How to Get Involved in Research as an Undergrad
Confession: I entered undergrad with ZERO interest in research.
Zip. Zilch. Absolutely none.
Yes, I was a pre-med and there was definitely an unspoken "rule" about having research on your medical school application. But, I was also fresh out of high school and the only vision I had of research fell somewhere between fruit flies, rats, and cleaning pipettes, so I was NOT having it!
Luckily (in retrospect), I was in a program called the Biology Scholars Program during undergrad and one of the requirements to maintain my membership was at least one semester of research by the end of sophomore year. I agonized and eye-rolled about it, but sure enough, the second semester of sophomore year rolled around and it was crunch time!
When I started looking into opportunities, I only knew one thing: I just did not see myself doing bench work. After getting a better idea of what it entailed, there still wasn't much that excited me about it. Looking back, I kind of wish that I gave it a real chance (mostly because it would be great to have those skills now!), but that's just where I was at that point.
To make a long story short, I ended up getting involved in qualitative research and I LOVED it so much that I stuck with it until the end of my senior year, which was well beyond my one semester requirement! I worked on a project that examined the differences in breastfeeding initiation and continuation between normal weight and obese women. I could go on an on about the topic (DM or email if you're interested int talking more about it!), but hey, we're here to help YOU secure an awesome research experience.
Getting a research position at an undergraduate institution is usually not like a straightforward job application. Whether you're looking for something for the summer or the school year, I hope that these tips help you navigate the process!
① Evaluate Your Interests: Research takes time and lots of it! Instead of choosing something that you think would look good on an application, you should choose something that you're interested in exploring and passionate about! You definitely don't want to spend hours and hours agonizing over something you don't care about. Get involved in a project that sparks your curiosity and feeds your love for learning!
② Compile a List of Contacts: Now it's time to identify potential mentors. As an undergrad, you'll likely start by becoming a research assistant on an existing project. If you work at it and develop a good relationship with your mentor, they may give you creative license to come up with your own project in the future!
Where do you even begin!? Well, now that you've already evaluated your interests, you should visit your college's department websites that align with them. For example, are you interested in prosthetic valves? Visit the bioengineering department site. Interested in learning more about the gut microbiome? Visit the nutrition department site. On each of these sites, there should be a page that lists the faculty members in the department.
Scan this page and write down the names of people you'd be interested in working with. It's definitely a bonus if you have a connection to this person because you took a class with them or attended one of their talks. It's okay if you don't though! I didn't have a personal connection with any of the people I ultimately reached out to.
Where do you even begin!? Well, now that you've already evaluated your interests, you should visit your college's department websites that align with them. For example, are you interested in prosthetic valves? Visit the bioengineering department site. Interested in learning more about the gut microbiome? Visit the nutrition department site. On each of these sites, there should be a page that lists the faculty members in the department.
Scan this page and write down the names of people you'd be interested in working with. It's definitely a bonus if you have a connection to this person because you took a class with them or attended one of their talks. It's okay if you don't though! I didn't have a personal connection with any of the people I ultimately reached out to.
③ Do Your Due Diligence: Now, it's time to narrow it down. When you finally reach out, you want to be able to convey your genuine interest in the faculty members' work! In order to do that, you should be familiar with their research interests and previous work.
Start at their faculty page! Your college will usually publish a brief bio about them and may even summarize their research interests. You should also head over to PubMed and search their name to read a few of their most recent publications.
This process is useful for two reasons. 1) it will help you get a better idea of faculty members' research interests within the department you're looking in and whether they are a good match for you. 2) It will show them that you've done your due diligence and you are truly interested in their work when you email them!
④ Reach Out: Now it's time to send that email! The goal of this email is to get an in person meeting to further discuss the possibility of working with them. It could go something like this:
SUBJECT: Undergraduate Research Interest
MESSAGE:
Dear _____,
My name is _____ and I am a [freshman, sophomore, junior, etc] studying [major] at [college]. I am writing to express my interest in your research and the possibility of becoming a member of your team. [How you found out about faculty and/or lab]. I'm very interested in [topic] and I am eager to learn more about it. [Mention specific paper and what you thought about it].
[Previous experience]. [Your goals/Why do you want to research?]. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss [topic] and the possibility of working with you in the future. I have attached my resume to this email. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Regards,
[Full Name]
Start at their faculty page! Your college will usually publish a brief bio about them and may even summarize their research interests. You should also head over to PubMed and search their name to read a few of their most recent publications.
This process is useful for two reasons. 1) it will help you get a better idea of faculty members' research interests within the department you're looking in and whether they are a good match for you. 2) It will show them that you've done your due diligence and you are truly interested in their work when you email them!
④ Reach Out: Now it's time to send that email! The goal of this email is to get an in person meeting to further discuss the possibility of working with them. It could go something like this:
SUBJECT: Undergraduate Research Interest
MESSAGE:
Dear _____,
My name is _____ and I am a [freshman, sophomore, junior, etc] studying [major] at [college]. I am writing to express my interest in your research and the possibility of becoming a member of your team. [How you found out about faculty and/or lab]. I'm very interested in [topic] and I am eager to learn more about it. [Mention specific paper and what you thought about it].
