yorkuni123 Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hey everyone, I'm starting my first year of university this year and I would really like to work with a professor/doctor in the summer. I just wanted to know how someone would go about finding a scientist to work with and what the necessary steps are that I must take. Also for those of you who have already done research projects before, what kinds of things did you guys get to help out with? Do you actually get to carry out your own experiments and input ideas into the research project or do the profs just use you as an errand boy? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
<abstract> Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hey everyone, I'm starting my first year of university this year and I would really like to work with a professor/doctor in the summer. I just wanted to know how someone would go about finding a scientist to work with and what the necessary steps are that I must take. Also for those of you who have already done research projects before, what kinds of things did you guys get to help out with? Do you actually get to carry out your own experiments and input ideas into the research project or do the profs just use you as an errand boy? Thanks! Taken from one of the greats on this forum.. Cerena: |What sorts of awards are there for students doing research? Some may tell you there aren’t many research awards for undergrads doing research. They just haven’t looked for them in the right places. I assure you there are many. Below I’ve provided a link that will direct you to a 7 page document which has information both for UNDERGRADUATES and MEDICAL STUDENTS called: MD & Undergraduate Student Research Opportunities. There are approximately THIRTY (30) awards listed, so if you haven’t already done so please read this article and get informed: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source...eOBqzQ&cad=rja Below I’ve listed a few others that I have found, and an important update about the rising stars of research award (unavailable in 2011). Rising Stars of Research (sorry guys): Rising Stars of Research is a cross-disciplinary undergraduate research conference in Canada.RSR has been a tremendous success since its inception in 2008. With nearly 1,200 applicants and more than 300 participants over the past three years, we know that the event fills an important niche in showcasing the best in Canadian undergraduate research, and has become a highly anticipated opportunity for Canada’s most outstanding young investigators.Due to other staff commitments, Rising Stars of Research will be on hiatus for 2011 and will return in 2012. (Taken from http://www.risingstars.ubc.ca/) Alberta Summer Studentship Award (candidates include high school, medical, and undergrads): Stipend support in the amount of $1,300 per month for a maximum term of four (4) months, May 1 to August 31, will be provided. (For more info visit https://albertacancer.ca/SSLPage.aspx?pid=889) Cancer Research Vacation Studentships (Victoria): The studentship placements are for up to 6 weeks during the summer vacation and are valued at $250 per week. Twenty studentships at a total value of around $27,000 were awarded for the 2009-10 summer vacation. (Taken from http://www.cancervic.org.au/about-ou...n_studentships) |What kinds of research opportunities are available for high school students? It can be very difficult for high school students to gain research experience, but not impossible. If you are bold enough, and you have access to a university, you may want to try contacting labs to see if they are looking for help in the summer. Since you are a high school student, my instinct tells me that grades will play an important role in a labs decision to take you on since you do not have university level laboratory experience. If you do not find any labs that are willing to have you in their lab, do not be discouraged as this can be extremely rare for high school students. After all, you have limited exposure to a lab and are there to learn, therefore it is arguable as to how much benefit you would be to the lab. However, I have found a couple of programs in BC and in Ontario that are available to high school students: Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon's High School Summer Research Program: Available to Grade 11 students currently enrolled in a high school in British Columbia and the Yukon. (http://www.heartandstroke.bc.ca/site...ch_Program.htm) Summer High School Program (Focused Ultrasound Lab – Ontario): Our goal is not only to further our progress but also to allow these students the experience of working in a lab environment. (More info: http://www.sunnybrook.utoronto.ca/~f...ummer_high.php) BC Cancer Agency (High School Programs): The DRC is pleased to be able to offer high school programs geared towards Grade 11 and 12 students. These programs have been designed to offer high school students the opportunity to explore cancer research from the front lines and learn the latest techniques being used today in the fight against cancer. (More info: http://www.bccrc.ca/dept/drc/hsp) |Why is clinical research important to YOU? Some members have asked me if clinical research is boring, monotonous, and tedious. Or, if it is just a distraction from undergraduate studies, as I’ve worked at my research office during school. There are a lot of benefits of doing clinical research and I’ll list them below for you, and these are things that I personally have gained from doing clinical research specifically: ••Knowledge that I am making a direct difference in my community •Intellectual curiosity in a subject I am truly interested in •Experience with analyzing medical tests such as blood samples, nutrient levels, questionnaires, drug histories, etc. •Daily exposure to a medical specialization •One-on-one interaction with a specialist who makes me feel like I work alongside her and has gotten me to basically take over the research project while she is away •Publications •Development of side-research projects with the prospect of doing even more advanced medical scans •Generous amount of funding •Interaction with patients •Interaction with medical students and other specialists who work in the same facility |MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION I HAVE RECEIVED: How do I gain clinical research experience? Unless you have some sort of connections, this is definitely not an easy task to pursue. It can be very difficult to find a physician who is willing to take an undergraduate student on, especially for a paid position; however, clinical research experience is so important and has many benefits. I have had a great experience doing clinical research and I hope that those who are interested are lucky enough to obtain this. If you do not have connections (i.e. know a faculty of medicine researcher, have parents who are medical professionals, or have friends or a family member who is a medical student, etc.) you’re going to have to do this on your own. Find out who is doing clinical research in your area, search the internet, and email clinical researchers. Ask them if they are willing to take on student researchers and tell them that you will send your CV upon request, or you can even attach one if you're super keen. If you are not sure what to say in that first email/conversation/phone call, here is a post where I outline what has worked for me. I don't think it is a "golden approach" and it is definitely a bit of work, but it is simply my suggestion: http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...