Guide to Getting into Research (as a student)
In Biocord, we get this question all the time: “How can I get into a research lab?”
Being in research myself, I’m very biased towards doing research: I think it is one of the best things any STEM student could do in their undergraduate career. It is not only a great resume/CV booster, but there is so much that can be learned in a research lab that wouldn’t ordinarily be gained from the classroom. Research is an important experience (even if one doesn’t want to research after graduation) because it allows you to utilize the knowledge learned in classrooms and apply critical thinking skills to a situation more tangible and practical than hypothetical situations. Sure, you know what PCR is, but in what situations would you actually do it in the lab, and for what reason? How can an experiment be best designed to answer a scientific question? It is easy to design an experiment. It is hard to design a good experiment that addresses a hypothesis. It is very difficult to design a great experiment that answers a scientific question.
Start by researching research labs! Look up faculty at your school, and make a list of the PI’s (Principal Investigators, they are in charge of the lab) who research your area(s) of interest. Keep in mind that there may be interesting labs that are not under your major, i.e. if you’re interested in cancer research, various departments may have a research lab for various aspects of cancer research such as Cellular and Molecular Biology, straight Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, and if your school has a Medical School, there’s a very good chance somebody over there is researching cancer. Just because a lab or PI is listed under a specific department/major does not mean that you must be in that department/major to work in that lab!
Finding Openings
It is quite difficult to navigate all of the different research labs, and figuring out which ones are accepting new students and researchers in their labs. Many won’t advertise openings, especially for undergraduate and volunteer positions. So how do you find out whether a PI is accepting new researchers?
Career Board. Most schools have a Career Board of some sort, where companies will advertise internships and entry-level jobs. Some professors might post their openings on a career board. While this may be used less often than other ways of advertising, you’ll know for sure that the professor announcing an opening actually has an opening.
Word of Mouth. Honestly, this is probably the most common method for finding out, short of directly asking the professor. Befriend your peers and upperclassmen in your program (+ similar programs) and keep a mental list of which are in research labs and when they are graduating. If somebody is graduating, a replacement may be needed. This turnaround occurs every semester, so the time to ask is at the beginning and end of every semester! This is actually how I found my current lab. I found out from a friend that my current PI was looking for a new grad student, so I shot him an email. Now I’m doing my Ph.D. under him.
Take their class. This is only an option if you are going to do well in this class. Do well, and be attentive/curious in their class. My PI “screens” for new undergraduates by taking all of the kids who expressed interest, and accepting the one(s) with the top grades (provided they are a good fit for the lab culture, and enthusiastic about our work).
Just straight up asking. This might be the most common way. It sucks, but sometimes it’s what you have to do. Most labs won’t advertise for volunteer positions, so you might have to just suck it up and ask a bunch of PI’s. Sorry.
Reaching out to PIs
This part is probably the hardest and most awkward part. How do you start up a conversation with an impressive stranger about research without sounding like a beggar? What do you say?
Asking off the bat. This is a good option if you’re taking or have taken their class. You should already have some sort of introduction: they should know who you are! Maybe you are in a relevant major, or maybe you’ve done well or are currently doing well in their class. It isn’t uncommon or unusual for a student to go up to my PI after class and ask if he has an opening in his lab. This is why it is always good for all of your professors and TAs to know who you are: networking is valuable.
Hi Professor Kiwi, I am a current Xth year biology student at Biocord University and took your course last term. I am really interested in the research that you’re doing and was wondering whether there is an opening in your lab. Regards, Kraken
Chat about their research. This is another one that is good if you already have an introduction. Set up an appointment or go to their office hours and ask to chat about their research. Express that you’re interested in research, and want to know more about their specific area of research. Ask if they have an opening and whether you could shadow or work in their lab. Not all labs will always have an opening and be cognizant that they might not have an opening.
There are a couple of reasons for this. Even if they might not have space in their lab, you can still learn about what they do, what their lab is like, and puts you on the radar in case the PI has an opening at a later date. They may also put you in touch with a different PI with similar research, but may have an opening.
Cold emails. This one sucks. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to play the numbers game. Before you reach out, check out their recent AND older publications, and make sure that they’ve published something somewhat recently.
Hi Professor Kiwi, I am a current Xth year Biology student at Biocord University. I was wondering whether you have an availability in your lab for another student, as I am looking to do research next term and in future semesters. I am especially interested in (insert something you’ve discovered while reading their publications). I would love to meet with you to discuss the possibility of working in your lab. Thank you, Kraken
Here is another example, if you’ve reached out before and there wasn’t an opening:
Hi Professor Kiwi, Last term, I asked about the possibility of me shadowing or working in your lab if there was an opening at a later date. I was wondering whether you have an opening for another student this term? I am still very interested in your research and would love to discuss this opportunity if available! Looking forward to your reply, Kraken
Things that help
If you are lucky enough that your undergrad professors are also PIs, being in their class helps. That being said, it is pertinent that you do well in their class.
