stuff. I am usually stuck with the routine simple task of the research project. So is what I am doing considered research?

 

[boggvir]

It counts as research.

 

[fneverforget]

^^^^ Really but I am not really doing anything that requires a brain, lol, I am just doing what I am told like a trained dog. Anyone else?

 

[DocBell]

It counts as research.

I would think that counts. Mine is a solo project and though I run all my own experiments and make a lot of intellectual contributions my PI still hasthe main say in the direction I take. I meet with him after every new set of results. I would think being ordered around by the phDs is pretty common. After all why else would they be willing to deal with the lowly undergrads?

 

[fneverforget]

Last week all I did was make 15 buffers and some other solutions (I don't even know what these other solutions do). I was given the ingredients and directions on how to make them. I didn't really do anything important. Is this really research?

 

[DJtiesto]

I think research is more impressive if you are doing some sort of independent project. You sound like you are just a lab tech- which is not really research.

I would move to a different lab or ask if you can perform your own experiments.

 

[JJMrK]

I keep hearing people saying that they are "doing research". What exactly does that mean? For example, if you help out in a lab for a couple of hours every week, does that count as "research"? Or is research when you are actually performing and running your own experiments?


What I do is just help out in a lab, I usually can't make any intellectual contribution to the research project, simply because the the research is on a PhD level rather than on a level an undergraduate can understand. Usually when I am just helping out in a lab, its just a bunch of people with PhDs just telling me to make simple buffers or other simple tasks, while they do the more important stuff. I am usually stuck with the routine simple task of the research project. So is what I am doing considered research?

This.

 

[Paladin7]

If you just mix buffers, clean glassware, and don't really understand the research taking place in the lab, then it sounds like you are a "lab assistant." Nothing wrong with that. 👍

You mentioned in your post that it is "Ph.D. level research" or something to that effect...Study up on what they are researching. Until you understand what is being investigated, it isn't research. But you are headed in the right direction!

 

[apumic]

If you just mix buffers, clean glassware, and don't really understand the research taking place in the lab, then it sounds like you are a "lab assistant." Nothing wrong with that. 👍

You mentioned in your post that it is "Ph.D. level research" or something to that effect...Study up on what they are researching. Until you understand what is being investigated, it isn't research. But you are headed in the right direction!

👍👍👍 This!

If you don't understand the experiments, how could you possibly be a part of the research team and, therefore, doing research? That is, until you get what you're doing, you can't really make a significant contribution. (I can train a monkey to clean my glassware or turn down the heat once the temp reaches XXX ºC!) Additionally, they're going to ask you about the research come interview time. If you stumble around with your answers, it looks REALLY bad. You want to know what you're researching like the back of your hand (after you've taken a good anatomy class and studied the back of your hand as well...).

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

i'm glad this question was asked. no one has ever made this exact thread on SDN before...

 

[familyaerospace]

Most of my hours were spent designing and running my own experiment from scratch, collecting data, analysing it, etc. I did that about 20 hours a week for 3 years.

I did have a few research jobs where I wasn't actively doing anything other than library research or data entry. I might not mention them in my application because I have better research experiences.

 

[Spindrift11B4]

So how about the following for research? I do a lot of RNA/DNA extractions, PCR, and subsequent data compilation and the like. I also help take care of and administer injections to lab animals as well as assist with necropsies of said animals. There are several other technical processes such as cell cloning that we do, but I don't actually design experiments I just help run them from beginning to end with the occasional input and protocol changes. That said, I still need to know a good deal about what is going on and the science behind it all. Personally, I count this as valid research even though it isn't my very own little project. What do you all think, research experience or not?

 

[apumic]

So how about the following for research? I do a lot of RNA/DNA extractions, PCR, and subsequent data compilation and the like. I also help take care of and administer injections to lab animals as well as assist with necropsies of said animals. There are several other technical processes such as cell cloning that we do, but I don't actually design experiments I just help run them from beginning to end with the occasional input and protocol changes. That said, I still need to know a good deal about what is going on and the science behind it all. Personally, I count this as valid research even though it isn't my very own little project. What do you all think, research experience or not?

Sure it is. You're doing part of the research. Who cares whose project "it is." The question is how much you are actually putting into it. There's a huge difference between running trials for someone else (which requires an understanding of what's going on, what to expect, what determines a good trial, what data to record/ignore, etc.) and cleaning their glassware.

 

[JJMrK]

So how about the following for research? I do a lot of RNA/DNA extractions, PCR, and subsequent data compilation and the like. I also help take care of and administer injections to lab animals as well as assist with necropsies of said animals. There are several other technical processes such as cell cloning that we do, but I don't actually design experiments I just help run them from beginning to end with the occasional input and protocol changes. That said, I still need to know a good deal about what is going on and the science behind it all. Personally, I count this as valid research even though it isn't my very own little project. What do you all think, research experience or not?

It's better than washing glassware and not as good as designing experiments and interpreting data.