&postcount=13'>http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...&postcount=13). If you are having a hard time finding opportunities, I’ve done my best to include a link for each medical school across Canada that will direct you to clinical researchers/ongoing projects/faculties of medical research. Please use this resource to the best of your ability, and make sure that when you finally decide to email a clinical researcher you let them know that you are passionate about medicine and view this as an excellent opportunity to explore your research interests. Good luck, and do your best. Pour les etudients au Quebec, j’ai trouvee l’information pour vous aussi. Mais, c’est vraiment general parce que mon francais n’est pas parfait. Mais, j’ai essaye. J'espere que vous trouver la recherche clinique. Bonne chance. UBC Medical Researchers: http://www.med.ubc.ca/research.htm Clinical Psych Lab: http://www.psych.ubc.ca/research/res...y?lab=Clinical This website is constantly updated: http://www.simplyhired.ca/a/jobs/lis...-vancouver,+bc UofA Medical Researchers: Institutes, Centres & Groups http://www.med.ualberta.ca/Home/Research/groups.cfm Univeristy of Calgary: Institutes and Centers http://medicine.ucalgary.ca/research/institutes Alberta (send a big thank you Lactic Folly!!): Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/HYRS/ WISEST Summer Research Program http://www.wisest.ualberta.ca/en/Pro...chProgram.aspx University of Saskatchewan: Faculty Researchers for Dean's Summer Projects http://www.medicine.usask.ca/researc...%2027Nov09.pdf Clinical Research Assistant jobs in Saskatchwan http://jooble.ca/search-vacancy-ca-e...arch-assistant University of Manitoba: List of medical researchers http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/me...chers_a_d.html University of Toronto: Medical research website http://www.medresearch.utoronto.ca/ Queen’s University: Clinical research http://www.kgh.on.ca/en/research/doi...s/default.aspx McMaster University: Physicians doing clinical research at McMaster http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/medicine/research_faculty.htm University of Western Ontario: http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/research/...ainingPrograms University of Ottawa: Research Office Staff http://www.med.uottawa.ca/Research/e...ice_staff.html Universite Laval: La recherche http://www2.ulaval.ca/la-recherche.html Universite de Montreal: La recherche http://www.med.umontreal.ca/recherche/index.html McGill University: Research topics http://www.mcgill.ca/medicine/research/topics/ Universite de Sherbrooke: Regroupements de recherche http://www.usherbrooke.ca/recherche/fr/regroupements/ Memorial University: Centres, institutes and groups http://www.mun.ca/research/units/ Dalhousie University: Summer Student Research Program Funding Sources http://research.medicine.dal.ca/SSRP-funding.htm |How do I find general research opportunities? Ask yourself this, “What sort of research am I interested in? Biochemistry, kinesiology, biomedical, etc.?” It is so important that you try and explore all options before settling down in a lab. Once you know what area you want to do research in, contact professors who are doing research relevant to your interest, ask them if they are looking for summer research students, and take it from there. Experience has taught me that the more interested one is in a certain field/topic, the more likely one is to excel and this is exactly what you what to achieve. The more you excel at what you do in the lab, the more likely your supervisor is to notice this and, consequently, write you a great letter of recommendation which is exactly what you want. Also, the more productive you are, the more likely you are to gain a publication. Although it is arguably harder to gain a publication while doing research in the general sciences, it is possible. And, for those of you who liked organic chemistry I will tell you a little secret. Organic chemistry is actually quite easy to gain publications in. If you are able to synthesize a compound, you will get published. Ochem research is simple, quick, and lots of fun. Some useful links if you are having difficulties finding research opportunities: Approaching a professor? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show... opportunities Getting a summer NSERC research award at UBC (has useful advice for non-UBC med students): http://www.premed101.com/forums/show... opportunities Research: how to?! http://www.premed101.com/forums/show... opportunities |How do I write a cover letter for a research position? Not necessarily in this order: 1.Do your own research about their lab/research office first. You definitely should sound genuinely interested in their research, express your interest in the cover letter. And don’t try to sound overly enthusiastic. You need to be genuine, and you know how you end up sounding genuine about a topic? You actually are. 2.Include who you are, what year, why you are interested, and how this research will help you in your career path. 3.What skills do you have that will benefit the lab/research office you are applying to? They need to know what you can bring to the table. If you haven’t had any prior research experience, you need to express that as well. No point in covering that up. Hopefully, you’re interest in gaining research experience will help do the trick for you. Here is a sample research cover letter I have found: http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/coverl...rchassist.html Notice the part where the author writes about including a CV. I can’t even express how important it is to have a CV ready to use at any time you’d want. It should include your GPA, relevant experience, presentations, publications and any prior research. I’m pretty sure I used this link as a model for my own CV: http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/curric...culumvitae.htm |I keep hearing the words “published” and “publication.” Does it really matter that much? Publications are essentially a way for other researchers, far in wide, to read each others research pursuits. Scientific research which is published in scientific journals as original work is termed primary research. When another researcher reads this work, they can rest assured that it has been evlauted by other professionals in that field, that it has been peer reviewed. In terms of medical school acceptance, it is my understanding after reading the “Publication necessary?” thread that it is not necessary to have a publication, that they are often a factor of luck, but that they do look favourable to admission committees. Here are some helpful threads about publications (or lack thereof), how to publish your research, and what constitutes a publication. Publication necessary? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication Can someone explain to me the process of research publication (specifically psych)? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication Publication, but before interview? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication Abstracts = publication? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication |Why do medical schools value research? Some medical students get accepted without it. Yes, there are medical students who gain acceptance without prior research experience because technically, it is not a requirement and I’d be lying to you if I said it was. Medical schools acknowledge the fact that physicians need to participate in life-long learning. As a physician, you’ll have to be able to read journal articles, assess their findings, and evaluate new treatments for disease and illness. Even if you are not a specialist or medical researcher, it is my understanding that you will still need have that skill. However, if you feel that you would be unhappy doing research, it's too much of a hassle, it's not a requirement, and you simply do not want to do it, then don’t. It’s as simple as that. By participating in research just because you think it will look impressive, you are wasting your supervisor’s time and energy. It does not benefit you nor does it benefit the principle investigator to have an unproductive team member and I can not see this leading to anything beneficial. Now, if you want to pursue an MD/PhD, I think it is pretty obvious why you would have to gain research experience and I will not elaborate on this any further. If you’re a master student, yes some schools will most certainly value your masters and award you, some more than others. The Law has already provided an excellent resource for masters students. (http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...71&postcount=1) |Should I look for paid versus volunteer lab work? It seems that medical school applicants get a little bit, for lack of a better word, perplexed when it comes to being paid for an activity versus volunteering. I’ll offer my perspective on this, which is mine alone and may not represent the opinions of medical schools. Regarding research, getting paid is better than not getting paid since the time commitment for you to successfully complete a research project can be quite a long time and can be quite time consuming. Whether or not you get paid, as I've observed, will often come down to how much experience you have. If you are a lower undergraduate level student (i.e. first or second year) who will not find a supervisor that will take you on for a USRA NSERC and have absolutely no experience in a lab, I suspect that the only sort of lab experience you will get IS volunteer experience. There are always exceptions to this, but that is what I’ve seen in the majority of cases. But, having volunteer lab experience can be highly beneficial as it will likely increase the chances of you getting a paid position in the future. Now, if you are an upper level student who has had prior research experience, it is not unreasonable for you to want to be paid for your work and, as long as it does not compromise your research interests, I would seek out a paid position. You don't have to take my word for it, though. Here are some useful links for you if you're trying to weigh out the pros and cons yourself: Research Position vs Research Volunteer Important Med School question http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...-question.html Lab work: Volunteer or Paid http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=194540 |Balancing MCAT and summer research: Can I do it? Here are two great resources I have found with the opinions from several members: Is it manageable? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ght=NSERC+MCAT NSERC USRA + MCAT in summer = doable? http://premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48425 For those of you who don’t want to search the threads and want some sort of insight on this thread, the short answer is YES it is possible. To give you some encouragement (and I hope he doesn’t mind me quoting him) mattg quote nicely summarized the matter and wrote: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmer08 Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hey everyone, I'm starting my first year of university this year and I would really like to work with a professor/doctor in the summer. I just wanted to know how someone would go about finding a scientist to work with and what the necessary steps are that I must take. Also for those of you who have already done research projects before, what kinds of things did you guys get to help out with? Do you actually get to carry out your own experiments and input ideas into the research project or do the profs just use you as an errand boy? Thanks! I've had a couple research jobs at york. Firstly, you need to get the grades. Since you're only in your first year, the prof will only be able to judge you by your fall grades unless you know the prof personally. After the fall semester, send the profs emails asking them for positions (volunteer positions are the easiest to get) in their labs. Being used as an errand boy depends on the job... if the job is about making buffers and doing PCRs, then yes that is all you'll be doing but then there are good ones too. Some jobs let you carry out your own experiments. The job that I have involves working with the prof on his research project and I am also asked for suggestions from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmer08 Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Taken from one of the greats on this forum.. Cerena: |What sorts of awards are there for students doing research? Some may tell you there aren’t many research awards for undergrads doing research. They just haven’t looked for them in the right places. I assure you there are many. Below I’ve provided a link that will direct you to a 7 page document which has information both for UNDERGRADUATES and MEDICAL STUDENTS called: MD & Undergraduate Student Research Opportunities. There are approximately THIRTY (30) awards listed' date=' so if you haven’t already done so please read this article and get informed: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source...eOBqzQ&cad=rja Below I’ve listed a few others that I have found, and an important update about the rising stars of research award (unavailable in 2011). Rising Stars of Research (sorry guys): Rising Stars of Research is a cross-disciplinary undergraduate research conference in Canada.RSR has been a tremendous success since its inception in 2008. With nearly 1,200 applicants and more than 300 participants over the past three years, we know that the event fills an important niche in showcasing the best in Canadian undergraduate research, and has become a highly anticipated opportunity for Canada’s most outstanding young investigators.Due to other staff commitments, Rising Stars of Research