A Premed's Guide to Joining a Research Lab

"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." - Zora Neale Hurston

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down almost every university laboratory during my junior year of undergrad, I was nervous about being able to find a research opportunity when I moved back to my hometown after graduation. I had heard that research experience and possibly being published in a scientific paper was a good opportunity to include in my application but I didn't know where to begin looking for a lab. I applied and was rejected from 5 different research labs before I was able to find an opportunity at a neurogenetics research lab at UNLV. Here are some things I learned about while looking for a position at a research lab.

Finding opportunities and applying to research labs:

The most common way of finding research opportunities is to talk to your professors and see if they have labs that you can participate in. Oftentimes, professors will mention their current or previous research during your lecture period and attending their office hours will give you an opportunity to connect with your professor and learn more about the field that they are researching. Before you meet with a professor, it is important to look up their previous publications or look at their website (if they have one) to see if their research is interesting to you. Pay attention to the goals of the research project, what they have discovered so far, and how they plan to implement their findings in future projects. Also note the type of protocols and procedures they use, especially if it relates to something you have learned about or even participated in during a lab-based course. You can also look at a university’s faculty page and look at the biography/website of the professors in the college of science and related fields and email them to express interest in joining their lab.

Another great resource in finding research opportunities is by contacting your university’s office of undergraduate research, as they will often know which labs on campus are accepting new members and if there are any programs and/or scholarships that you can apply to that will support your research interest. Many universities also have research presentation symposiums at the end of the semester which is a great way to meet students like you that are already involved in a lab and see what projects you can be a part of.

How to write an email expressing your interest in research:

Below is a template example on an email you can write to a professor requesting to learn more about their research

Hello Dr. xx,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is xx and I am a Las Vegas native who has recently graduated with a Bachelors degree in Neuroscience. I am interested in your research concerning xxx, I have read your prior publications and I found it interesting how xx. I would like to schedule an appointment with you to learn more about your research and discuss possible research assistant positions. I look forward to meeting you and I have attached my CV for your reference. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best,

(Your signature)

Tips:

• It is good to start by introducing yourself, including your major or year in school.

• Make sure you mention the lab’s research topic and how you found out about the lab

• Including your CV is a great way for the professor to get to know you and your interests before you meet, especially if you’ve never met the professor before or haven’t interacted with them much

  • The professor I worked under actually pointed out a previous experience on my CV that helped me get the position!

Making the most of your research experience:

If you have the opportunity to visit a research lab or meet with the primary investigator/professor of that lab, I highly recommend you reflect on the lab and see if it is the right fit for you. Each lab may have a certain number of hours that they want you to work per week or additional activities that involve the need for consistent transportation. Be honest with the professor about how much you expect to participate and ask about any concerns you may have regarding your involvement in the lab. Some labs may not have enough funding to pay their research assistants so keep this in mind as well.

Once you’ve decided that a research lab is the right fit for you, be open to what you can learn from other research assistants that have experience there. Talk to other undergraduate students, they may be in one of your classes or also be fellow pre-med students that can support you on your journey. If you’ve never had previous lab experience, it may be important to learn basics such as pipetting and lab safety which you will develop over time as you continue in the lab and be honest about these limitations when starting. Also take the time to get to know the primary investigator/professor of your lab, they may be writing a letter of recommendation for you in the future or have mentored other pre-med students in the past and building this connection is a great way to network and build professional connections.

As a physician, you are expected to stay up to date on new research relating to your specialty and patient care. Research is a long but rewarding process that has allowed medicine to advance and continues to provide new insights on medical conditions. Participating in a research lab as a pre-med student will help you appreciate this process and learn how to develop an innovative mindset that will benefit you and your future patients.