What is the best kind of summer research?

[TeamYix]

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[TexasPhysician]

I would NOT do bench research. 10 weeks is not very long to accomplish anything, and yes you are MUCH more likely to publish by doing clinical research.

This is only my opinion, but if I had to do it over again, I never would have touched bench research.

 

[MacchinaDaCaffe]

I agree with what Texas wrote. I've done both clinical and bench research and can't imagine anyone finishing up a decent bench research project in one summer, not to mention getting it published in a reasonable amount of time. I would go for a small to medium sized clinical research project with well defined endpoints in an area of your interest. The only exception I would add though is if you are seriously considering pathology or a career heavily dedicated to bench research, then it might be beneficial to do a more basic science project.

 

[RxnMan]

What is the most common research that med students do in the summer of their first year? I kind of want to do bench research, but I'm not sure I can produce anything in just 10 weeks.

I've never done clinical research. Is clinical research faster and more likely to produce a publication?

Please share your experiences with this. Thanks in advance!

Take a look at the Research FAQ - it may help you narrow down possible labs and projects.

 

[strongboy2005]

Take a look at the Research FAQ - it may help you narrow down possible labs and projects.

Which forum has a Research FAQ? i tried searching titles for "research faq" and came up with nothing.

EDIT: nevermind, I see the link is in your sig. thanks.

 

[WashMe]

Are you a med student or a pre-med (as stated under your name)? If you're a med student, try to do something related to the specialty you may be interested in. Alternatively, do research related to a competitive specialty.

For instance, I'm interested in Radiology and Anesthesiology. I'm trying to line up Rads research because it will help me get a Rads residency. I figure I don't need Anesthesiology research to get a spot there if I want one. See what I'm saying?

 

[dienekes88]

Are you a med student or a pre-med (as stated under your name)? If you're a med student, try to do something related to the specialty you may be interested in. Alternatively, do research related to a competitive specialty.

For instance, I'm interested in Radiology and Anesthesiology. I'm trying to line up Rads research because it will help me get a Rads residency. I figure I don't need Anesthesiology research to get a spot there if I want one. See what I'm saying?

Disagree to some extent. I've been told by residents, attendings, and program directors that you don't have to do research in the field you want to do. However, this may be field dependent. I've only spoken with people in the surgical fields.

OP, find the best research opportunity you can get, so look into a number of research groups. In my opinion, that means:
1. being able to influence the direction of the project a little
2. the opportunity to be more than a data entry monkey or survey jockey
3. good residents on the project to give you guidance
4. an attending who responds to e-mails
5. an attending who does a lot of good research

If that happens to be in a field you're interested, then GREAT! However, the research in a field may not follow that well with the clinical aspects, and most of us are in medicine for the clinical stuff.

Clinical research is definitely easier to bring to publication than basic science stuff. If you have to write up an IRB, finish compliance training, etc., make sure to get all of that done BEFORE the summer starts. That way you can hit the ground running.

 

[plauto]

In my experience:
it does not matter what field you do research in. What matters is to get published. So find a project already on the way for the summer so that you'll contribute and get your name on it. Starting a new project will barely get you thru IRB approval in 2 months.

 

[justdoit31]

For me it was about finding something with a likely of being published, that was clinical (I will actually get clinical experience with the project too), and with PI that would work with a very short summer (8 weeks) and wouldn't burn me out. I fortunantly found something that was a perfect fit! The only downside is not knowing til May if I get a stippend but either way the project will be great.