[Previous experience]. [Your goals/Why do you want to research?]. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss [topic] and the possibility of working with you in the future. I have attached my resume to this email. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Regards,
[Full Name]
This is is just a simple example and it is by no means the perfect and/or only format you should use! Make it your own :)
⑤Wait/Follow Up: These people are very busy! Don't blow up their inbox if they don't respond in 24 hours. Give it a week or two, then politely follow up. Hopefully, they'll respond sooner rather than later with some possible meeting times! However, you shouldn't be discouraged if you don't end up getting a response from someone. There are number of things could be going on (one of the professors I emailed was on a sabbatical and I got a response 6 months later! lol), just keep trying!
Once you get a meeting, the hard part is over! Be prepared to discuss all of the things you've already looked into (their interests and previous research), a little bit about you, and how much time you would be able to commit while balancing your other school responsibilites. Even if you make it this far and you decide it is not a good fit, that's okay! You should only make the commitment when you're comfortable with your research mentor's expectations and ready to put in the necessary time!
Even though I originally looked at it as a "checkbox," I am BEYOND grateful that I ended up getting involved in research as an undergrad. Learning to critically appraise scientific literature and getting familiar with the mechanics of writing papers are invaluable skills that I continue to use as I pursue other work in medical school. I highly recommend that you at least give it a try! After all, the practice of medicine is informed by the evidence that is generated from research. Happy Learning :)
Make Healthy Happen in Medical School: Body Edition
When you're spending hours seated at a desk learning everything you possibly can about the human body, taking care of your own body can easily fall by the wayside. Research shows that exercise actually improves memory, reasoning skills, the quality of your sleep, and other things that boost your study game (more info here x), yet it's one of the first things to fall to the bottom of the to do list when times get busy! I'm certainly guilty of it! There's no one way to go about it and you don’t have to be a gym rat, a cross-fit pro or a professional yogi to reap the benefits. You just have to find ways to move your body!
Oftentimes, the hardest part of getting active is getting started. I think it's pretty safe to say that no one ever regrets a workout once it's done. Need some tips on getting over that hurdle? I got your back!
Oftentimes, the hardest part of getting active is getting started. I think it's pretty safe to say that no one ever regrets a workout once it's done. Need some tips on getting over that hurdle? I got your back!
①Start small & get active with your everyday activities: Studying for hours on end in a chair at a desk? Try a standing desk! Working in a hospital or clinic? Take the stairs instead of waiting for that elevator! These are small changes, but they're definitely a step in the right direction!
②Make it a priority: Whether you decide to get active at home or at the gym, make sure that it remains on your to do list instead of being on of the first things that gets knocked off when you run short on time. Instead of thinking of it as something that is taking time away from your studies, think of the many ways it enhances the time you spend studying! Not only does your brain need a break, getting that blood flowing makes you sharper!
③Accountability is key: & it can come in many forms! You could try working out with a friend, tracking your progress/goals using a fitbit or an app, or signing up for local classes. When I was trying to get back into yoga during my STEP 1 dedicated study period, joining a studio instead of practicing at home really helped because honestly, I didn't want to waste the money! That was enough to get me away from my desk and to make the workout a part of my routine.
④Do YOU: You don't have to be a marathon runner, cross-fit pro, or a pilates guru. Do whatever feels good to YOU and do it often :)
How do you stay active in medical school?
Make Healthy Happen in Medical School: Food Edition
In a whirlwind of new
material and experiences, the “I don’t have time” attitude takes over health is
often one of the first things to take back burner for medical students. In this
mini series, I’ll share some practical ways to Make
Healthy Happen when it comes to your food, your body, and your mind in the midst of all of that studying.
We’ll get started
with one of my favorite topics, F O O D<3 We perform our best when we’re at our best, and the food we eat plays a huge role in that. It doesn’t have to be
difficult, elaborate, expensive, or Instagram worthy. It just has to nourish
your body so you have the proper fuel to #medschool.
1. Plan Your Meals (and snacks!): I tend to use Pinterest for inspiration! To plan for the week, I open a new note on my phone and write down what I’d like to make for the week as a heading.
Breakfast:
I’m not a huge breakfast person, but I know it’s important, so I tend to have
overnight oats, a smoothie, a granola bar, avocado toast, or some fruit.
Lunch/Dinner:
I pick 3 interchangeable lunch/dinner meals for the week. This way, I don’t get bored by
having the same two things every day, but I also don’t make way too much food
since I’m cooking for myself. Some of my easy-to-prep go to meals are curried
lentils, buddha bowls, salads, cauliflower fried rice, soups, roasted chickpeas
with sweet potatoes and kale, homemade burrito bowls, stuffed sweet potatoes,
and slow cooker meals.
Snacks:
Forgetting to plan your snacks is a huge trap because you’ll find that you’re
hungry during meals! Easy, healthy snacks include: hummus with baby carrots and celery, apples with almond butter, nuts, hot air popped popcorn, and kale chips.