will be on hiatus for 2011 and will return in 2012. (Taken from http://www.risingstars.ubc.ca/) Alberta Summer Studentship Award (candidates include high school, medical, and undergrads): Stipend support in the amount of $1,300 per month for a maximum term of four (4) months, May 1 to August 31, will be provided. (For more info visit https://albertacancer.ca/SSLPage.aspx?pid=889) Cancer Research Vacation Studentships (Victoria): The studentship placements are for up to 6 weeks during the summer vacation and are valued at $250 per week. Twenty studentships at a total value of around $27,000 were awarded for the 2009-10 summer vacation. (Taken from http://www.cancervic.org.au/about-ou...n_studentships) |What kinds of research opportunities are available for high school students? It can be very difficult for high school students to gain research experience, but not impossible. If you are bold enough, and you have access to a university, you may want to try contacting labs to see if they are looking for help in the summer. Since you are a high school student, my instinct tells me that grades will play an important role in a labs decision to take you on since you do not have university level laboratory experience. If you do not find any labs that are willing to have you in their lab, do not be discouraged as this can be extremely rare for high school students. After all, you have limited exposure to a lab and are there to learn, therefore it is arguable as to how much benefit you would be to the lab. However, I have found a couple of programs in BC and in Ontario that are available to high school students: Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon's High School Summer Research Program: Available to Grade 11 students currently enrolled in a high school in British Columbia and the Yukon. (http://www.heartandstroke.bc.ca/site...ch_Program.htm) Summer High School Program (Focused Ultrasound Lab – Ontario): Our goal is not only to further our progress but also to allow these students the experience of working in a lab environment. (More info: http://www.sunnybrook.utoronto.ca/~f...ummer_high.php) BC Cancer Agency (High School Programs): The DRC is pleased to be able to offer high school programs geared towards Grade 11 and 12 students. These programs have been designed to offer high school students the opportunity to explore cancer research from the front lines and learn the latest techniques being used today in the fight against cancer. (More info: http://www.bccrc.ca/dept/drc/hsp) |Why is clinical research important to YOU? Some members have asked me if clinical research is boring, monotonous, and tedious. Or, if it is just a distraction from undergraduate studies, as I’ve worked at my research office during school. There are a lot of benefits of doing clinical research and I’ll list them below for you, and these are things that I personally have gained from doing clinical research specifically: ••Knowledge that I am making a direct difference in my community •Intellectual curiosity in a subject I am truly interested in •Experience with analyzing medical tests such as blood samples, nutrient levels, questionnaires, drug histories, etc. •Daily exposure to a medical specialization •One-on-one interaction with a specialist who makes me feel like I work alongside her and has gotten me to basically take over the research project while she is away •Publications •Development of side-research projects with the prospect of doing even more advanced medical scans •Generous amount of funding •Interaction with patients •Interaction with medical students and other specialists who work in the same facility |MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION I HAVE RECEIVED: How do I gain clinical research experience? Unless you have some sort of connections, this is definitely not an easy task to pursue. It can be very difficult to find a physician who is willing to take an undergraduate student on, especially for a paid position; however, clinical research experience is so important and has many benefits. I have had a great experience doing clinical research and I hope that those who are interested are lucky enough to obtain this. If you do not have connections (i.e. know a faculty of medicine researcher, have parents who are medical professionals, or have friends or a family member who is a medical student, etc.) you’re going to have to do this on your own. Find out who is doing clinical research in your area, search the internet, and email clinical researchers. Ask them if they are willing to take on student researchers and tell them that you will send your CV upon request, or you can even attach one if you're super keen. If you are not sure what to say in that first email/conversation/phone call, here is a post where I outline what has worked for me. I don't think it is a "golden approach" and it is definitely a bit of work, but it is simply my suggestion: http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...&postcount=13'>http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...&postcount=13). If you are having a hard time finding opportunities, I’ve done my best to include a link for each medical school across Canada that will direct you to clinical researchers/ongoing projects/faculties of medical research. Please use this resource to the best of your ability, and make sure that when you finally decide to email a clinical researcher you let them know that you are passionate about medicine and view this as an excellent opportunity to explore your research interests. Good luck, and do your best. Pour les etudients au Quebec, j’ai trouvee l’information pour vous aussi. Mais, c’est vraiment general parce que mon francais n’est pas parfait. Mais, j’ai essaye. J'espere que vous trouver la recherche clinique. Bonne chance. UBC Medical Researchers: http://www.med.ubc.ca/research.htm Clinical Psych Lab: http://www.psych.ubc.ca/research/res...y?lab=Clinical This website is constantly updated: http://www.simplyhired.ca/a/jobs/lis...-vancouver,+bc UofA Medical Researchers: Institutes, Centres & Groups http://www.med.ualberta.ca/Home/Research/groups.cfm Univeristy of Calgary: Institutes and Centers http://medicine.ucalgary.ca/research/institutes Alberta (send a big thank you Lactic Folly!!): Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/HYRS/ WISEST Summer Research Program http://www.wisest.ualberta.ca/en/Pro...chProgram.aspx University of Saskatchewan: Faculty Researchers for Dean's Summer Projects http://www.medicine.usask.ca/researc...