When and how to gain Research Experience?

[abee87]

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So as a Sociology major, all my research experience was revolved around my major. And since I am taking my prereqs post bac (have not taken upper sciences yet) my science foundation is not too strong.

I am not worried at all about my clinical experience...but I really want to gain research experience and not sure how and when to start.

I was thinking of contacting a few of the residents at the hospital I work at and see if I can assist them on their research...but then again Im not sure if I am yet of any service to them when only completing a few of my sciences.

I do have a good grasp of the research process due to the endless papers and my undergrad dissertation.

Can you please explain your experiences with research and when you think is the best time to start?

 

[Soulstice]

Search professors, find lab pages that look interesting, & cold call/email.

That being said, I did bio research for 3 years then left it for sociology research - which I find vastly more interesting, and just as (if not more) compatible with medicine and healthcare. So your existing research experience might suit any requirements you're hoping to fulfill.

 

[bfMD1291]

Search professors, find lab pages that look interesting, & cold call/email.

YES! I've done this twice and each time it has worked perfectly. You may only hear back from 1 or 2, but that's all it takes 🙂

 

[Drogo]

Find any clinical research that really interests you, bench research might be a bit much for you right now. Bench research can get pretty damn boring some times and can be very damn confusing if you do not have a good background in the hard sciences yet, haha.

 

[abee87]

Thanks so much for the responses. Yea I can't wait til my hard sciences are done so it gets serious.

 

[Urnathok]

Doing sociology research sounds like a fantastic idea, particularly since it's a part of your interest -- which will make it easier to talk about down the road. I always felt guilty about considering taking up, say, Botany research spots from someone who might actually be looking for a career in that field. I like the research that goes on in the hard science departments, but I feel like people who want to build their careers in those fields specifically need the research more than I do, particularly when I could be in non-science research.

...I say, while looking at the holes I managed to poke in my hands while drilling in the archaeology department.

Anyway, yeah, from my friends in the bio/chem departments doing research under those professors, I hear that while they certainly take undergrads who haven't gone through, say, Organic I and II, the students get more out of it when they have. I've heard of success from just emailing professors, but I got into my research from a casual conversation about a marginally related subject with a professor, so mileage varies.