 

[phathead]

So how about the following for research? I do a lot of RNA/DNA extractions, PCR, and subsequent data compilation and the like. I also help take care of and administer injections to lab animals as well as assist with necropsies of said animals. There are several other technical processes such as cell cloning that we do, but I don't actually design experiments I just help run them from beginning to end with the occasional input and protocol changes. That said, I still need to know a good deal about what is going on and the science behind it all. Personally, I count this as valid research even though it isn't my very own little project. What do you all think, research experience or not?

That's research right there. I was helping my genetics professor with a problem with his long term evolutionary research. Eventually I tracked down an insertion sequence, figured out where it was in the genome and what it was and inadvertently discovered a new protein in this particular bacteria strain.

I didn't design any of it, but I understood it well enough that I was able to function somewhat autonomously.

 

[Catalystik]

LizzyM answered this question with a very nice list of how various research/lab activites are viewed. All have a place on one's application and will be appreciated according to the level of one's contribution:

I'd rank research experience in this way:


11. Housekeeping and supply ordering.

10. Helping others with projects, serving as a research assistant or technician.

9. Animal surgery.

8. Pilot work prior to writing a proposal for a testable hypothesis.

7. Responsibility for testing a hypothesis.

6. Funding of your project (not your PI's funding)

5. Poster presentation at a student event

4. Podium presentation at a student event

3. Poster presentation at a regional or national meeting in your specialty (published abstract)

2. Podium presentation at a regional or national meeting in your specialty (published abstract)

1. Authorship in a peer reviewed, national publication.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

I need to brag! I just saw my name on a published abstract for an international meeting in my specialty.

Too bad it is in Spain and I am unable to afford going....

OP, I hope you are getting paid for this job. If you are, start asking questions about what you are doing -- and they will probably help you get more involved in the research. If you aren't, go find an lab to work in.

edit: this is my first published work!

 

[DocBell]

LizzyM answered this question with a very nice list of how various research/lab activites are viewed. All have a place on one's application and will be appreciated according to the level of one's contribution:

hmm thanks. I made number four. I'll take it. lol.

I need to brag! I just say my name on a published abstract for an international meeting in my specialty.

Too bad it is in Spain and I am unable to afford going....

Congrats! Too bad you can' go 🙁

 

[fneverforget]

well I do work with faculty members at my school, but I guess since I am at the initial process of doing research its hard for me to understand everything. I do get the basic outline of what the research team is doing, but not the details (I guess you would need a PhD to understand this) rather than just 1 year of undergrad.

LizzyM answered this question with a very nice list of how various research/lab activites are viewed. All have a place on one's application and will be appreciated according to the level of one's contribution:

Quote:
Originally Posted by LizzyM
I'd rank research experience in this way:


11. Housekeeping and supply ordering.

10. Helping others with projects, serving as a research assistant or technician.

9. Animal surgery.

8. Pilot work prior to writing a proposal for a testable hypothesis.

7. Responsibility for testing a hypothesis.

6. Funding of your project (not your PI's funding)

5. Poster presentation at a student event

4. Podium presentation at a student event

3. Poster presentation at a regional or national meeting in your specialty (published abstract)

2. Podium presentation at a regional or national meeting in your specialty (published abstract)

1. Authorship in a peer reviewed, national publication.

Thanks catalystik that really helps clear stuff up.

 

[Remuneration]

Although, for 4-10, it's important to demonstrate involvement beyond simply working in a lab. Being able to demonstrate an understanding of the big picture, an ability to critically examine your work and research in your field. While it's unlikely (in an MD only interview, at least), that time/interest will be spent on your research, you should be able to sell your understanding in both your description of activities and orally if necessary.

 

[familyaerospace]

I need to brag! I just say my name on a published abstract for an international meeting in my specialty.

Too bad it is in Spain and I am unable to afford going....

I have 3 journal articles and 6 presentations. I was going to put in an abstract for the ICES conference which this year is in Spain but I couldn't go so I didn't bother. I was still asked to be a peer reviewer for one of the sections though. Even if you can't go, you can still be involved in the conference at some level.

 

[ohgodidonteven]

So if you didn't design the project, but your PI sat you told, told you what he was researching, told what avenue he wanted you to look at, and basically sent you off to gather data, is that meaningful research? I basicaly just show him the data and we decide where to go from there.

 

[flakpilot]

In my case I volunteered as an intern at a research center for about 8 months. I was able to witness/participate in many aspects of research and in different nutrition studies. Some days I would observe how they collect the data and help out, other days I would help proof-reading protocols, making spreadsheets to collect the data, transfering the collected data to spreadsheets etc. Even though I did not carry out my own experiment, I did learn a LOT about the research process, etc. So I would think it counts as research. After that, I also did and independent study in psychology and presented a poster and will be working as a research assistant at a psychology lab for 2 semesters, starting this fall (getting paid, yey! 🙂 ) Hopefully I will be able to publish someting by next year. So, I definitey think, but I might be wrong, that what you're doing counts as research but you should definitely try to get more involved or run your own experiment. 🙂