%2027Nov09.pdf Clinical Research Assistant jobs in Saskatchwan http://jooble.ca/search-vacancy-ca-e...arch-assistant University of Manitoba: List of medical researchers http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/me...chers_a_d.html University of Toronto: Medical research website http://www.medresearch.utoronto.ca/ Queen’s University: Clinical research http://www.kgh.on.ca/en/research/doi...s/default.aspx McMaster University: Physicians doing clinical research at McMaster http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/medicine/research_faculty.htm University of Western Ontario: http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/research/...ainingPrograms University of Ottawa: Research Office Staff http://www.med.uottawa.ca/Research/e...ice_staff.html Universite Laval: La recherche http://www2.ulaval.ca/la-recherche.html Universite de Montreal: La recherche http://www.med.umontreal.ca/recherche/index.html McGill University: Research topics http://www.mcgill.ca/medicine/research/topics/ Universite de Sherbrooke: Regroupements de recherche http://www.usherbrooke.ca/recherche/fr/regroupements/ Memorial University: Centres, institutes and groups http://www.mun.ca/research/units/ Dalhousie University: Summer Student Research Program Funding Sources http://research.medicine.dal.ca/SSRP-funding.htm |How do I find general research opportunities? Ask yourself this, “What sort of research am I interested in? Biochemistry, kinesiology, biomedical, etc.?” It is so important that you try and explore all options before settling down in a lab. Once you know what area you want to do research in, contact professors who are doing research relevant to your interest, ask them if they are looking for summer research students, and take it from there. Experience has taught me that the more interested one is in a certain field/topic, the more likely one is to excel and this is exactly what you what to achieve. The more you excel at what you do in the lab, the more likely your supervisor is to notice this and, consequently, write you a great letter of recommendation which is exactly what you want. Also, the more productive you are, the more likely you are to gain a publication. Although it is arguably harder to gain a publication while doing research in the general sciences, it is possible. And, for those of you who liked organic chemistry I will tell you a little secret. Organic chemistry is actually quite easy to gain publications in. If you are able to synthesize a compound, you will get published. Ochem research is simple, quick, and lots of fun. Some useful links if you are having difficulties finding research opportunities: Approaching a professor? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show... opportunities Getting a summer NSERC research award at UBC (has useful advice for non-UBC med students): http://www.premed101.com/forums/show... opportunities Research: how to?! http://www.premed101.com/forums/show... opportunities |How do I write a cover letter for a research position? Not necessarily in this order: 1.Do your own research about their lab/research office first. You definitely should sound genuinely interested in their research, express your interest in the cover letter. And don’t try to sound overly enthusiastic. You need to be genuine, and you know how you end up sounding genuine about a topic? You actually are. 2.Include who you are, what year, why you are interested, and how this research will help you in your career path. 3.What skills do you have that will benefit the lab/research office you are applying to? They need to know what you can bring to the table. If you haven’t had any prior research experience, you need to express that as well. No point in covering that up. Hopefully, you’re interest in gaining research experience will help do the trick for you. Here is a sample research cover letter I have found: http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/coverl...rchassist.html Notice the part where the author writes about including a CV. I can’t even express how important it is to have a CV ready to use at any time you’d want. It should include your GPA, relevant experience, presentations, publications and any prior research. I’m pretty sure I used this link as a model for my own CV: http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/curric...culumvitae.htm |I keep hearing the words “published” and “publication.” Does it really matter that much? Publications are essentially a way for other researchers, far in wide, to read each others research pursuits. Scientific research which is published in scientific journals as original work is termed primary research. When another researcher reads this work, they can rest assured that it has been evlauted by other professionals in that field, that it has been peer reviewed. In terms of medical school acceptance, it is my understanding after reading the “Publication necessary?” thread that it is not necessary to have a publication, that they are often a factor of luck, but that they do look favourable to admission committees. Here are some helpful threads about publications (or lack thereof), how to publish your research, and what constitutes a publication. Publication necessary? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication Can someone explain to me the process of research publication (specifically psych)? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication Publication, but before interview? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication Abstracts = publication? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ht=publication |Why do medical schools value research? Some medical students get accepted without it. Yes, there are medical students who gain acceptance without prior research experience because technically, it is not a requirement and I’d be lying to you if I said it was. Medical schools acknowledge the fact that physicians need to participate in life-long learning. As a physician, you’ll have to be able to read journal articles, assess their findings, and evaluate new treatments for disease and illness. Even if you are not a specialist or medical researcher, it is my understanding that you will still need have that skill. However, if you feel that you would be unhappy doing research, it's too much of a hassle, it's not a requirement, and you simply do not want to do it, then don’t. It’s as simple as that. By participating in research just because you think it will look impressive, you are wasting your supervisor’s time and energy. It does not benefit you nor does it benefit the principle investigator to have an unproductive team member and I can not see this leading to anything beneficial. Now, if you want to pursue an MD/PhD, I think it is pretty obvious why you would have to gain research experience and I will not elaborate on this any further. If you’re a master student, yes some schools will most certainly value your masters and award you, some more than others. The Law has already provided an excellent resource for masters students. (http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...71&postcount=1) |Should I look for paid versus volunteer lab work? It seems that medical school applicants get a little bit, for lack of a better word, perplexed when it comes to being paid for an activity versus volunteering. I’ll offer my perspective on this, which is mine alone and may not represent the opinions of medical schools. Regarding research, getting paid is better than not getting paid since the time commitment for you to successfully complete a research project can be quite a long time and can be quite time consuming. Whether or not you get paid, as I've observed, will often come down to how much experience you have. If you are a lower undergraduate level student (i.e. first or second year) who will not find a supervisor that will take you on for a USRA NSERC and have absolutely no experience in a lab, I suspect that the only sort of lab experience you will get IS volunteer experience. There are always exceptions to this, but that is what I’ve seen in the majority of cases. But, having volunteer lab experience can be highly beneficial as it will likely increase the chances of you getting a paid position in the future. Now, if you are an upper level student who has had prior research experience, it is not unreasonable for you to want to be paid for your work and, as long as it does not compromise your research interests, I would seek out a paid position. You don't have to take my word for it, though. Here are some useful links for you if you're trying to weigh out the pros and cons yourself: Research Position vs Research Volunteer Important Med School question http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...