Good grades. This one goes without saying. Honestly, go to class, pay attention, and do more than just your homework. Learn to study without homework. Homework is meant to guide you on how to study and will become less of a requirement in higher-level courses.
Prior knowledge and lab experience. It really helps if you know the system that you’ll be working in already. What this means, is that if you want to work in gene editing, it would be prudent to have taken courses in cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and to know what methods are used (and a general idea of how it’s done and how it works) to conduct gene editing experiments. Even if a course doesn’t give you hands-on experience for PCR, it is easier to teach PCR to somebody who knows how it works, compared to somebody who doesn’t. Then again, teaching PCR to somebody who has done PCR is the easiest, which is why having lab experience is helpful.
Having a “way in.” This can be in many forms: (1) If you know somebody in the lab who can vouch for you, this is a very valuable connection to have. (2) If you have funding to conduct a research project, then the lab will not have to fund your project, though they would still have to train you. (3) Having experience or knowledge that the lab needs can fulfill a role. This makes coding knowledge very valuable in bio-related fields. Not all researchers in bio can code, but many programmers can learn bio, or learn enough bio to code for bio.
Being teachable and trainable. It takes a lot of time and effort to train somebody new. It takes about 6 months for somebody new to become self-sufficient. 6 months is not just a lot of time to dedicate to somebody, but it is a lot of effort. It isn’t just hanging out a couple of hours a week with somebody: it is direct supervision, explaining procedures and protocols, correcting and criticizing. It takes a lot of mental and emotional energy to be a good mentor. I’m not sure how one becomes more teachable or easier to teach, but for the love of all things adorable, don’t be on your phone while somebody is trying to train you.
Enthusiasm. Being tired is one thing. But being bored is a completely different thing. If you aren’t interested in the work, it really shows. Time is too valuable to waste on somebody who doesn’t want to be there. On the other hand, if you’re excited about the research, it also shows! Everybody in the lab should want to be there because they’re passionate about this work! If they aren’t passionate about the research… why are they in research? Note: wanting a resume booster is not passion.
Work ethic. Show up when you’re supposed to (and more), pay attention, and ask questions. You’re there to learn as much as you can, gain as many skills as you can, and to apply your existing knowledge to develop new knowledge. If there is an area where going above and beyond has both high value and reward, it is in research (in my opinion). Anybody new is an investment. Be a good investment.
Be assertive. This one is a little strange and applies to several areas. When reaching out to PI’s, don’t beg. As a student, you have value. You are manpower. Even menial tasks like washing dishes, autoclaving glassware, and taking images are really important and allow everyone to do research. However, for a budding researcher, the value comes after the menial tasks. In my lab, we call our undergraduates “minions” because while they “do our bidding,” they are invaluable to helping us finish our experiments. They get on our papers, help collect and analyze data, and help brainstorm and ask critical questions. After 6–9 months of extensive training and investment, we give our minions their own projects. It’s much easier to give somebody a cool project if you know that they’re going to push it forward.
What to Expect.
Time commitment. Volunteering in a research lab is a pretty hefty time commitment. 10 hours a week doesn’t sound like too much, but when you’re doing 10 hours a week, every week, it adds up. Ideally, it adds up to an invaluable experience. I really believe that you get what you put into research. I like my undergraduates to be in the lab for 10 hours a week. I like new graduate students to be in the lab whenever they aren’t in class. If your lab allows it, hang out in the lab. Bring your homework. Even if you aren’t scheduled for an experiment, you might be able to watch or learn from somebody else. Your designated mentor does not have to be your only mentor.
Time commitment (Part II). We like to get our undergraduate volunteers early, in late sophomore year, because it takes at least 6 months to train, and then they continue building upon their research until graduation. The longer you spend in a lab, the more experience you can build on the same topic without having to start over with reading copious amounts of literature and getting training. Do not hop between labs. Choose a lab and stick with it (if it is worth your time).
Massive amounts of literature to read. This goes back to having knowledge and lab experience. Since research is about discovering something novel, you should probably be up-to-date on the most recent findings in the field. However, you should also be knowledgeable about the biggest standards in your field. This means a lot of reading. However, don’t burn yourself by reading literature (it really happens). Try to really digest and understand what you’re reading, how the authors conducting these experiments, why they conducted these experiments, and what that means for your research. My PI told me very early on: Read papers selfishly! Time is invaluable. If a paper is not going to progress or help you in your research, don’t bother!
Changing your mindset. Research is very different from going to class. In research, you’re trying to discover something novel: you aren’t doing things that other people have done before. What this means is that you have to learn to develop protocols and experiments. You will also have to learn how to design experiments that produce meaningful data. Then how to analyze the data and interpret the data. Then most important of all: what that means and why it is important. What is the applicability? Why is this novel? How does this generate new knowledge and impact the field? This process of changing your mindset from following directions to developing those directions takes a lot of time and effort (and in my case, a lot of reprimanding).
Last Thought
It is okay if you hate research. Pursue what you enjoy.