A
note on FRUITS & VEGGIES: I’m not vegetarian and I don’t
currently have plans to become one, but over time, I’ve found that a predominantly
plant based diet is not only more cost effective (meat is expensive!), but it
also makes me feel better! I treat meat as more of a garnish and I rarely ever
include it as part of my meal prep. This is just something else to consider!
2. Make a Grocery
List: This is a major key! Walking into the grocery store without a list is
a one way ticket to spending way tooooo much money and still managing to forget
the things you need to prep your food. Under the headings I created in the last
step, I make a list of each of the ingredients I need to buy to make it. Leave
out the staples and other things you already have at home so that you don’t
duplicate!
3. Meal Prep: #MealPrepMonday
has a nice ring to it, but prepping meals on Sundays before I get into the
swing of the week always works out best for me. Pick the day that works best
for you and set aside a few hours to chef it up! Sometimes it feels like you’re
taking a lot of time, but remember that you won’t have to do it for the rest of
the week!
4.
Invest in Some Containers & a Lunch Box: Since you’re often on the
go, it’s important to have the right supplies to allow you to truly make
healthy a habit. Temptation will be
everywhere in the form of transparent to-go boxes in open refridgerators and drive throughs, but
you’ll be able to resist if you already have your food packed and ready to go!
I use glass pyrex containers with lids because they are microwave friendly and safer than plastic. Mason jars are also super handy. A lunch box is also a must! I have one that you can put in the freezer (it has built in ice packs, which keep salads cold & crisp all day!), but an ice pack and a regular lunch box works equally well.
5.
If you like smoothies…: Boy, do I have a #LifeHack for you! Finding
the time to make a fresh smoothie every morning can get difficult yet, buying
premade bottles isn’t always ideal because of the price and (w/ some brands)
the ingredients. I make one massive batch of smoothie then divide it amongst
five mason jars and put them in the freezer. The night before I want one, I
take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge. By the next morning,
voila! I have a fresh, perfectly creamy smoothie waiting for me in the fridge.
Fresh smoothies for a whole week AND you only have to wash a blender once!
Pretty awesome, huh? I found this idea on Pinterest here a long time ago and I still use it now!
How do you make
healthy F O O D happen in medical school?
Med School-ing: 3 Quick Tips for Adulting While Med School-ing
Adulting (v): to do grown up things and hold responsibilities such as, a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent, a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown ups. (urban dictionary)
Let’s face it, medical school obviously isn’t your standard 9-5. As a matter of fact, it can often feel like a 6am to 11pm! You’re in that #twentysomething category, but sometimes you feel like you’re stuck in this strange adult-like purgatory where you’re in the 18th grade while all of your friends climb their career ladders.
What can you do to get on the right track!? I've got you covered!
① Budget, Budget, Budget: Money management is NO JOKE. If you’re on financial aid, most programs disburse your $$$ for living expenses twice per academic year, once at the very beginning and once more midway through. Since it’s such a large amount each time, it can be a recipe for disaster if you’re not careful. This is such an important section that this tip has some subtips coming your way!
· Set aside your rent/utilities/car payment, etc: Running out of money for your rent and other important revolving payments would be stressful and is totally avoidable. I always multiply the payment by the number of months and set it aside in my savings account to avoid any mix ups. This way, I know I have it tucked away and I just transfer it each month when I’m ready to make a payment!
· Work Those Numbers: With what you have left, decide how much you want to spend on groceries, gas, clothes, make-up, Netflix, the gym, and other daily expenses. It would be wise to set aside some “savings” for a rainy day because you never know what may come up! I track some things on a weekly basis (ex: $40 per week on groceries) and others on a monthly basis (ex: $5 /month for Apple Music).
· Keep Track: The apps that are available these days make keeping track so much easier! The most popular one seems to be Mint, but I’ve really taken a liking to an app called Daily Budget. I’ve discovered that I’m really bad at setting and sticking to discrete amounts of money for categories like clothes, entertainment, and eating out. With Daily Budget, I can input the total I’m able to spend each month and my important recurring charges such as rent. It takes the remaining funds and divides it amongst the number of days in the month to give you a “daily budget”. If you don’t spend your full “budget” for the day, it rolls over to the next day and continues to do so throughout the month. I like it because it’s a more realistic view of my spending and I can easily balance the times I spend very little with the times I spend more.
· Practice Good Spending Habits: Instead of buying coffee every day, make your own. Meal prep/Cook at home. Make a grocery list. Buy your toiletries in bulk. Avoid impulse buys. All of these little things will save you money over time!
② Plan Ahead: Use your calendar! Med school is chock full of lectures, labs, interest group meetings, and more. When you have to schedule meetings, (your own o__0) doctor’s appointments, oil changes, or time off for your best friend’s wedding, your life will be so much easier if you keep track of everything in a calendar. I also put in alerts for my bills and credit card payment deadlines so I never forget them! Double booking something or missing a payment is no fun, but it is so easy to stay on track with a calendar! Make your life even easier by using one that syncs across your phone, computer, and tablet!
③Take care of yourself: There will be easy days and there will be really hard days. It is so important to recognize that taking care of yourself is just as important as your academics/adulting at any given point. Take breaks. Naps are still a thing. Practice some serious #selfcare. Your mind and your body will thank you!