-question.html Lab work: Volunteer or Paid http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=194540 |Balancing MCAT and summer research: Can I do it? Here are two great resources I have found with the opinions from several members: Is it manageable? http://www.premed101.com/forums/show...ght=NSERC+MCAT NSERC USRA + MCAT in summer = doable? http://premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48425 For those of you who don’t want to search the threads and want some sort of insight on this thread, the short answer is YES it is possible. To give you some encouragement (and I hope he doesn’t mind me quoting him) mattg quote nicely summarized the matter and wrote:[/quote'] wow didn't even know this existed... why isn't this a sticky? EDIT: links don't work... wheres the original post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerena Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 wow didn't even know this existed... why isn't this a sticky? EDIT: links don't work... wheres the original post? >> dashes in Here you go (it was in the premed FAQ but maybe a good idea to have this in the research forum without having to search for it): |What sorts of awards are there for students doing research? Some may tell you there aren’t many research awards for undergrads doing research. They just haven’t looked for them in the right places. I assure you there are many. Below I’ve provided a link that will direct you to a 7 page document which has information both for UNDERGRADUATES and MEDICAL STUDENTS called: MD & Undergraduate Student Research Opportunities. There are approximately THIRTY (30) awards listed, so if you haven’t already done so please read this article and get informed: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=7&sqi=2&ved=0CEEQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmed.ubc.ca%2F__shared%2Fassets%2FSummer_Student_Research_Opportunities14383.docx&rct=j&q=undergraduate%20%20Cancer%20studentships&ei=jTCYTcy1FujfiAKHzY2dCQ&usg=AFQjCNHYdgFUT71XAPXmliKl3Vy8eOBqzQ&cad=rja Below I’ve listed a few others that I have found, and an important update about the rising stars of research award (unavailable in 2011). Rising Stars of Research (sorry guys): Rising Stars of Research is a cross-disciplinary undergraduate research conference in Canada.RSR has been a tremendous success since its inception in 2008. With nearly 1,200 applicants and more than 300 participants over the past three years, we know that the event fills an important niche in showcasing the best in Canadian undergraduate research, and has become a highly anticipated opportunity for Canada’s most outstanding young investigators.Due to other staff commitments, Rising Stars of Research will be on hiatus for 2011 and will return in 2012. (Taken from http://www.risingstars.ubc.ca/) Alberta Summer Studentship Award (candidates include high school, medical, and undergrads): Stipend support in the amount of $1,300 per month for a maximum term of four (4) months, May 1 to August 31, will be provided. (For more info visit https://albertacancer.ca/SSLPage.aspx?pid=889) Cancer Research Vacation Studentships (Victoria): The studentship placements are for up to 6 weeks during the summer vacation and are valued at $250 per week. Twenty studentships at a total value of around $27,000 were awarded for the 2009-10 summer vacation. (Taken from http://www.cancervic.org.au/about-our-research/grants/research_sum_vacation_studentships) |What kinds of research opportunities are available for high school students? It can be very difficult for high school students to gain research experience, but not impossible. If you are bold enough, and you have access to a university, you may want to try contacting labs to see if they are looking for help in the summer. Since you are a high school student, my instinct tells me that grades will play an important role in a labs decision to take you on since you do not have university level laboratory experience. If you do not find any labs that are willing to have you in their lab, do not be discouraged as this can be extremely rare for high school students. After all, you have limited exposure to a lab and are there to learn, therefore it is arguable as to how much benefit you would be to the lab. However, I have found a couple of programs in BC and in Ontario that are available to high school students: Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon's High School Summer Research Program: Available to Grade 11 students currently enrolled in a high school in British Columbia and the Yukon. (http://www.heartandstroke.bc.ca/site/c.kpIPKXOyFmG/b.5261497/k.55D8/High_School_Summer_Research_Program.htm) Summer High School Program (Focused Ultrasound Lab – Ontario): Our goal is not only to further our progress but also to allow these students the experience of working in a lab environment. (More info: http://www.sunnybrook.utoronto.ca/~fus/opp/summer_high.php) BC Cancer Agency (High School Programs): The DRC is pleased to be able to offer high school programs geared towards Grade 11 and 12 students. These programs have been designed to offer high school students the opportunity to explore cancer research from the front lines and learn the latest techniques being used today in the fight against cancer. (More info: http://www.bccrc.ca/dept/drc/hsp) |Why is clinical research important to YOU? Some members have asked me if clinical research is boring, monotonous, and tedious. Or, if it is just a distraction from undergraduate studies, as I’ve worked at my research office during school. There are a lot of benefits of doing clinical research and I’ll list them below for you, and these are things that I personally have gained from doing clinical research specifically: Knowledge that I am making a direct difference in my community Intellectual curiosity in a subject I am truly interested in Experience with analyzing medical tests such as blood samples, nutrient levels, questionnaires, drug histories, etc. Daily exposure to a medical specialization One-on-one interaction with a specialist who makes me feel like I work