What Should My Undergrad Research Be?

[CUBuff2019]

I am a biochemistry major, but I am working as a research assistant in a biophysics lab. Does this mean that when I apply for MD/PhD programs later on I should want to do biophysics research? Virology and structural biology also are of great interest to me.

Also, I plan on taking a gap year between undergrad and med school. Should I be doing research in this year if I am applying for an MD/PhD program? I am a Russian minor in college and was looking to spend some time there after college. If I should be doing research in that year, I would begin to look at preparing for a Fulbright scholarship perhaps.

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[URHere]

With the exception of the occasional BME or bioinformatics PhD program that requires relevant experience, your undergraduate research does not in any way determine your PhD research area. You simply choose a lab that you like (that preferably also has a good reputation among the MD/PhD students at your institution).

As for your gap year, yes you should be doing something research related if your goal is MD/PhD. Keep in mind that you will need to travel for interviews the year before you matriculate. People have done interviews while studying or working internationally, but it isn't easy to plan and it isn't cheap. I would recommend being stateside during your application year.