what exactly qualifies as research??

[Canez81]

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im not quite clear on this. what do you have to do? how much time is enough? i talked to a surgeon that im good friends with at work and he said he can help me out and put me in one of the research programs at one of the local universities.

 

[indo]

a lot of people here seem to think that being an "autoclave technician" is "research".

 

[Canez81]

ummm, yea something im really not trying to waste my time doing

 

[bigbassinbob]

I think research would qualify as either a group or independent project you work on. You should be able to explain your goal in the project, as well as your role in the work. It should end with some type of paper explaining the results of the project, but you don't have to get published (although that's certainly a plus). If I were you, I would at least look into the research position this surgeon says he can put you in. It might be something pretty cool, you never know.

 

[indo]

ummm, yea something im really not trying to waste my time doing

Me neither. I wouldn't mind being part of the research team (ie. doing bone density scans or some other kind of direct participation) but I'm not going to get paid 8 dollars/hour to wash glassware and sterilize bacterial matrices.

 

[superunknown]

If you have to ask, it's probably not research.

 

[TBone]

Do you know any of the profs at your school very well? Pretty much every science prof has a research program, ask him/her if they have any spots available for an undergrad. I've been a part of 2 research programs at my university and it is absolutely awesome, not a waste of time like some people think. It's really a chance to use the knowledge you've gained in courses and help apply it to real life. It also helps boost your critical thinking skills and actually accomplish something as an undergrad.

Be forewarned, however... many profs will try to persuade you to enter grad school or MD/PhD programs so they don't "lose you" to the professional field. Just take it as a compliment and smile 🙂

 

[45408]

If you have to ask, it's probably not research.

say no more

 

[Ypo.]

I killed toads and injected their lungs with flourescent microspheres for four weeks, and that qualified as research.

The blood of many innocent lives is on my hands... 🙁

 

[CanIMakeIt]

I wrote two thesis (non-biology related but science based) and two capstones and they counted as research or atleast the interviewers made a note of that....