alongside her and has gotten me to basically take over the research project while she is away Publications Development of side-research projects with the prospect of doing even more advanced medical scans Generous amount of funding Interaction with patients Interaction with medical students and other specialists who work in the same facility |MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION I HAVE RECEIVED: How do I gain clinical research experience? Unless you have some sort of connections, this is definitely not an easy task to pursue. It can be very difficult to find a physician who is willing to take an undergraduate student on, especially for a paid position; however, clinical research experience is so important and has many benefits. I have had a great experience doing clinical research and I hope that those who are interested are lucky enough to obtain this. If you do not have connections (i.e. know a faculty of medicine researcher, have parents who are medical professionals, or have friends or a family member who is a medical student, etc.) you’re going to have to do this on your own. Find out who is doing clinical research in your area, search the internet, and email clinical researchers. Ask them if they are willing to take on student researchers and tell them that you will send your CV upon request, or you can even attach one if you're super keen. If you are not sure what to say in that first email/conversation/phone call, here is a post where I outline what has worked for me. I don't think it is a "golden approach" and it is definitely a bit of work, but it is simply my suggestion: http://www.premed101.com/forums/showpost.php?p=534640&postcount=13). If you are having a hard time finding opportunities, I’ve done my best to include a link for each medical school across Canada that will direct you to clinical researchers/ongoing projects/faculties of medical research. Please use this resource to the best of your ability, and make sure that when you finally decide to email a clinical researcher you let them know that you are passionate about medicine and view this as an excellent opportunity to explore your research interests. Good luck, and do your best. Pour les etudients au Quebec, j’ai trouvee l’information pour vous aussi. Mais, c’est vraiment general parce que mon francais n’est pas parfait. Mais, j’ai essaye. J'espere que vous trouver la recherche clinique. Bonne chance. UBC Medical Researchers: http://www.med.ubc.ca/research.htm Clinical Psych Lab: http://www.psych.ubc.ca/research/research.psy?lab=Clinical This website is constantly updated: http://www.simplyhired.ca/a/jobs/list/q-research+assistant/l-vancouver,+bc UofA Medical Researchers: Institutes, Centres & Groups http://www.med.ualberta.ca/Home/Research/groups.cfm Univeristy of Calgary: Institutes and Centers http://medicine.ucalgary.ca/research/institutes Alberta (send a big thank you Lactic Folly!!): Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/HYRS/ WISEST Summer Research Program http://www.wisest.ualberta.ca/en/Pro...chProgram.aspx University of Saskatchewan: Faculty Researchers for Dean's Summer Projects http://www.medicine.usask.ca/research/deans-summer-projects/Faculty%20Spreadsheet%20revised%2027Nov09.pdf Clinical Research Assistant jobs in Saskatchwan http://jooble.ca/search-vacancy-ca-en/rgn-Saskatchewan/kw-clinical-research-assistant University of Manitoba: List of medical researchers http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine/research/researchers_a_d.html University of Toronto: Medical research website http://www.medresearch.utoronto.ca/ Queen’s University: Clinical research http://www.kgh.on.ca/en/research/doingresearchatkgh/Pages/default.aspx McMaster University: Physicians doing clinical research at McMaster http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/medicine/research_faculty.htm University of Western Ontario: http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/research/index.php?page=ClinicalResearchTrainingPrograms University of Ottawa: Research Office Staff http://www.med.uottawa.ca/Research/eng/research_office_staff.html Universite Laval: La recherche http://www2.ulaval.ca/la-recherche.html Universite de Montreal: La recherche http://www.med.umontreal.ca/recherche/index.html McGill University: Research topics http://www.mcgill.ca/medicine/research/topics/ Universite de Sherbrooke: Regroupements de recherche http://www.usherbrooke.ca/recherche/fr/regroupements/ Memorial University: Centres, institutes and groups http://www.mun.ca/research/units/ Dalhousie University: Summer Student Research Program Funding Sources http://research.medicine.dal.ca/SSRP-funding.htm |How do I find general research opportunities? Ask yourself this, “What sort of research am I interested in? Biochemistry, kinesiology, biomedical, etc.?” It is so important that you try and explore all options before settling down in a lab. Once you know what area you want to do research in, contact professors who are doing research relevant to your interest, ask them if they are looking for summer research students, and take it from there. Experience has taught me that the more interested one is in a certain field/topic, the more likely one is to excel and this is exactly what you what to achieve. The more you excel at what you do in the lab, the more likely your supervisor is to notice this and, consequently, write you a great letter of recommendation which is exactly what you want. Also, the more productive you are, the more likely you are to gain a publication. Although it is arguably harder to gain a publication while doing research in the general sciences, it is possible. And, for those of you who liked organic chemistry I will tell you a little secret. Organic chemistry is actually quite easy to gain publications in. If you are able to synthesize a compound, you will get published. Ochem research is simple, quick, and lots of fun. Some useful links if you are having difficulties finding research opportunities: Approaching a professor? http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50133&highlight=finding+research+opportunities Getting a summer NSERC research award at UBC (has useful advice for non-UBC med students): http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19385&highlight=finding+research+opportunities Research: how to?! http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43116&highlight=finding+research+opportunities |How do I write a cover letter for a research position? Not necessarily in this order: Do your own research about their lab/research office first. You definitely should sound genuinely interested in their research, express your interest in the cover letter. And don’t try to sound overly enthusiastic. You need to be genuine, and you know how you end up sounding genuine about a topic? You actually are. Include who you are, what year, why you are interested, and how this research will help you in your career path. What skills do you have that will benefit the lab/research office you are applying to? They need to know what you can bring to the table. If you haven’t had any prior research experience, you need to express that as well. No point in covering that up. Hopefully, you’re interest in gaining research experience will help do the trick for you. Here is a sample research cover letter I have found: http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/coverletterresearchassist.html Notice the part where the author writes about including a CV. I can’t even express how important it is to have a CV ready to use at any time you’d want. It should include your GPA, relevant experience, presentations, publications and any prior research. I’m pretty sure I used this link as a model for my own CV: http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/curriculumvitae/a/curriculumvitae.htm |I keep hearing the words “published” and “publication.” Does it really matter that much? Publications are essentially a way for other researchers, far in wide, to read each others research pursuits. Scientific research which is published in scientific journals as original work is termed primary research. When another researcher reads this work, they can rest assured that it has been evlauted by other professionals in that field, that it has been peer reviewed. In terms of medical school acceptance, it is my understanding after reading the “Publication necessary?” thread that it is not necessary to have a publication, that they are often a factor of luck, but that they do look favourable to admission committees. Here are some helpful threads about publications (or lack thereof), how to publish your research, and what constitutes a publication. Publication necessary? http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46651&highlight=publication Can someone explain to me the process of research publication (specifically psych)? http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33567&highlight=publication Publication, but before interview? http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34887&highlight=publication Abstracts = publication? http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22273&highlight=publication |Why do medical schools value research? Some medical students get accepted without it. Yes, there are medical students who gain acceptance without prior research experience because technically, it is not a requirement and I’d be lying to you if I said it was. Medical schools acknowledge the fact that physicians need to participate in life-long learning. As a physician, you’ll have to be able to read journal articles, assess their findings, and evaluate new treatments for disease and illness. Even if you are not a specialist or medical researcher, it is my understanding that you will still need have that skill. However, if you feel that you would be unhappy doing research, it's too much of a hassle, it's not a requirement, and you simply do not want to do it, then don’t. It’s as simple as that. By participating in research just because you think it will look impressive, you are wasting your supervisor’s time and energy. It does not benefit you nor does it benefit the principle investigator to have an unproductive team member and I can not see this leading to anything beneficial. Now, if you want to pursue an MD/PhD, I think it is pretty obvious why you would have to gain research experience and I will not elaborate on this any further. If you’re a master student, yes some schools will most certainly value your masters and award you, some more than others. The Law has already provided an excellent resource for masters students. (http://www.premed101.com/forums/showpost.php?p=411971&postcount=1) |Should I look for paid versus volunteer lab work? It seems that medical school applicants get a little bit, for lack of a better word, perplexed when it comes to being paid for an activity versus volunteering. I’ll offer my perspective on this, which is mine alone and may not represent the opinions of medical schools. Regarding research, getting paid is better than not getting paid since the time commitment for you to successfully complete a research project can be quite a long time and can be quite time consuming. Whether or not you get paid, as I've observed, will often come down to how much experience you have. If you are a lower undergraduate level student (i.e. first or second year) who will not find a supervisor that will take you on for a USRA NSERC and have absolutely no experience in a lab, I suspect that the only sort of lab experience you will get IS volunteer experience. There are always exceptions to this, but that is what I’ve seen in the majority of cases. But, having volunteer lab experience can be highly beneficial as it will likely increase the chances of you getting a paid position in the future. Now, if you are an upper level student who has had prior research experience, it is not unreasonable for you to want to be paid for your work and, as long as it does not compromise your research interests, I would seek out a paid position. You don't have to take my word for it, though. Here are some useful links for you if you're trying to weigh out the pros and cons yourself: Research Position vs Research Volunteer Important Med School question http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/926394-research-position-vs-research-volunteer-important-med-school-question.html Lab work: Volunteer or Paid http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=194540 |Balancing MCAT and summer research: Can I do it? Here are two great resources I have found with the opinions from several members: Is it manageable? http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48945&highlight=NSERC+MCAT NSERC USRA + MCAT in summer = doable? http://premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48425 For those of you who don’t want to search the threads and want some sort of insight on this thread, the short answer is YES it is possible. To give you some encouragement (and I hope he doesn’t mind me quoting him) mattg quote nicely summarized the matter and wrote: …it depends on how efficient you are at studying, how intelligent you are, your base of knowledge, your discipline, what you are aiming for, etc... knowing yourself, and in that sense, no one can give you an answer... but in general, studying for the mcat while working a summer research position is 100% reasonable, and a ton of people do it... i would probably that around half of people do something else in the summer while studying for the mcat, but that's just a guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xkittens Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 To get an NSERC, do you have to ask a professor from your own university to sponsor you or can you apply with profs at other universities/scientists that work in hospitals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bored Posted August 27, 2011 Report Share Posted August 27, 2011 To get an NSERC, do you have to ask a professor from your own university to sponsor you or can you apply with profs at other universities/scientists that work in hospitals? The latter is true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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